Highlights:
·
Horses
and riders navigate a 46-foot-diameter, specially-designed ring at speeds of
more than 25 miles per hour. The 12 riders are trained in acrobatics and some
have equestrian backgrounds.
· The
troupe performs and travels with 18 horses.
· Kanat
and Tatiana lead their troupe through mind-boggling maneuvers — including the
five-man pyramid; the dead-man drag; and the seemingly impossible underbelly
climb, while his horse is at a full-speed gallop, a rider climbs under and back
over the horse.
Cossacks
Riders
of the Wind - Dressage and Equine Drill, Roman and Trick Riding
In a
breathtaking act of horsemanship and amazing agility, the Riders of the Wind execute
incredible stunts that push the boundaries of strength and courage in Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey® Presents
DRAGONS!
Husband and
wife, Kanat and Tatiana Tchalabaev, crafted a masterpiece of speed, intensity
and agility when they assembled this unique troupe of three women and nine men
who perform with 18 powerful horses.
Horses and riders
navigate a 46-foot-diameter, specially-designed ring at speeds of more than 25
miles per hour. The 12 riders are trained in acrobatics and some have equestrian
backgrounds.
And the
horses? Kanat prefers to work with young horses, so he can learn their
strengths, behaviors and abilities early on. “The horses have different personalities,”
Kanat explains. “I like to get to know them when they are young. We see what
each horse is good at and we bring that into the act.”
Kanat and
Tatiana each hail from multi-generational circus families and began performing
at a young age.
Tatiana grew
up in a Russian circus family and traveled and performed with them. A
professionally trained gymnast from ages five to 14, she then joined the Moscow
State Circus School. Tatiana advanced quickly through her courses and became an
acrobatic flyer. At 16 years old, she began her studies at The University of
the Professional Sport and Culture.
Kanat grew up
in a second-generation circus family. His father was a professional acrobat. Kanat
notes, “We had horses, and I was riding a horse at age two.” Like Tatiana, Kanat
also studied at The University of the Professional Sport and Culture.
Afterwards, he then toured across Europe as a rider and performed at the prestigious
Moscow State circus.
While
performing at Kazakhstan Circus in 1990, Kanat and Tatiana met and fell in
love. The following year, they were asked to join Ringling Bros.® as part of the Cossack Act, Tatiana as an acrobat
and Kanat as a rider.
In 1997, the husband-and-wife
pair decided to create their own Cossack Act. During that time, Kanat trained
Tatiana. When Kanat’s mother eventually retired from the act, Tatiana filled
that role.
For the last
10 years, Kanat and Tatiana have toured across America with their incredible Cossack
Act. Now a part of The Greatest Show On
Earth® — where admittedly, the pair says they feel at home the
most – they are performing a never-before-seen Cossack Act.
For this
brand-new, mesmerizing Cossack presentation, Kanat and Tatiana lead their
troupe through mind-boggling maneuvers — including the five-man pyramid; the dead-man
drag; and the seemingly impossible underbelly climb, while his horse is at a
full-speed gallop, a rider climbs under and back over the horse.
Kanat and Tatiana, travel with their family,
which includes two daughters, Angelique and Veronica . And just like Kanat at
age two, his youngest daughter, Veronica, is on a horse. “She has horse in her
blood. As soon as she’s on that horse, her instincts kick in, she moves with
the horse, it’s something that can’t be taught,” Kanat adds. For mom, Tatiana, traveling
with her children is the greatest thing about being a performer. “We get to
spend time together. My kids are getting a quality education, both on and off
of the circus. We get to see national parks and museums. We see things that
even average American people don’t always get a chance to visit,” she confirms.