| Elvina Mikhailovna Podchernikova-Elvorti | |
| Birth Name: | Elvina M. Podchernikova-Elvorti |
| Birth Place: | Kostroma, USSR |
| Birth Date: | 7 October 1928 |
| Death Place: | Moscow, Russia |
| Occupation: | Circus artist, Animal training |
| Yearsactive: | 1943-2000 |
Elvina Mikhailovna Podchernikova-Elvorti (Russian: Эльвина Михайловна Подчерникова-Эльворти) was a People's Artist of Russia, circus performer, trainer, public figure.
Elvorti was born into the family of Mikhail Dmitrievich and Nina Andreevna Podchernikovs (Elvorti was the circus pseudonym of the Podchernikov family, which later became their official surname).[1]
Since 1943 she worked with her father in the attraction "In the Ice of the Arctic" with polar bears and absorbed his experience as a trainer. During the war she participated in circus tours in her father's shows, in concerts at hospitals of Saratov, Kazan, Kostroma, Kalinin, Yaroslavl, Gorky.
Since 1947 she acted as a cycling artist (velofigurist) in her husband's, V. Asmus' show. In 1952 she accepted a group of trained brown bears from Boris Eder, acting as a writer and director she prepared with them the attraction "Amusing Bears" and toured with it for 45 years. The animals played funny and complex tricks on two parallel ropes at an altitude of 5 meters.
She was author and producer of children's plays: "Fairy Tale of the Wizard of Winter", "The Adventures of Princess Nezabudki", etc.
She was part of the trade union committee of the Russian State Circus Company for more than 40 years. She retired in 2000. Since 1993, she headed the regional public organization "Society of Disabled Circus Artists 'Beneficence and Charity'. Her father Mikhail, was paralyzed for 20 years from being mauled by polar bears, which was why her philanthropic organization was particularly personal.[2]
She died on December 23, 2014 at the age of 86. She was buried at Vostryakovskoe cemetery next to her father and husband.[3]
Цирк Молодых. Ogoniok. 19 December 1954. Circus of the Young.