Kolkata: From the cool climes of Moscow to the humid city of Kolkata, it has opened a whole new world for young Zenia Barzinova, Ania Blago-va and Iram  Lidtwin.
 

  " It is my first visit to India and I am already liking the place," says Ania, a trained circus artiste associated with the Russian State Circus Company An acrobat and technical helper, Ania, who arrived in the city a couple of days back, is excited "to splash around in the hotel swimming pool." (unthinkable in the 15 degrees centigrade temperatures in Moscow).
   So are Iram and Zenia who just can't wait to showcase the richness and grandeur of their circus to the culturally rich Kolkata audience, a fact they conveyed through an interpreter.
   They along with 36 circus artistes, including a few ex-Olympians, 15 dogs ranging from Spitz to Lyca, seven cats, several birds and almost 40 tonnes of stage material form just a part of the team which has arrived in the city to perform from Sunday
   " Almost 80 per cent of our artistes are hired by the US and European firms for circus or acrobatic performances. We have nearly 10,000 artistes in out company and they perform at 18 countries," said Russian State Circus Company's international department director Arkady
   He promised the Kolkata crowd a performance which will be the most beautiful spectacle they've ever seen and added, "the restriction on sea lion performances due to objections raised by some animal welfare organizations will in no way affect the show."
   " We do not want to hurt the sentiments of a sizeable part of the populace who are against any animal performances," reasoned Celebrity Management Group general director Deka Debanga Kumar. The event management company is working along with Choice Events and Trade Pvt. Ltd to organize the circus.
   Hence four sea lions will be flown back to Moscow in the next few days.
   " We are waiting for the right aircraft and also the vet's approval before sending them away," said Kumar.
   The one-and-half-hour show to begin at a packed Netaji Indoor Stadium on Sunday evening will witness a gala event writ with acrobatic skills, trapeze, animal performances and visual extravaganza nonetheless.