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The Martial Artists and Acrobats of TianjinFriday, September 15, 2017; 7:30 pmSaturday, September 16, 2017; 2 & 7:30 pmSunday, September 17, 2017; 2 & 7 pm

Columbia Artists Management LLC Presents

Direct from Tianjin, the P.R. of China

Martial Artists and Acrobats of Tianjin, People’s Republic of ChinaDirector: Mrs. GUO QINGLI

Official tour under the Auspices and Aegis of the Ministry of Culture

The Martial Artists and Acrobats of Tianjin of the People’s Republic of China (Tianjin Acrobatic Troupe) was established in 1957 as a combination of the former China Circus & Acrobats that was founded in 1948. It is one of the best acrobatic troupes in China with over one hundred acrobatic, magical and martial arts performers. With novelty and superior techniques, the acrobatic troupe is favored by the audiences all over the world.

The Troupe has more than 30 representative acts, many of which have won prizes in national and international festivals and competitions. Leather Straps won the Silver Clown Award and Circus Art Development Association Award at the 13th Monte Carlo International Circus Festival. Double Poles won the Silver Award at the 12th Cirque de Demain Festival held in Paris, France and the Silver Lion Award at the 4th China National Acrobatic Competition. Air Acrobatics won the Golden Prize of the 10th Spring of April Friendship Art Festival in North Korea. One-Hand Handstand seized the Golden Lion Award of the 4th China National Acrobatic Competition, the Golden Award - the first prize of the Republic President at the 19th Festival of Cirque de Demain in Paris, the Honorary Gold Lion Award, and the Artistic Innovation Award at the 5th Wuqiao International Circus Festival. Contortion with Cups by Three Girls won the Golden Lion Award at the 4th China National Acrobatic Competition and the Silver Prize with Belgium Royal Circus Special Award at the 8th Belgium Road of Prospect International Young Acrobats Festival. At the First China National Comic Acrobatic Competition, the Comic Swan Lake and Comic Music received the Gold and Silver Award respectively. The Jars’ Head Juggling won the Silver awards at the 5th Hungarian Budapest International Circus Festival (2005) and Russian International Circus Festival (2013). In 2015, the Icarian Tumbling and Jumping by 18 acrobats won the Silver Clown at the 39th Monte Carlo Circus Festival in Monaco and the First Golden Award at the 2nd China International Circus Festival in Zhuhai, China.

The company has toured extensively to France, Japan, Australia, Finland, Norway, Denmark, Germany, Sweden, Iceland, Italy, Israel, South Korea, DPRK, Belgium, Russia and Hong Kong, and the United States of America where it has been highly praised and warmly welcomed. With world circuses, the company had acts perform in Ringling and Barnum & Bailey Bros. Circus, Cirque du Soleil, Big Apple Circus, Swiss Knie Bros., National Circus and UniverSoul Circus. From 2010 through 2015, the company frequently traveled to France for four months each tour.

In 2017, the company began a new tour to North America under the management of CAMI and presents to audiences an exciting combination of highlights of its performing acts from recent years.

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China Soul

Opening: Festival Celebration

Act I: Starry Nights of Peace and Harmony

Water MeteorsThe acrobats tumble and roll on the floor with the props spinning on their hands and throwing them into the air and catching them. The prop is a two-meter long rope with a bowl on each of the rope’s end. It is a fast act and the spinning bowls imitate shining stars that give the audience an illusion of the sky.

Plates SpinningThe acrobats feature plates spinning in combination with contortion and acrobatic skill while holding several plates in each hand spinning on sticks.

Ballet AdagioThe artists infuse ballet, acrobatics and skillful gymnastics into a wonderful act. “Holding the toe by one hand,” “Shoulder based on one leg turning 360 degrees,” and “One hand pulling an arm into a handstand” are exciting and challenging stunts. The acrobats perform the act softly with harmonious continuity of movements.

Act II: Soul of Chinese Martial Arts

Jars Juggling on HeadsHead Juggling with Jars is a traditional acrobatic scene with jars being juggled on the heads of the acrobats and performed when people celebrated the harvests. The jars were used to stock the wine and rise. Four excellent acrobats perform the tricks of catching, head juggling, and passing jars.

Diabolo GirlsDiabolo in North China is a folk game. The girls’ diabolo performance is quite a Tianjin local style character. Performing vividly with fancy tricks, the girls give a warm and joyful portrayal of the Chinese people.

Soul of Martial ArtsGreat Martial Arts is a form of martial and acrobatic sport that evolved from Chinese martial arts and acrobatics. The martial arts professionals and acrobats perform a combination of tumbling and pyramids as well as an exhibition of different martial arts weapons and boxing in Shaolin style.

-intermission-

The Martial Artists and Acrobats of Tianjin continued

Act III: China Soul

Lasso The acrobats grasp the ends of ropes and spin them into rings. They jump and tumble with the rope rings and get through them with different flexible dives.

Contortion with Carpets’ SpinningThere are many cultural elements in Chinese acrobatics inspired by the sister folk arts. Carpets spinning was used by the hands of the cross talk artists on the stage telling and singing humorous stories. Their hand tricks of carpets spinning are a very special symbol of performing. There are contortion, hand-stands, and pyramid formations of various acrobatic balances with carpets spinning on hands and feet.

Hand Juggling The acrobat juggles up to nine balls at a time with incredible tricks. He throws the balls to the ground and catches them at the same time on the stair platform.

Or Foot Juggling with UmbrellasFoot Juggling with Umbrellas occurs with light juggling of umbrellas by the feet. An acrobat resists the air and controls the unstable objects’ center of gravity that requires very high skill to make it possible. The acrobat performs tricks such as “turning umbrellas 270-degree and catching their knife edges on feet” and “360 degree flipping and catching.” The acrobat closes this section while juggling five umbrellas by feet and portrays a beautiful image with stacked umbrellas in balance.

Magic

Straw Hats JugglingUsing straw hats as props, the acrobats juggle them and perform dynamic combinations and stunts. This turns into a fun, humorous game for the audience.

Act IV: Shaolin Kungfu

Chinese Kung Fu (Martial Arts or as popularly referred to as Gongfu or Wushu) is a fighting style which has developed over a long historical period in China. It is regarded as a traditional sport gaining more popularity and stands as a symbol for Chinese culture. There are many styles, including Shaolin and Wudang. Shaolin Kungfu came from Shaolin Temples whose tradition was mainly from the 6th Century of Tang Dynasty when Buddhism became an important philosophy of Chinese culture. Shaolin Temples’ origin was and is now still at the Songshan Mountain in Henan Province of China. The martial monks were responsible for protecting the renowned temples in the legend of Shaolin. Their division of martial arts is called Shaolin Kungfu by the Chinese people.

The Martial Artists and Acrobats of Tianjin continued

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Act V: Great Icarian Acrobats

A Great Icarian Acrobatic Performance, wearing ancient martial artists costumes, the Tianjin acrobats perform the act as ancient soldiers who fought against the enemy at the border. This act includes tumbling on each others’ feet and landing the jumps safely onto the ground. The acrobatics are remarkable and highly difficult. The performers won the golden awards at the 12th Moscow International Youth Circus Festival, the 15th Italian Latina International Circus Festival, the 2nd China International Circus Festival, as well as the Silver Clown award at Monte Carlo International Circus Festival in 2015.

Finale: Splendid Future