When it came to planning our trip to China, we received much recommendation about what to do and what to avoid during our visit – watch out for “art students” and people trying to “practice English”, only use certain taxis, don’t drink or brush your teeth with the water, know that standing in line and personal space are not understood concepts, haggle relentlessly. However, perhaps the best advice was “go see the Chinese acrobats.”
On our first evening in Beijing, Matt and I took a taxi through the illuminated colossal skyscrapers and construction projects of downtown Beijing to the colorfully lit Chaoyang Theater for an evening of amazing physical and theatrical showmanship. With the glee of children at a circus, we watched open-mouthed and wide-eyed as the acrobatic troupe performed stunt after challenging stunt with grace, precision and accuracy.
And Chinese acrobatics is far from being just entertaining – it is a performance art steeped in culture and tradition that began over two millenia ago during the Han Dynasty that features “feats of strength and daring performed cleverly.” The acrobatic techniques are handed down from master to apprentice over many years of rigorous training in balance, strength and flexibility. The performances feature the skill of the acrobats working together as well as with props from daily life (plates, rope, chairs) and traditional Chinese handicrafts (vases, fans, kites). The result is a show that is both lyrical in its composition and coordination with traditional music and costuming and athletic in the sheer physicality and endurance of its performers.
These pictures don’t quite capture the experience because they lack the fluidity of movement, but I hope (in my first ever blog video), that you are able to get a taste for what we saw.
One of Matt favorites - the two acrobats standing on planks were rolling on the pins underneath while balancing various objects and people.
This segment was a "phoenix dance" that began with each acrobat on their own bike swirling around the stage. I was captivated.
2 comments:
Cool! How on Earth did you get blog video to work? I have some howlers I want to post, but they filter away somewhere into the internet ether....
It's set up the same way that it was when I was at your house (when it didn't work). There is a video icon next to the pic upload icon in compose mode, click on it and select your file. It takes a minute or two and then voila!
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