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==Animal Trainer==

''By Dominique Jando''


Born in Rostov-on-Don, in Russia, Irina spent a great deal of her childhood at the Rostov Zoo, studying animals. Later, she learned to ride horses and competed in horse shows. Her growing knowledge of animals eventually paid off: at age 19, she got a job as animal keeper at the Rostov Zoo. After having successfully taught her dog a little act, she decided to become an animal trainer. Her first professional act involved a lion, a bear, an African goat, and a boar, who all performed together with dogs. She created her first all-dog act in 1985. It was an immediate sensation. Her dogs were able to perform without the direct presence of their trainer&mdash;an unusual feat that became her trademark.

An imaginative performer and trainer, Irina has since created a string of highly original dog acts&mdash;including a parody of the legendary Russian lion trainer, [[Irina Buzarova]], in which her dogs were dressed in lion manes, and a juggling act in which her son, juggler [[Andrey Markov]], uses dogs as partners. Later, Irina added house cats to her canine troupes.

Irina Markova has toured with various units of the [[Moscow Circus]] in Europe and South and North America. She was the recipient of several awards in the Soviet Union and won a Silver Medal at the [[International Circus Festival of Massy]], France, in 2000&mdash;a festival that puts an emphasis on animal acts. She has since settled in the U.S., where she has been featured at the [[Big Apple Circus]] in 2002-03 and 2007-08. In 2010, she was the subject of a documentary film, ''The Poodle Trainer'', directed by Vance Malone, which was presented at the Sundance Festival. 

==See Also==

* Video: [[Irina Markova BAC 2002 Video|Irina Markova]] in the Big Apple Circus production of ''Dreams of a City'', (2002)
* Video: [[Irina Markova BAC 2007 Video|Irina Markova]] in the Big Apple Circus production of ''Celebrate'' (2007)

==External Link==

* [http://www.mytalenteddogs.com/ www.mytalenteddogs.com]

[[Category:Artists and Acts|Markova, Irina]]
[[Category:Animal Trainers|Markova, Irina]]

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