- Title: GERMANY: CHINESE STATE CIRCUS ACROBATS PERFORM IN FRANKFURT
- Date: 1st June 2001
- Summary: (REUTERS -ACCESS ALL) SCU (SOUNDBITE) (Chinese) Xiao Ningxiang (ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF THE CIRCUS) IS SAYING...Our Circus is run by the Chinese state. If we want to go on tour we must get permission from the Ministry of Culture, therefore, of course, when we go on tour it is easy for us to say that we are ambassadors for China.
- Embargoed: 16th June 2001 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: FRANKFURT, GERMANY
- Country: Germany
- Topics: Arts / Culture / Entertainment / Showbiz,Environment
- Reuters ID: LVAAR4KKVP3TYP7TN044CUT0U0GQ
- Story Text: The Chinese State Circus is one of the greatest acrobatic spectacles in the world. A colourful breathtaking extravaganza that contains only acrobatic acts and draws on over 2000 thousand years of Chinese acrobatic history, to produce a very modern show . The current show is called Yin Yang and as the name suggests, aims to unite the principles of body and spirit in perfect harmony.
The Chinese State Circus is one of the most celebrated of the worlds circus troupes; a fact demonstrated in 1998, when they won a Golden Clown award at the International Circus Festival in Monte Carlo, the equivalent of a circus Oscar! The troupes new show Yin Yang marks the the beginning of a more theatrical approach to performance, away from pure acrobatics, but it doesnt lose sight of the true origins of Chinese gymnastics.
The circus, which is run by the Chinese state, is able to draw on the expertise of other nationalised arts groups, and did so recently by engaging choreographer Su Shijin from the Peking Ballet, to help shape the latest show, by teaching the acrobats to blend theatre, dance and acrobatics into a breathtaking show. And because the show is a state institution, its members are constantly aware that they are very much representing the Chinese state.
The theme of the latest show Yin Yang is also the state of being that the acrobats hope to achieve in their work; a symmetry of inner harmony uniting Yang, the outside world or body, with Yin, the inner world or spirit.
The show was such a huge success on its recent tour of Germany and Austria that it had to add extra dates in Frankfurt to deal with the enormous interest that was generated. Proof, if proof is needed that this is one circus show that shouldnt be missed! --- - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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