China enters the 'big top'

Chinese acrobats perform tricks with Chinese yo-yos during a Legends show presented by the Ringling Bros and Barnum&Bailey circus. Provided to China Daily

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Ringling Bros and Barnum & Bailey is a beloved circus act in the United States, and now audiences have even more to look forward to, with top Chinese acrobats joining the show. Amy He reports from New York.

In Brooklyn, New York, there is a circus tradition that stretches back a century, so the borough always gives a warm welcome to the Ringling Bros and Barnum & Bailey circus when it comes to town.

The crowds were especially excited by its last visit, when the performers were joined by the Chinese National Acrobatic Troupe.

The circus kicked off its latest Legends show with an opening performance at Barclays Center in Brooklyn on Feb 20, featuring for the first time the National Acrobatic Troupe of China from Beijing. The troupe performed four separate acts in front of an audience of 18,000.

Twenty-eight members of the National Acrobatic Troupe were part of the Legends show, many of which the troupe choreographed themselves and have performed in China.

"The Chinese troupe is unbelievable. The things they do and their discipline and the way they perform is so inspiring to me and it was one of the best troupes I've ever worked with in the circus," show director Rye Mullis says.

"I've been working with Ringling Bros for a while and I know they were really anxious to get some Chinese performers back over stateside. They are always one of the highlights of the show and this year we were just lucky to get the best of the best with the National Acrobatic Troupe of China."

The acts include a bicycle performance that has 20 of the acrobats stacked in a moving pyramid built on two bikes, as well as a colorful diabolo routine that feature troupe members twirling and spinning diabolos-Chinese yo-yos-lit on fire.

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