Introduction of China's Acrobatics

The history of acrobatics in China can be traced back to Neolithic times. It is believed that acrobatics grew out of the labor and self-defense skills that the people practiced and demonstrated during their leisure time.
By 300 BC, such skills as walking on 3-meter high stilts and juggling 7 daggers at a time had been developed in China.
As the world economy developed, acrobatics was also developed into a kind of performance art. Acrobatics became known worldwide through performances presented along the Silk Road.
During the 13th century, the reputation of acrobatics as an impressive art form began to suffer. The public didn't respect acrobatics as they had before, and many acrobats found it very difficult to find places to perform.
After the sounding of the drum, the acrobatic show would begin. Several benches and a few props was all an acrobat owned. These early acrobatics didn't care so much about giving a beautiful performance, so long as the conveyed a feeling of danger and peril.
The life of those fallen acrobats was tough. A lot of acrobatic performers were forced to do farming in countryside. Because of their love for acrobatics, acrobatic art was able to survive for generations.
Located in Northeastern Plain, Wuqiao County relies on agriculture. Wandering through small villages here, you can see a lot of people practicing acrobatics. Although, they're not as professional as I expected.
Currently, Mr. Jiang is teaching acrobatics to his children. There are over 400 families who are capable performing acrobatics. They sometimes perform in the other cities together.
The 'Acrobatic Macrocosm' was built for local acrobatic performances by the Wuqiao Municipal government. There are many other forms of folk art performed here.
Because renting a stage in a big theatre in urban areas is often very expensive, local acrobatic troupes build temporary stages for their performances. These temporary stages not only can save money, but also can be moved and reused.
In the early 1980s, the American Education Commission introduced acrobatics into the students' curriculum. China established two art schools especially for acrobatics-Wuqiao Acrobatic School and the Beijing Acrobatic School.
To become a competent acrobat, students must begin practicing the basic skills from the time they are only 6 or 7 years old. Because the techniques employed in acrobatics are extremely difficult and risky, students must endure a good deal of pains for their gain.
Handsprings are one of the basic skills in acrobatics. Students must practice everyday. Apart from somersaults and handsprings, waist and leg flexibility and headstands are the other basic skills students must master. The training is long, hard, and intense.
Acrobatic students can better illustrate the beauty of human body when they are performing in physique class.
In Europe and North America, Chinese acrobatic performances attract large audiences.

Acrobatics is an interactive art form. Whether you are old or young, educated or illiterate, you can appreciate it as long as you can see. There is no language barrier and cultural border.
Shenyang Acrobatic Troupe was awarded many gold medals during the 'Tomorrow and Future' International Acrobatic Festival in France, which draws the most outstanding acrobats from around the world.
A high level acrobatic program needs excellent technique coaches and much preparation time before it is ready to be performed in public.
Zhou Pinqi, technical coach of Shenyang Acrobatic Troupe, started to practice acrobatics when he was a child and became a coach. He, Zhang Gongli and other four students participated in the Shengyang Acrobatic Troupe in 1997. The programs he guided have twice won the highest prize at French Acrobatic Festival. He has his own unique methods of coaching his students.
Because it has an abundance of excellent acrobatic coaches, Shenyang Acrobatic Troupe has trained a group of outstanding acrobats.
The Shenyang Acrobatic Troupe produced the first themed acrobatic gala entitled 'Moon Light Acrobatics' in China.
The performance matches the theme 'Moonlight Acrobatics' through innovations in stage lighting.
Acrobatic art has its own peculiarity. The performance itself is very depictive; therefore the requirement for lighting is much stricter than opera and drama.
The theme music perfectly coincided with the performance, which made the atmosphere of the event even livelier. However, before the rehearsal, the performer gave the director a lot of trouble.
Ju Yi, director of 'Moonlight Acrobatics', said, 'Most acrobats do not have dancing experience. They don't understand music. I mean the performance just didn't fully express the emotion of the music.'
Chinese acrobatic art is still what it was centuries ago in that it does not over emphasize the role of music. Performers pay more attention to action. Therefore it takes time for performers to adapt to the music.
'Moonlight Acrobatics' took eight months to prepare, from planning and rehearsing to the performing the first show. That was much longer than other stage performances.
A successful acrobatic show also requires appropriate clothing. Costumes further enhance the beauty of the performance and increase the visual effects.
When you watch a Chinese acrobatics show, you are strongly impacted both mentally and physically. It is truly and unforgettable experience.