Yuri Maiorov

BIOGRAPHY
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Yuri was born March 12, 1967 into a circus performing family in Moscow. After graduating from high school, Yuri attended a Circus and Stage Performing Arts Academy and later continued four more years of academic study. After only a few month of working in the Russian circus Yuri served in the Russian Army for 2 years. In 1989, a talented Russian director with vision invited Yuri to be a part of an experimental endeavor whereby a unique circus concept was emerging. It was during this time that circus took a whole new approach to performing arts and Yuri found himself experiencing an unequaled level of training in dance, ballet, and acrobatics.

Now an accomplished performer in this unprecedented circus genre, Yuri was invited to work in New York at the Gershwin Theater for a several month tour.

Making the decision to stay in the US, Yuri relocated to Las Vegas where he personally created a new performance called "Men in Design" - a stunning display where three men performed as hand-to-hand acrobatics as living sculpture. With the success of this performance, Yuri was contracted to perform in the shows "Jubilee", "Splash" at the Rivera Hotel, and a show at the MGM Grand as a guest artist. It was during this time in Las Vegas, 1993, that Yuri met his future wife, Natalia, a talented prima ballerina with the Bolshoi Ballet.

In 1995, Yuri accepted an offer to join Cirque du Soleil`s "Allegria" to execute a specialty number on what is called a "Russian Bar". During this year he choreographed his solo performance as the "Flying Man - A Ballet on Silk". Yuri was the first artist to create and use this striking technique. After witnessing Yuri`s performance, Cirque du Soleil producers asked Yuri to join them as a star solo performer on their Asian tour in Japan and Hong Kong.

Returning to Las Vegas with Natalia, their son Philipp was born in 1997. This event kept them there performing for two years. Yuri continued to perform many solo concerts including Mr. Olympia in CA, Rodeo Stampede in Calgary, and also performed for President Clinton in the Vancouver APEC for world leaders. Thirty-one presidents were in attendance, including the Russian president.

In 1998, Yuri was invited to an International Festival in Monte Carlo by personal invitation of the Prince of Monaco and won two awards: "The Grand Prix of Monaco" award and the "Italian Gallery of Art" award for his efforts in taking circus art to a state-of-the-art level. Yuri`s performances in Monte Carlo produced yet another invitation from the president of Cirque du Soleil asking Yuri to work as a solo performer in La Nouba, as the "Flying Man" in new show in Orlando, FL where he can be seen today.

This year also brought a special performance by Yuri at the 2002 Academy Award show in Hollywood. The spectacular show by Circue du Soleil performers brought a standing ovation from the entire audience of actors and screen performers.

Yuri took up photography during his years in Las Vegas and has photographed his colleagues on a continual basis ever since.