“I still can’t believe it,” said an audience member as the National Acrobats of China came to an end on Sunday night at the Staller Arts Center. And it’s true: The National Acrobats of China really did give an impressive and jaw dropping performance.
The form-bending troupe, comprised of 38 young acrobats who continuously kept the audience entertained with combinations of simple dance moves and acrobatic feats. The Chinese acrobats were enigmatic performers with their spinning plates and great acts of strength and flexibility.
Their repertoire is nothing stingy. The National Acrobats of China was founded in the June of 1956 and is currently under the direction of Mr. Tian Zichun and Mr. Jianguo Yao. The group’s members have participated and won numerous awards including the coveted Golden Award at the National Acrobatic Competition of China, the Gold Award at the 2007’s Cirque de Demain Festival in France, and the Golden Clown Award at the Monte Carlo International Circus Festival.
The troupe’s two-hour production offered much to admire. Their score, a blend of traditional Chinese and modern songs, were as diverse as their performances. The transitions from high-energy beats to calming harmonies were welcomingly unexpected. Similarly, the costumes were a blend of traditional and modern day fun. Decked out in bright colors and sequins, the costumes added a bold ingredient to the production. Who needs a big set when you have interesting costumes and scores?
For the most part, the dancers held their perfect form as they exited and entered the stage. Uniformity and grace were predominant throughout, as the acrobats used their skills to perform different tricks with accompanying music.
In one act, 16 female acrobats balanced on one moving bike. In another, 12 male performers jumped, dived, and tumbled through hoops over seven feet high in the air. Finally, during one of the troupe’s more traditional Chinese circus acts, a group of female acrobats balanced on benches held in mid air as they contorted their bodies into different combinations. It’s no wonder that many of the audience members left feeling exhilarated – even puzzled – by many of the counterintuitive stunts.
But what grabbed the audience the most? With magnetic smiles and giddy voices, the answer was apparent: the finale. During this 20 minute set, each member of the troupe preformed a small stunt highlighting his or her personality. This act of modesty accentuated the troupe’s dedication and teamwork, an attribute that was appreciated by the crowd.
The National Acrobats of China didn’t feel as if it had much to do with complicated dance, as it had to do with stunts. Their elegant performance overall made one thing clear to the audience: The National Acrobats of China play by their own rules.
