In Russia, “eccentric” is a word for circus performer

"Oy, how I love the Tsirk", bellows Alexander Frish, a charismatic and eccentric performer who has been clowning around in the Russian Circus for over 25 years. Frish calls the circus "the universal language of joy and laughter that lets us all become children again." The circus is indeed a magical world, full of vibrant artistry, precision and grace. It is a highly respected art form that, in Russia, is taken as seriously as the theater and classical ballet.