Chaoyang Theater puts traditional acrobatics on world stage

Beijing's Chaoyang Theater, which mainly stages acrobatic shows, is attracting domestic and foreign spectators with performances featuring distinctive Chinese cultural characteristics.

One of the prominent shows that Chaoyang Theater offers is performed by the Deyang Acrobatic Troupe from Sichuan province in Southwest China. The troupe has performed in the theater for nearly two decades.

To get inspiration for the show, the troupe's creative directors made several visits to Sichuan's renowned historical and cultural relic sites, such as Sanxingdui in Deyang and Jinsha in the provincial capital of Chengdu.

Archaeological discoveries prove that Sanxingdui, which dates back to the 11th and 12th centuries BC, contains ruins of an ancient city that was the political, economic and cultural center of Sichuan, which was known as the Shu Kingdom during that period.

The visits have lead to the production of Flying, one of the classic shows of the troupe, which has broken new ground for acrobatics with the integration of local cultural elements.

The show is based on the worship of the sun and birds by people in the Sichuan region thousands of years ago, as well as the universal human desire to fly as free as birds.

The show tries to attract audiences with novel and thrilling performances, as well as the use of high-tech means in choreography, lighting, acoustics and stage setting.

Zhou Xiaoheng, head of Deyang Acrobatic Troupe, said the show is meant to bring the audience back to the wild and primitive Sichuan of some 3,000 years ago.

He mentioned the Death Wheel, a section of the show featuring wild imagination and inconceivable stunts that can rarely be seen in domestic or even international performances.

"The breathtaking performances often shock spectators," Zhou said.

When the show comes to its climax, beautiful peacocks and macaws brought from Sichuan fly out over the audience before eventually returning to the acrobats who are waiting for them on the stage.

The creative and thrilling show boasts outstanding performance forms and involves dances, stage art and literature, and its excellent stage lighting helps to create a powerful visual impact, according to Zhou.

The spectacular show makes acrobatics more eye-catching and helps to demonstrate China's traditional cultures. It was one of the shining stars of Beijing's cultural events held during the 2008 Olympic Games.

Acrobatics is an incredible, physically demanding performing art that has a long history in China.

Historical documents show that China's traditional acrobatics date back to the Qin Dynasty (221-207 BC).

The Chaoyang Theater, founded in 1984, has welcomed more than 3 million foreign spectators to date. High-ranking overseas officials and celebrities have heaped lavish praise on the remarkable acrobatic feats they have witnessed in the theater.

Bora Milutinovic, the former head coach of the Chinese National Football Team, has taken his family to enjoy the acrobatic shows four times and spoke highly of the performances by saying that "it's really marvelous here".

The theater has helped foreigners from embassies, consulates and multinational companies, as well as tourists, to learn more about both Beijing and China.

Two acrobatic shows are performed every day in the theater, which can hold 1,300 people. Programs performed at the venue have won more than 30 domestic and international awards.

The theater's brand name, Acrobatic World, is widely recognized among the world's travel agencies, and some foreign agencies even make reservations two years in advance for tickets for the acrobatic shows held in the theater.

Chaoyang Theater on the East Third Ring Road has a superior location in Beijing's central business district.

The theater provides outstanding stage equipment, quality service and an excellent environment. It says it welcomes friends from different countries and regions.

Contact information: Add: No 36 North Road, East Third Ring, Chaoyang district, Beijing Tel: 6507 2421, 6506 8116, 6506 0837, 6506 0838 Fax: 6591 9346 www.bjcyjc.com

zhaoshijun@chinadaily.com.cn

(China Daily 08/30/2017 page12)