The Balkanski Family – The Balkanski Troupe – Circus Balkanski
Academician Alexander Balkanski is a sixth-generation circus artist through his mother, Lola Orlando Malevolti. He was born on 8 August 1942 in Pleven, Bulgaria, and completed his secondary education in Polyanovgrad (today’s Karnobat).
He devoted his entire professional life to circus arts—from his very first working day on 1 April 1950 until his retirement on 1 April 2000.
Alexander Balkanski is married, the father of two sons, Alexander Balkanski Jr. and Nikolai Balkanski, and the proud grandfather of five grandchildren.
He serves as Chairman of the Circus Artists Guild within the Union of Bulgarian Actors, is a member of the Board of Directors of the Union of Bulgarian Actors, and is also a member of the Academic Council of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences and Arts (BASA).
Two Centuries of Circus Tradition
The contribution of the Balkanski family to the world of circus arts began more than 200 years ago.
In 1820, Alexander Balkanski’s great-grandfather, Joseph Giuntini, founded Circus Giuntini in Samara. Several years later, he established permanent wooden circus buildings in Samara and Moscow, located at the Grain Market.
The travelling big-top circus was later renamed Circus Virginia, after Alexander Balkanski’s grandmother.
In 1916, the circus was confiscated.
The family left Odessa and headed for Italy, but during a stop in Varna, Bulgaria, they decided to remain permanently, making Bulgaria their second homeland.
In 1920, Alexander Balkanski’s uncle, the clown Charlie, founded the family’s third circus, Circus Rex, which was later renamed Circus Levski.
Until the outbreak of the Second World War, it performed under the name Circus Europa.
Following the nationalisation of private circuses in 1948, members of the Balkanski family continued their careers as state circus artists until 1989.
The Balkanski Troupe
At the age of 38, in 1980, Alexander Balkanski founded the Balkanski Troupe, which would become one of Bulgaria’s most internationally successful circus ensembles.
At the beginning, the troupe’s programme consisted of five major acts:
- Acrobatics
- Perch Poles
- The Wheel of Death
- Kopf Trapeze
- Equilibristics
The troupe premiered in Sofia in 1981.
During the following three consecutive years, the Balkanski Troupe toured Denmark, Switzerland, Greece, and Italy.
Between 1985 and 1999, the troupe performed extensively throughout Germany, earning international recognition.
Circus Balkanski
In 2000, Alexander Balkanski, together with his sons Alexander Balkanski Jr. and Nikolai Balkanski, founded Circus Balkanski.
From its very first season, Circus Balkanski began touring throughout Bulgaria, followed by successful tours in Turkey, Israel, and once again Turkey, before returning to Bulgaria.
Among the most memorable moments in the history of the Balkanski Troupe are its performances at the Vatican in 1986, 1993, and 2000, where the artists had the honour of performing before Pope John Paul II.
The troupe has also performed before members of several European royal families, including Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom, the Queen of Denmark, the Queen of Sweden, and the Queen of the Netherlands.
Awards and Recognition
Throughout its history, the Balkanski Family, Balkanski Troupe, and Circus Balkanski have received numerous prestigious national and international honours, including:
- 1983 – Silver Clown Award, Monte-Carlo International Circus Festival, Monaco.
- 1986 – Golden Plaque Award, Siena, Italy.
- 1999 – Golden Lion, the honorary symbol of the City of Jerusalem.
- 1982 and 1989 – Awards of the Union of Bulgarian Actors.
- 1982 – Nikolai Balkanski, the younger son of Alexander Balkanski, was entered into the Guinness World Records for performing a double somersault on one stilt and on two stilts.
A Historic Anniversary
The year 2020 marked an extraordinary milestone for the Balkanski family, celebrating:
- 200 years of circus tradition worldwide;
- 100 years of circus activity in Bulgaria;
- 20 years of Circus Balkanski;
- the 50th birthday of Nikolai Balkanski;
- and 40 years of Nikolai Balkanski’s artistic career.