Mikhail Tuganov

Born Aug. 2,1900, in Ordzhonikidze; died May 4, 1974, in Moscow. Soviet Ossetian circus performer, equestrian, and stage director. People’s Artist of the RSFSR (1958). Member of the CPSU from 1942.

Tuganov studied under A. T. Kantemirov in 1922 and worked independently from 1925. He created an equestrian act, which he headed from 1927 to 1932, and later organized the Don Cossack Ensemble; during the Great Patriotic War (1941–45) the ensemble, headed by Tuganov, volunteered for the front.

In subsequent years, Tuganov staged the equestrian pantomime “For Which the Blades Ring, ” the equestrian suite “On the Don, ” and the act “Bareback Riders of Severnaia Osetiia.” In 1965, Tuganov staged the show “Equestrian Circus, ” which combined the best-known horse tricks. He also toured abroad.

Tuganov was awarded two orders and various medals. He trained a large group of students, including his daughter, Dzer-assa Mikhailovna Tuganova (born Feb. 4, 1929), who has been the lead performer of the bareback act “Iriston” since 1962.