Eric Abramovich Shatsky, known by his stage name Eric Shatov. (January 14, 1927 – November 11, 2010). He was a Soviet circus performer and master juggler. Born in Bryansk, Russia and studied under Nikolai Olkhovikov. Over the course of his career, he became a laureate of the VI World Festival of Youth and Students in Moscow in 1957 and won first prize at the III All-Russian Competition of Variety Artists in 1963.
Shatov began performing in 1945, with juggling clubs and rings, and skilfully twirling a tennis racket. In 1950, under the direction of M. Uglich, he introduced an original act titled “Juggler Without Props.” In this performance, all the objects – clubs, rings, and balls – were concealed within his costume. During the act, he juggled eight balls while launching nine into the air.
In 1959, he demonstrated a complex finale trick in which he threw balls into a transparent plastic cup mounted atop a frontal perch. With each successive throw, the perch extended through telescopic sections, eventually reaching a height of eight meters. In 1965, he presented a record-breaking trick that had never been performed before: a white ball was placed on top of a three-meter frontal perch, and he would throw a red ball that knocked the white ball down and landed precisely in its place. The trick relied entirely on precision and skill, with no hidden mechanisms.
In 1966, Shatov created a new act for two performers with his partner, Larisa Nikanorovna Morzhavikova. She was born on June 18, 1940, and was awarded a Master of Sports in 1963. Their performance combined the juggling of polished metal canes, 82cm long, with elements of dance and acrobatics. The act concluded with a remarkable balancing sequence: a burning candle stood on a transparent tray with two wine glasses filled with “wine” on either side. The tray was placed on a three-meter perch, which rested on the end of a two-meter cane held horizontally by the artist. This created a complex double balance performed at various angles, including a 45-degree tilt. Shatov would then place the perch on his forehead and begin juggling balls – two landing in the glasses and a third extinguishing the candle before coming to rest on top of it. In the finale, he threw the perch to his partner and caught the tray in his hands.
During their career, Shatov and Morzhavikova performed in 43 countries across Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Americas. The duet retired from the stage in 1986.
References: Gershuni E. P. Soviet Variety Art. A. 1959. P. 33 Vartanov A. Specifics of the Genre // SEC. 1964. No. 3. P. 10-11 Goryachev P. A. My Friends Are Artists. St. Petersburg, 1995. P. 118.
I do not own the copyright for this video. All content is uploaded for educational and preservation purposes only and is not monetised. I'm a video curator not creator. If you are a copyright owner and have concerns about any material, please contact me, and I will take appropriate action.
Shatov began performing in 1945, with juggling clubs and rings, and skilfully twirling a tennis racket. In 1950, under the direction of M. Uglich, he introduced an original act titled “Juggler Without Props.” In this performance, all the objects – clubs, rings, and balls – were concealed within his costume. During the act, he juggled eight balls while launching nine into the air.
In 1959, he demonstrated a complex finale trick in which he threw balls into a transparent plastic cup mounted atop a frontal perch. With each successive throw, the perch extended through telescopic sections, eventually reaching a height of eight meters. In 1965, he presented a record-breaking trick that had never been performed before: a white ball was placed on top of a three-meter frontal perch, and he would throw a red ball that knocked the white ball down and landed precisely in its place. The trick relied entirely on precision and skill, with no hidden mechanisms.
In 1966, Shatov created a new act for two performers with his partner, Larisa Nikanorovna Morzhavikova. She was born on June 18, 1940, and was awarded a Master of Sports in 1963. Their performance combined the juggling of polished metal canes, 82cm long, with elements of dance and acrobatics. The act concluded with a remarkable balancing sequence: a burning candle stood on a transparent tray with two wine glasses filled with “wine” on either side. The tray was placed on a three-meter perch, which rested on the end of a two-meter cane held horizontally by the artist. This created a complex double balance performed at various angles, including a 45-degree tilt. Shatov would then place the perch on his forehead and begin juggling balls – two landing in the glasses and a third extinguishing the candle before coming to rest on top of it. In the finale, he threw the perch to his partner and caught the tray in his hands.
During their career, Shatov and Morzhavikova performed in 43 countries across Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Americas. The duet retired from the stage in 1986.
References: Gershuni E. P. Soviet Variety Art. A. 1959. P. 33 Vartanov A. Specifics of the Genre // SEC. 1964. No. 3. P. 10-11 Goryachev P. A. My Friends Are Artists. St. Petersburg, 1995. P. 118.
I do not own the copyright for this video. All content is uploaded for educational and preservation purposes only and is not monetised. I'm a video curator not creator. If you are a copyright owner and have concerns about any material, please contact me, and I will take appropriate action.
