Acrobatics takes a leap

Carrying it forward

For Li, the evolution of the show reflects the changing nature of Chinese acrobatics.

In the past, he says, acrobatics was largely about completing difficult technical movements. Today, performers are expected to understand dance, music and stage performance, while lighting, sound, stage design and new technology have become part of the art.

Yet, amid all these changes, one thing remains: the passing of skills from one generation to the next.

The competition also brought together acrobatics experts, scholars and creative teams for discussions on the art form's inheritance and innovation, as well as the use of technology in creation.

"It gives professionals around the world a close look at the creative landscape of Chinese acrobatics," Yu says.

Helmut Grosscurth, managing director of the European Circus Association, watched performances by Chinese troupes and shared his views at a forum on Sept 17.

He was struck by the scale and quality of the competition.

"I have never seen so many acrobats on one stage," Grosscurth says, adding that the performances combined the high level of Chinese acrobatic training with a strong spirit of innovation.

He says most of the programs he saw could fit into major European commercial productions or international arts festivals, although some would need to be adapted to fit European venues.

For Grosscurth, education is another starting point for cooperation. After visiting the Puyang Acrobatic Art School, he was impressed by its size and training facilities, which he said would be difficult to find on a similar scale in Europe.

He was particularly struck by the inventive use of technology and unusual stage structures in some of the Chinese programs.

"The Chinese programs offer the kind of fresh ideas the industry needs," he says.