Pliner Viktor (14 May 1915, Rēzhitsa, Vitebsk Governorate — date unknown) - acrobat and circus director.

Viktor Pliner was born in Rēzhitsa (now Rēzekne) and became a Honoured Artist of the RSFSR.

He graduated from the Moscow College of Circus Arts in 1930 and joined the acrobatic troupe “Icarian Games” led by A. Aleksandrov. From 1937 to 1965, Pliner served as leader and performer of a similar troupe under his own direction, which launched the careers of many renowned circus artists. The troupe under his leadership presented stunt compositions distinguished by exceptional creativity and technical mastery. They became laureates of the 1st International Circus Arts Festival (Warsaw, 1956) and toured extensively, including performances at the Riga State Circus.

Many acrobatic tricks now considered classics were created within Pliner’s troupe, including the triple reverse wheel, the pirouette somersault landing on one leg, and eight pirouette somersaults performed in tempo on the feet.

Pliner possessed a rare talent for working with children. He devised numerous jokes, comic routines, and scenes that were performed with great success by young performers. One boy from Pliner’s troupe, Vova Polyakov, became known to film audiences for his role in The White Poodle; Vanya Shinkoruk appeared in Vasek Trubachev and His Comrades; and Zhenya Butyrsky participated in the International Circus Festival in Warsaw, where he won a gold medal.

From 1965 to 1967, Pliner taught at the State School of Variety and Circus Arts in Moscow. Beginning in 1968, he worked as a director at the Moscow Circus on Tsvetnoy Boulevard, where he staged acts including “Icarian Games,” “Dance-Acrobats on Roller Skates,” “Dance-Acrobats on the Horizontal Pole,” and others.

Bibliography:

Basmanov, A. The Master and His Pupils (Мастер и его ученики). Sovetsky Cirk, 1960, no. 5.