Difference between revisions of "Tunga"
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| − | Tungalag (Tunga) Has-Ochyrin was born in the People’s Republic of Mongolia (Outer Mongolia). | + | Tungalag (Tunga) Has-Ochyrin was born in the People’s Republic of Mongolia (Outer Mongolia), to a family that was not related to the circus: Her father was a construction manager, her mother a housewife who had raised ten children. |
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| + | Tunga joined the State Circus School of Ulan-Bator when she was twelve years old, and specialized in the art of contortion under the legendary Mongolian teacher, the late [[Mrs. Ayouche]]—who is credited with reviving the age old tradition of contortionism arts in Mongolia. In this remote Asian country (located between Russian Siberia and China), contortionists gave a spiritual meaning to their unique ability to gracefully twist their body in the most intricate positions, and they were revered for centuries as sacred dancers. | ||
Tunga started performing in 1978 with the Mongolian State Circus, both at home and on tours abroad. In 1985, she participated in the Circus Festival of Cuba, where she won the Silver medal. Subsequently, she was invited to perform at the [[Bolshoi Circus]] in Moscow, then the Soviet circus’s most prestigious venue—at a time when the Soviet circus was the world’s foremost proponent of circus arts. | Tunga started performing in 1978 with the Mongolian State Circus, both at home and on tours abroad. In 1985, she participated in the Circus Festival of Cuba, where she won the Silver medal. Subsequently, she was invited to perform at the [[Bolshoi Circus]] in Moscow, then the Soviet circus’s most prestigious venue—at a time when the Soviet circus was the world’s foremost proponent of circus arts. | ||
Revision as of 21:14, 16 January 2009
Tungalag (Tunga) Has-Ochyrin was born in the People’s Republic of Mongolia (Outer Mongolia), to a family that was not related to the circus: Her father was a construction(French) A temporary circus building, originally made of wood and canvas, and later, of steel elements supporting a canvas top and wooden wall. Also known as a "semi-construction." manager, her mother a housewife who had raised ten children.
Tunga joined the State Circus School of Ulan-Bator when she was twelve years old, and specialized in the art of contortion under the legendary Mongolian teacher, the late Mrs. Ayouche—who is credited with reviving the age old tradition of contortionism arts in Mongolia. In this remote Asian country (located between Russian Siberia and China), contortionists gave a spiritual meaning to their unique ability to gracefully twist their body in the most intricate positions, and they were revered for centuries as sacred dancers.
Tunga started performing in 1978 with the Mongolian State Circus, both at home and on tours abroad. In 1985, she participated in the Circus Festival of Cuba, where she won the Silver medal. Subsequently, she was invited to perform at the Bolshoi Circus in Moscow, then the Soviet circus’s most prestigious venue—at a time when the Soviet circus was the world’s foremost proponent of circus arts.
Tunga was featured at Berlin’s Friedrichstadt Palast Theater for the 700th anniversary celebration of the German capital in 1987, and two years later, she made her debut in a circus of the western world, Circus Roncalli in Germany. After that, Tunga settled in Germany, and appeared in many European circus and variety shows. She went to the United States in 1992, where she was featured in the Big Apple Circus production of Goin’ Places.
Tunga stopped performing soon after that engagement, and began to promote and train a group of Mongolian contortionists in Germany, for the numerous “varieté(German, from the French: ''variété'') A German variety show whose acts are mostly circus acts, performed in a cabaret atmosphere. Very popular in Germany before WWII, Varieté shows have experienced a renaissance since the 1980s.” shows that were already burgeoning in that country. She managed her troupe for several years, and eventually retired from show business in the early 2000s.
See Also
- Video: Tunga, Contortionist, in the Big Apple Circus production of Goin' Places (1992)
