The world famous Moscow Circus will light up the Rhode Island Center for the Performing Arts (aka, the newly renovated historic Park Theatre) on Valentine’s Day weekend with one show on Friday, Feb. 12 at 8 p.m.

Producer and artistic director Sasha Vosk was born in Kiev and has been involved in show business since he was 11, learning the art of mime from his uncle. He moved to Moscow at the age of 14 and attended the Moscow College of the Circus and Variety Arts, home of the famed Moscow Circus. After performing in Russia for 15 years he immigrated to the United States, where he and his wife, Lena, also a former Moscow Circus performer, have been creating and producing American tours since 1998.

“I am very excited about coming to this beautiful theatre in Rhode Island,” Sasha told me over his car phone, as he headed for the airport to bring the circus to Bermuda.

“We are bringing the authentic employees from the actual Moscow Circus to Cranston,” he said as a dog barked in the background. “He’s the main animal. His partner is Andrey Lostkin, who has been with the Moscow Circus since 1987. Andrey and KIRYA are one of the audience’s favorite acts.”

Other performers include contortionist Elena Zavyalova, trapeze acrobatic duo Pavlov and Piontek, Aerial Straps artist Nikolay Daniliv, hand balancing artist Sergey Toropov, juggler Pavel Yeusiukevich, hula hoop artist Kristina Buynyakova, the juggling Dergachev brothers, and the Voltij acrobats.

I told Sasha that I had been to the Moscow Circus when I visited Russia a few years ago and found a big difference between the Russian and American clowns.

“Ah, you got it!” he exclaimed. “Clowning is a very serious profession in Russia. Clowning and miming have a satirical approach. They are dramatic performers who move along the story.”

The Big Apple Circus, the closest thing to the Moscow Circus that I have seen, just announced that they will not be setting up their tent in Charleston this summer for the first time in many years due to financial reasons. So if you want to see the real thing catch the Moscow Circus in its only performance in the area.

Tickets are $45 and $55, with a limited number at $75 “Meet and Greet” VIP tickets. Tickets are now on sale at the box office (848 Park Ave., Cranston) or online at http://tickets.ricpa.net.