"Angel" (1991). Alexander Streltsov (08.08.1978) - gymnast on belts. Alexander (better known as "Sasha") grew up in Moscow, Russia. His father, Andre, a circus performer himself, started Sasha in gymnastics at the age of five, followed by training in aerial acrobatic routines known to veterans as a "strap act." Sasha's combination of natural strength, artistic expression, and grace set his performance apart from other circus acts, ascending to a level appropriate for the theater. Special music and stage arrangements provided a rich dramatic effect. At the tender age of 12, Sasha made his debut on the international stage in Paris, competing in the Festival Mondial Du Cirque De L'Avenir in January, 1991. Having only one previous public performance under his belt at the St. Petersburg Circus, it might have been expected that Sasha would wilt under pressure with the stiff competition in Paris, but he was awarded the gold medal after stealing the hearts of the judges and the local media. There was no rest for Sasha after Paris. Multiple performances at the Moscow Circus, the Russian Palace, the Children's Theater, and the Kremlin firmly established Sasha as a professional. The Minister of Culture called him one of Russia's top three new young artists. While still just 12-years-old, he was invited to participate in Valentin Gneushev's "Moscow Circus - Cirk Valentin," a 10-week engagement in New York's Gershwin Theater on Broadway. Gneushev, who choreographed the ballet aerial act for "Cirque du Soleil," saw in Sasha "a clean ideal filled with harmony." Gneushev described Sasha's performance as "creating an ethereal vision of peace and tranquility," as he soars from the ceiling. It was Gneushev that helped dub Sasha with the name- "Angel." Sasha was the featured performer of the New York show, produced by Pavel Brun, future artistic director of Cirque du Soleil. After New York, there were performances in Atlantic City, Providence, R.I., before returning to Moscow, where Sasha was booked for engagements almost continuously. He was twice invited to perform at the Presidential Ball at the Kremlin, first for Gorbachev, and then for Yeltsin. In September of 1992, Sasha returned to America for a special tour. By January 1993, Sasha's reputation had spread across Europe, and he started a month-long engagement in Vienna, Austria. Television commentaries lauded his performance with interviews and video clips.