Protest at the 2024 Salieri Circus Award
At the 2024 Salieri Circus Award in Legnago, Italy, Ukrainian artist Anna Petrenko, known on stage as Anna Dellart, staged a protest during her performance. Petrenko took a stand against the presence of Russian jury member Maxim Nikulin, the director of the Nikulin Circus in Moscow, by distributing leaflets to the audience accusing him of supporting Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
According to eye witnesses, Petrenko’s protest took place as she appeared on stage wrapped in a Ukrainian flag, handing out leaflets that depicted Nikulin with Russian soldiers. The leaflets contained messages highlighting her opposition to his inclusion in the jury. Shortly after her protest began, the lights on stage were dimmed, and Petrenko later confirmed on her Instagram page that she had been disqualified from the festival.
She wrote: “And I am glad that I was invited to perform at the Salieri Circus Award festival. I loved Italy, and I really liked the people I met and worked with. I apologize to the audience who didn’t see my performance yesterday. When I was traveling to the festival, I didn’t know that for the first time since the festival began, a representative of the aggressor country, Russia, would be invited to the jury. I send love and hugs to everyone who supported me and wish for peaceful skies above. Through my performance, I express my discontent and call this decision by the organizers an attempt to rehabilitate the image of Russia, the aggressor in the war against Ukraine.”
Artistic director of the festival, Antonio Giarola, immediately responded by excluding Petrenko from the festival, stating that the festival was not the appropriate platform for addressing political issues.
The incident sparked conversations in the international circus community, with the Italian-language circus publication Circusnews.it reporting the events in real-time. The magazine’s editor, Davide Vedovelli, felt compelled to explain in a recent article why the incident was reported, citing freedom of speech and stating that it is the duty of the press to report events as they occur, regardless of any political implications. Vedovelli emphasized the importance of reporting accurately and refraining from rushing to judgment without sufficient facts.
Vedovelli wrote, “The press has a duty to report what happens, and to do so seriously and accurately. Whether it’s liked or not, a significant event must be reported. Otherwise, we’re not doing journalism, but acting out of convenience or complicity.”
Petrenko’s protest was directed not at the Salieri Circus Award itself, but at Maxim Nikulin, whom she accused of supporting the Russian war effort. While the truth of these claims remains unverified, the artist’s disqualification was automatic following her decision not to perform, as only participants who complete their performances are judged by the juries.
The Salieri Circus Award holds a prestigious place in the international circus arts community, yet the decision to include a Russian jury member amid the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine raises important questions. Similarly, recent participation at a circus festival in Moscow by representatives outside of Russia has also drawn criticism, sparking debate about the broader role of the arts in relation to political conflicts.
In a year when global bodies such as the Olympic Committee have taken a clear stance by excluding Russia from the games in response to the invasion (Russian athletes only allowed to compete as ‘neutral’ participants, meaning they couldn’t officially represent their country), it raises the question of why a circus festival, with its own global audience, shouldn’t have the right to take a stance if they wish to. What are the arts for, if not a reflection of our society and culture and an expression and opinion of what happens within it?
Main Image: Anna Petrenko Instagram Page
Editor's Note: At StageLync, an international platform for the performing arts, we celebrate the diversity of our writers' backgrounds. We recognize and support their choice to use either American or British English in their articles, respecting their individual preferences and origins. This policy allows us to embrace a wide range of linguistic expressions, enriching our content and reflecting the global nature of our community.
🎧 Join us on the StageLync Podcast for inspiring stories from the world of performing arts! Tune in to hear from the creative minds who bring magic to life, both onstage and behind the scenes. 🎙️ 👉 Listen now!
