Irina Bugrimova: personal life, biography, photo

Irina Bugrimova is known to every circus lover in our country. However, not only in ours - this trainer won the world viewer with her numbers with lions. This spectacular woman with dark hair appeared in the arena accompanied by the kings of beasts, showing incredible numbers with their participation. Over the years of working with animals, Irina Bugrimova managed and was able to raise about 80 lions.

Childhood

The future circus star was born on March 13, 1910 in the city of Kharkov. Her parents did not have a direct relationship to the circus. My father was a veterinarian, my mother of noble birth, played excellent piano, took a great interest in photography and drawing.

From the age of seven the girl was engaged in a music school and a ballet studio. Some time later, she seriously took up sports disciplines: running, jumping from the tower, in height and length. She started playing Russian hockey, she was a thrower for CDs and copies, participated in push-put competitions, skated and even got involved in motorsport. In 1927 Irina Bugrimova became a champion in the shot put, after 12 months - in discus throwing. Thanks to motorsports, she met Buslaev, whom she later married. From 1926 to 1928 she was a pupil of the Kharkov Trade and Industrial School.

First exit

For the first time in the circus arena, the future trainer Irina Bugrimova appeared in 1931. Together with Buslaev she developed and implemented "Flying on a sledge from under the dome of a circus". Number, loved by the audience, but not an actress, lasted until 1937. At the same time, in parallel with the number, Irina is preparing something else - "Higher School of Riding". A short time later, in her repertoire a number appeared, in which she used lions for the first time.

After the war the couple broke up, and each began to build an individual career.

Lions

Irina Bugrimova's biography as an animal trainer did not begin by chance. In 1937, the manager of the circus Dankman said that he would like to see a trainer in the arena of his circus. Bugrimova agreed to put the number with leopards, who were purchased specifically for this purpose. However, after working with these animals, the trainer realized that she preferred to share the arena with real kings of animals. Guide went to meet her, giving three lions. They were called Caesar, Julius and Kai. Given that at that time there was no approved method for training these animals, it was necessary to move forward with small steps, making discoveries almost blindly, completely relying on intuition.

With the achievements of Irina Bugrimova, the whole world is familiar. Together with the circus she traveled around the world, showing her animals in Bulgaria, Iran, Japan, Poland, Mexico, Czechoslovakia, the GDR and other countries. Performance of the artist is not just a standard set of tricks, it is always a small play. Lions performed extremely difficult numbers: they flew under the dome of a circus on a swing, walked along a tightly stretched thin rope. A huge success among the spectators invariably enjoyed the numbers "The Armchair of Death", "The Lion in the Air", "The Lion on the Wire", "The Lion on the Motorcycle" and others like them.

Irina Bugrimova for her career worked with 80 lions, 8 horses and 12 dogs.

At the age of 66, the artist was forced to abandon her career: in 1976, the lions made a riot and attacked Bugrimova. The assistants managed to get her out of the arena, but what happened showed her, the lions no longer see her as a strong leader.

The method of training, to which the actress came, differs from the generally accepted one at that time. The fact is that she completely ruled out the blows and some unpleasant experiments, which many trainers of those times sinned. Even the Society for the Patronage of Animals had to come to the conclusion that its methodology was humane. Despite all that, on the stage in her speeches there was strict discipline, the animals were clearly subordinate to her every order and gesture. Many colleagues with whom the woman has met in various circuses, remember with surprise this strong woman, able to do what can not be achieved by every man.

Personal

Irina Bugrimova, whose personal life could not help but interest her fans, was not too happy in her family life. After parting with Buslaev she married an acrobat in the same circus of Constantine Parmakian. Unfortunately, and this marriage was not long or successful. The blame for everything was the popularity of the actress - she received much more than her husband, which could not but hurt her. She was always looking for a man who was stronger than her. But a woman who manages to subjugate the will of lions, is not so easy to do it.

In addition, Bugrimova never wanted children. For her, the main thing in life is speaking, working with animals. A child would distract her from this and only interfere with it.

Life after the arena

After leaving the circus Irina Bugrimova did not disappear at all, like many other artists. She engaged in social activities. In addition, she wrote a book about her work in the circus, participated in the admission committee at the State College of Circus and Variety Art. M. N. Rumyantseva, was a consultant for various circus undertakings.

Already at a very old age - at 86 years - Irina Bugrimova fell in her own apartment, the result - a fracture of the hip. For a long time she spent in a wheelchair, but she found the strength to start walking again and even do it on his heels.

The actress died in 2001 from a heart attack. Her grave is on the Troekurov cemetery. Almost all of its diamond collection, she bequeathed to use for the benefit of the development of dressing.

Facts about Bugrimova

Photos by Irina Bugrimova today are the decoration and pride of the circuses of the world, where she was on tour. During her long life Irina received many gifts and awards. In 1969 she became People's Artist of the USSR. The love of the viewer and the leadership was backed up financially - she had the highest fee for every exit to the arena. She liked to dress well and expensive. In addition, she regularly changed her cars: she moved from "Moskvich" to "ZIM", then to "Volga". She had an excellent villa, worth more than 30 thousand rubles, which was huge money for the USSR. At one time there was a lot of thinking and talking about her good collection of diamonds.

Irina loved to cook, so in her house, no matter how busy she was, there was never a servant. The only thing she regretted in this case is that cooking consumes a lot of time, which is already lacking.

In 2000, she received the Order of Merit for the Fatherland of the third degree.

The square next to the new Kharkov circus bears her name.