Ignatov Says Nothing Is Certain But His Daughter

 STORY & PHOTOS BY KARIN HERTZER

 

Sergei Ignatov, who performed this spring with the Althoff Circus, has been back in

Germany for the past three years, and likes it! Born in Chemnitz in the former East Germany, he likes the German way of life. He likes to go to the museums in Dresden and Munich, enjoying especially works by Lucas Cranach, Peter Paul Rubens and Albrecht Durer. Besides that, he loves classical music by Chopin and Bach. He said, "With juggling, I want to come closer to that music. In that respect, there is still a lot for me to do."

 

Last year, Ignatov performed in the Tiger­palast in Frankfurt. "I am very happy that Althoff allowed me to take time off for that," he said. "I got the chance to perform alone there for the very first time."

 

The spot was small, though, surrounded by tables on all sides. "It was very hard because people were so close," he said. Nevertheless, for three months he performed twice a night, doing nine rings and five club back crosses.

 

Will Ignatov remain in Germany after his job with Circus Althoff is done? "I don't know," he responded. There is a possibility that he could stay with the Moscow Circus and retire soon after 25 years, when he can get a pension. But he said, "I will stop performing when I notice that I am not among the world's best jugglers anymore. I am 43 now."

 

He does have some definite plans - plans with Katja, his 14­year-old daughter, who began juggling two years ago. Her trainer, of course, is Sergei Ignatov.

 

Katja and his wife, Marina, are with him on tour. Marina dances ballet on tight rope without a net and safety-belt. Katja is a beautiful, tall teenager, fluent in English. In Moscow, she is in the ninth grade and practices juggling four hours a day.

 

Her father said proudly, "Katja already does five balls. In some years she will be very good. She got my brain in her head."

 

Does Katja think she will be as famous as her father? She paused, then said, "It will be a lot of work."