See “Dogs Of The City” this week at Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus

Those of you that follow me on Instagram know how much I love poodles, and the “Dogs Of The City” act is what we are most looking forward to at the circus on opening night this Thursday!

“Dogs of the City” Comedic Duo and Mixed Animal Act Alex and Irina Alex and Irina have spent years creating never-before-seen acts full of comedy, animals, magic and dynamic athleticism. In the 145th Edition of Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey® Presents Circus XTREME. Alex and Irina will lead audiences on an adventure exploring the world to discover circus extremes.

Alex was born in Moscow to a working-class family. His uncle was a circus clown, and when Alex watched his uncle perform, he was moved. “He looked so nice and had so many stories about the circus; he had seen so many things. My eyes were opened to the possibility of opportunity,” Alex explained.

Soon after, Alex traveled to Ukraine to attend an elite professional circus school, where the coursework was challenging and the students competitive. He excelled and was soon invited to join the Nikulin Circus, where he impressed the director and was immediately brought on as an artist.

Irina and her brother, originally from Moscow, are second-generation circus performers, who grew up under the tutelage of their famous animal-trainer father. “By the time I was a young girl, I had my own monkey act,” Irina reflected. On touring, she admitted, “I can’t stay in one place for long; I think there’s a nomadic animal in my blood.”

Alex and Irina met while performing in circus shows. She was presenting her monkey act and Alex was a clown. After several years of touring, Alex decided he wanted to leave the circus to focus on building and strengthening his magical comedy act, and he needed a partner. Alex and Irina haven’t been apart since, and that was fifteen years ago.

Alex was confident his magical comedy act was as perfect as it could be. And the pair was recognized by fans and peers with various awards and accolades. Even with this success, Alex and Irina still returned to Russia to assemble a new animal act. They spent several years training large and small poodle puppies. Once the act was perfected, they spent several years working with the Moscow State Circus along with their extended family. During this time, Alex, who understood the importance of honing and acquiring new skills, studied at the Russian Academy of Arts. He graduated with a degree in Circus Production.

Already an accomplished performer, Irina felt ready to truly commit to developing her comedic character. Alex was ready too, “I’m the teacher, and she is the student. She was ready to learn.” Irina continued to build confidence and skills. It was then that Alex, who considers himself the architect of their act, felt that all the pieces fit together. “We were real and authentic; everything felt natural,” he said. The pair decided to take their new act out on an American tour.

Irina loves visiting her favorite places in America, including New Orleans, Las Vegas, Broadway, and enjoys shopping for the latest fashions, too. After their first Ringling Bros.® tour, her fellow performers voted her “Best Dressed” in their year-end awards.

In addition to their love for travel and performance, they are crazy for American culture. “America is a great machine of shows and productions. We’ve watched thousands of movies.” In fact, they love American movies so much; they named all of their dogs after famous actors.

Extraordinarily happy to be invited to return to Ringling Bros., Alex and Irina couldn’t be more proud of their accomplishments. “We are finally here, and we are strong. We have created a stable groundwork; we built these acts, piece by piece. It’s the foundation of who we are. We’ve worked our whole lives for this,” says Alex.

WHEN:           Thursday, September 24 – Monday, September 28

Thursday, September 24                    7:00 PM

Friday, September 25             3:30 PM & 7:00 PM

Saturday, September 26                    11:30 AM, 3:30 PM & 7:00 PM

Sunday, September 27                       1:00 PM & 4:30 PM

Monday, September 28                      7:00 PM

WHERE: EnergySolutions Arena – 301 W. South Temple, Salt Lake City, UT 84101

TICKETS: Ticket prices range from $20, $35 (VIP) and $65-70 (Front Row)*

Kids (ages 2-12) tickets available for only $10 each for select seating on weekday shows

Save 50% on Opening Night discount tickets  (select seating only; not valid on VIP/Front Row levels)

All seats are reserved; tickets available thru Ticketmaster.com, charge by phone at 800-745-3000 or visit the Energy Solutions Arena Box Office

                                *Front Row pricing varies between weekday/weekend performances

DISCOUNT:

Smith’s Tix Code: MOM
Offer: $5 off

Valid Performances: Friday 3:30pm & 7:00pm, Saturday 11:30am, Sunday 4:30pm, Monday 7:00pm

-$26 and $20 tickets only

-Limit 8 per order

-Valid online only with code

-Good through Showtime

-Additional fees may apply