Modern cultural and family spaces in Almaty -
Art, traditions and vivid heritage of the Kazakh circus school -
The Kazakh State Circus is one of the most recognizable and beloved places in Almaty, where a special atmosphere of celebration, music and surprise has been living for more than half a century. This is not just a circus arena, but a part of the cultural memory of the city, a place where children see the magic of artists for the first time, and adults feel the joy they have known since childhood.
Located on Abai Avenue opposite the Mukhtar Auezov Drama Theater, the circus has long been a family recreation center, preserving the traditions of the Soviet circus school and developing its own, Kazakhstani one. Its building is one of the symbols of Almaty, recognizable by its dome and flowing lines of architecture resembling a yurt – a symbol of unity, tradition and home warmth.
Under this roof, legends of fearlessness, sleight of hand, and boundless imagination are born, capable of turning the arena into a sacred space of wonder. Here, in the semi-darkness of the auditorium, holding their breath, adults become children again for a moment, and children learn to believe in the impossible. The circus in Almaty is a place where the magic of art itself comes to life, which knows no language barriers and age restrictions.
The history of the circus and its formation
The history of the Kazakh State Circus began in the 1970s, when the cultural infrastructure was actively developing in Almaty. The building in the form of a huge yurt was the creation of a group of architects who sought to combine modern technical solutions and national motifs.
The circus building was opened in 1972 and immediately became an architectural landmark of the city. The famous troupes of the Union republics held their first tours here, and soon their own Kazakh circus school was formed, which quickly gained international recognition.
The traditions of circus art have been living in Kazakh culture for centuries. These are folk akyn buffoons (saly and sonshi), and virtuoso horsemen who demonstrated horsemanship, and strongmen, and masters of wit. All this has become a rich soil for the birth of a professional circus.
Almaty Circus artists took part in festivals in Europe, Asia, and the CIS countries, bringing awards for original performances, acrobatics, plastic arts, training, and aerial performances.
Architecture: a spaceship landed in Almaty
The futuristic appearance of the circus building, designed by architects V. Katz, I. Slonov and L. Ukhobotov, stood out radically against the background of the classic development of Abai Avenue. A huge "flying" hyperboloid dome, devoid of internal supports, creates a feeling of weightlessness and spaciousness. This form was innovative for its time and still looks modern.
The dome of the circus is not just a roof, but a complex engineering structure. Its design made it possible to create a huge interior space free of columns, which opened up unlimited possibilities for staging the most complex aerial numbers.
Inside, the circus impresses with its scale: a spacious lobby, wide staircases, a circus museum corner, rehearsal rooms, dressing rooms and, of course, the arena itself, designed for more than two thousand spectators.
Special attention is paid to acoustics and visibility – the arena is visible equally well from any place, which creates ideal conditions for circus art.
Circus atmosphere and repertoire
The Kazakh State Circus has a special atmosphere that combines music, light, energy of artists and long-standing traditions of circus art. Several major programs are presented here every season: children's shows, themed productions, classical circus performances and touring projects of troupes from different countries.
The circus is particularly proud of its own rooms:
- aerialists,
- acrobats,
- horsemen on horseback,
- equilibrists,
- jugglers,
- dance and ethnic shows,
- shows with trained animals.
Many of the programs are inspired by Kazakh culture – national costumes, music, elements of traditional games and even motifs of legends create a special flavor that distinguishes the Almaty troupe on the world stage.
Circus and city life
The Kazakh State Circus has long been a place where schoolchildren, tourists, and guests of the city come. For many families, going to the circus is an important tradition that is passed down from generation to generation. Next to the circus is the Fantasy World amusement park.
The square in front of the circus is always lively – school groups, parents with children, young people and travelers meet here. In the evening, the dome of the circus is illuminated, creating the feeling of a theatrical entrance to a fairy tale. There are beautiful fountains near the circus.
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How to get there and visit -
The Kazakh State Circus is located in Almaty on Abai Avenue at: 50 Abaya street, Almaly district, Republic of Kazakhstan.
GPS coordinates: 43°14'20"N 76°55'02"E
The easiest way to get to the Almaty Circus is to use the metro. The exits of the M. Auezov Theater station are located right at the entrance. Buses No. 3 (night bus) also run to the circus.), 25, 34, 57, 62, 65, 66, 92, 98, 118, 120, 128 and trolleybuses No. 5, 19, 25. For more convenience, come here by taxi or private transport.
Opening hours: daily from 10:00 to 18:00 (lunch from 13:00 to 14:00)
Contacts: +7 727 394 49 11; +7 727 394 49 03
Official website of the Almaty Circus
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Legend and special atmosphere
They say that in the early years of the circus, the artists believed in one sign: before the premiere, the trainers released a small puppy into the arena – "for luck", for the whole team. It was believed that if the puppy walked calmly in a circle, the performance would be perfect.
Rumor has it that on the very first night after the circus opened, when the city fell asleep and no one was left in the building, the watchman heard a soft, melodious hum overhead. Looking up, he saw moonlight streaming through the huge stained-glass windows at the base of the dome, and it seemed to him that the bulk above him was slowly rotating, as if preparing for takeoff.
Since then, there has been a beautiful belief among circus workers that the building is really capable of flying. It's built in the shape of a ship for a reason. It is said that it collects the energy of children's laughter and universal delight, and when it accumulates enough, the circus will one fine night take off and fly to give a miracle to those cities where it is completely gone. And to prevent this from happening, it must be constantly filled with the audience, their applause and happy eyes.
Kazakh Circus today
Today, the Kazakh State Circus is a living legend, continuing traditions and boldly looking to the future. This is a place where classic acts are carefully preserved and where innovative shows are born, in which jigging is juxtaposed with neon light, and clowning is combined with 3D mapping.
The air here is vibrant with music and bated breath.
Not only acrobats, but also dreams soar under the dome.
Here, every session is a proof that a miracle is possible.
Interesting sights nearby:
• Monument to Mukhtar Auezov in Almaty;
• Baluan Sholak Sports and Cultural Complex;
• National Library of the Republic of Kazakhstan;
• Yesentai River;
• Abylkhan Kasteev State Museum of Art;
• Central Stadium of Almaty;
• Biokombinat Park.
• Dostyk Sports Complex.
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