A Bit About US

Who We Are?

The Story of the 
Gerekliev Family

• The story of the clown group "Maska" begins in 1960 when the Gerekliyev family took their first steps into the world of circus arts. In Guriev (Kazakh SSR), Ivan Georgievich and his wife Nina Semyonovna were introduced to circus and dance. They joined the Song and Dance Ensemble under the direction of Dmitry Arsentiev. In 1961, their daughter Irina was born, who would later become a circus star. Ivan Georgievich and Nina Semyonovna actively participated in the ensemble, showcasing their talents and gaining experience.
• In 1967, the family moved to Moldova, where Ivan Georgievich organized the female dance ensemble "Virgo". In 1969, their eldest son Oleg was born, who would later become a choreographer and artist. In 1977, their youngest son Igor was born, a future musician and composer.
• In 1978, Oleg enrolled in the Chisinau Choreographic School and began his path in the arts, becoming a candidate for master of sports in acrobatics. Oleg also performed at the Opera and Ballet Theater in Chisinau in ballets such as "The Nutcracker", "La Bayadère", the opera "Sergei Lazo", and other concert numbers at the theater. He later graduated from the Odessa Choreographic School as a choreographer-director.
• In 1989, Oleg started working at the Concert and Entertainment Directorate "Moscow" under the direction of Iosif Kobzon, presenting his first production on the Soviet stage. In 1990, Oleg married Larisa Kravchenko, with whom he performed for over 10 years in his father's dance group "Rovestnik". In 1992, their daughter Irina was born, followed by their son Alexander in 1994.
• In 1994, Oleg, Larisa, and Irina Moiseeva worked with the Royal Circus of Belgium in Brussels, alongside the Russian Circus Show. That same year, Coca-Cola invited them on a promotional tour across Scandinavia, covering Sweden and Norway, with the "Fantasy Tour 1994" featuring Fanta.
• From 1995 to 1998, Oleg and Larisa established their own small circus troupe and performed at top five-star hotels in Antalya, Turkey. This was just the beginning, and they could be considered pioneers in Antalya.
• In 1999, they were invited to perform at the renowned French circus "Circus Lydia Zavatta", where they received special recognition from both audiences and critics. Larisa, with her Hula-Hoop act, was invited to perform at Zavatta Circus Galas, while Oleg performed his act "Manipulations with Cube, Frame, and Sphere" and was named "Parisian Discovery of the Year". Oleg was invited to TF2 television as Artist of the Year and became the winner of the "Opening of Paris" nomination.
• From 2001 to present, Oleg, Larisa, Alexander, and Irina established their own family theater and successfully performed with the clown show "Clown Magic Show". Over the years, their talent and professionalism have received recognition and respect from audiences worldwide.