Clowns left: Cirque du Solyanka on the 4th anniversary of the Moscow club

From 10 to 12 June, the Moscow club Solyanka celebrates its fourth anniversary. The event is called Cirque du Solyanka. The circus theme unites all three days, but the second promises to be the most frikovsky: on June 11, the organizers urge visitors to be inspired by clowns, illusionists and aerialists. And no matter how wildly the dress code formula sounds (lagoon-colored makeup, gymnastics leotard, for those who want stilts), there is no doubt: listen to the Kolibri group and dance to the new wave, cold wave and neue Deutsche Welle in clothes inspired by the clip of David Bowie Ashes to Ashes and the spring-summer collection Nina Donis (if they don’t come in things from the collection itself, of course).

The promoter group responsible for the second day of Cirque du Solyanka, not for the first time, forces a thousand people to put on at the same time what they don’t usually wear. The first party was held in March 2009: at the Woogie Night club, "Solyanka" resembled the set of the movie "Crybaby." At the same time, the party organizers declare that there is in fact no dress code. “We don’t say that if you don’t dress up, you won’t be allowed to join the club,” explains Natasha Ganelina, part of the Zoopark promo duo, who is responsible for several memorable Moscow style parties. “We want people to be interested in finding a costume and feeling themselves I feel comfortable. Often, guests who came in casual clothes were upset that they didn’t dress in the theme of the evening. When we did the first Woogie Night event, everyone said it would be good if at least 20 people come smart. discharged that gla and ran all those red lips, lush skirts, stockings arrow, black leather jackets and cooks. "

Woogie Night was devoted to the style of the 50s and rockabilly. Photos: Alina Nikitina

Themed parties for Solyanka are organized by the Zoopark promotion group for the third year already. The group includes Natasha Ganelina (former deputy editor-in-chief of Afishi-Moscow and ex-chief editor of Petersburg-based Afisha) and Dima Pantyushin (graphic designer and one of the founders of the Clevermoto group, which for several years brings classic scooters to Moscow). Cirque du Solyanka is their fourth event for the club. As always, a few weeks before the event, a blog and teasers appear that tell about the party and what it is inspired by, and at the same time throw ideas of costumes. “Often the thought about the event we want to do comes long before it starts,” says Natasha. “Sometimes it can take half a year or even more from the moment of the idea to realization. It is important for us to understand when what event to hold: some fall is clearly suitable (” The tragedy in the style of rock "), some spring (Woogie Night). All the topics we addressed, be it a rockabilly party or a Russian rock party, are not at all fashionable and relevant, as they like to write in press releases, but about something personal and loved. "

Shooting "Session in the 66th apartment" and photos from the party "Tragedy in the style of rock," inspired by the Soviet informals of the 80s and Russian rock. Party blog.

Begin to prepare for a month and a half. “It's one thing to come to a cool supply, and another to an event where it’s not even very clear who will be performing, as was the Rock Tragedy party. We believe that the atmosphere is important at our parties, and not a specific artist. And for the right atmosphere, people need to explain what awaits them.Therefore, we always make a blog with music, videos and pictures, which prepares people for the fact that this evening they will hear the music that usually does not play in the club, and they will dress like this as they usually don't go to clubs. "

"The initiators of all the events are me and my young man Dima Pantyushin, we are almost always helped by Armas Shpilev-Vikstrem (Former editor of the "Clubs" rubric "Posters", now he is a columnist for the magazine "Itogi". - Approx. ed.), Sasha Grishin and Igor Kompaniets (Art director of Solyanka. - Approx. ed.). Sometimes we call someone else for a specific task, ”says Natasha.

“The desire to have a circus party came to us last summer, but then for some reason it didn’t work out. And a couple of months ago we watched“ The Freaks ”by Tod Browning and decided to return to this topic. This is one of the favorite films of photographer Diane Arbus, which I myself I love it very much. In the film, the most famous circus freaks from all the American circus circus of the 1930s were shot, "continues Natasha.

From the familiar circus there will be a recognizable entourage and characters, the music is wild and strange (except, obviously, the performances of the Hummingbird group). Images for inspiration - albinos, Siamese twins, Lilliputians and giants, clowns, acrobats, hula hoops and strongmen. “The main thing is that the costumes do not look banal in a circus manner,” says Natasha. “There are plenty of examples that can be inspired. In summer, you always want to wear simple forms, bright and pure colors. And the summer collections of this season are such that even Raf’s minimalist clothes You can make a circus outfit with Simons wearing a wide striped blue-and-white dress or lemon pants with a fuchsia-colored blouse, look at the clothes and makeup from John Galliano and Vivienne Westwood's summer shows, even if these designers are invited to our party, they are great will fit I'm into it. "