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Angara is a contortionist group described as “absolutely jaw dropping.” Angara contortion is auditioning on America’s Got Talent at 8 p.m. July 9.
The four-woman group is not new to the stage. The group was also on Britain’s Got Talent in 2017. They are a part of the ongoing Cirque du Soleil show Kurios.
The Russian-based group met at circus boarding school in 1996. The four women performers are Bayarma Zodboeva, Imin Tsydendambaeva, Serchmaa Byarsaikhan and Ayagma Tsybenova. They have been working together for more than 20 years.
The group has received recognition and rewards abroad including a gold metal at the International Circus Festival in 2004 in Italy, a silver metal at the International Circus Festival in Mongolia in 2003 and a bronze medal at the Delphic Games in Russia in 2009.
They also performed in Cirque du Soleil’s Banana Shpeel show and in the Iris show from 2011 to 2013, according to the Angara website.
Britain’s Got Talent faced some controversy in 2017 because Angara contortion consists of professional performers.
A spokesperson for the show told the Daily Mail that being a professional does not disqualify a person or group from auditioning.
Here’s what you need to know:
1. The Women Met In Circus School
The four members of Angara met in a circus boarding school in 1996. Bayarma Zodboeva wrote on the group’s website she started contortion at age 10 in Buryatia.
“The sports teacher at my school saw I had some natural flexibility and that’s how it all began for me,” the website said. Soon I was performing acrobatic gymnastics at school events and I fell in love with the stage, the applause and the magic of live performance. My parents then took me to a circus boarding school more than 800km from the village where I grew up. I lived there studying and practicing contortion for the next four years of my life and before long I was working in the state circus of Buryatia. Where would it all lead? Fast forward to now and I’m living my dream. I work for Cirque Du Soleil, travel the world, and have had the opportunity to meet some amazing and talented people. Never stop learning. Never stop exploring. Never stop dreaming.”
Bayarma Zodboeva was sent to a circus boarding school about 500 miles from her home, where she met the other three members of Angara, according to their website. The four women who make up Angara are Bayarma Zodboeva, Imin Tsydendambaeva, Serchmaa Byarsaikhan and Ayagma Tsybenova.
Bayarma Zodboeva shared a photo on Instagram of herself folded into a backwards circle. She captioned the image, “Everyone you meet has something to teach you. I truly love and believe in this quote. #sotrue”
2. Angara Was Also On Britain’s Got Talent
Anagara contortion was on Britain’s Got Talent in 2017. The group made it to the semi-finals.
Judges on the show called the performance “absolutely jaw dropping,” “just unworldly and fabulous” and “a visual treat.”
They performed to “Run Boy Run” by Woodkid. They told the judges they wanted to perform for the Royal Family and meet Prince Harry.
3. Angara Performs With Cirque Du Soleil
Angara is currently part of the Cirque du Soleil show “Kurios.” “Kurios: Cabinet of Curiosities” consists of 46 performers from 16 countries, many of whom have performed with Cirque du Soleil before, according to the show’s press kit.
Angara also performed in Cirque du Soleil’s Banana Shpeel in 2010 and performed in the Iris show from 2011 to 2013.
Ayagma Tsybenova shared a photo of the group from the Cirque du Soleil show six weeks ago. She wrote, “Fishies squad having fun after the performance special kisses for @oyun_erdene5 these days.”
4. They Have Won Many Awards Abroad
The women met in 1996 and have been performing together for about 20 years. In that time they have won many awards abroad and performed in many shows.
The group has received recognition and rewards abroad including a gold metal at the International Circus Festival in 2004 in Italy, a silver metal at the International Circus Festival in Mongolia in 2003 and a bronze medal at the Delphic Games in Russia in 2009.
They are currently a part of Cirque du Soleil’s “Kurios” and performed with Cirque du Soleil’s “Banana Shpeel” in 2010 and “Iris” from 2011 to 2012.
5. The Group Was Caught In Controversy On Britain’s Got Talent
The group was caught up in some controversy on Britain’s Got Talent because of a text fans claimed was fake and because the women were already professional performers.
A spokesperson for the show told the Daily Mail that being a professional does not disqualify a person or group from auditioning.
“Anyone can apply for Britain’s Got Talent whether they are professional or amateur, irrespective of their past experience and all contestants are auditioned on merit on the day,” she said.