Chinese Acrobatics

The art of acrobatics or “Hundred Plays”, as it was known during the Han dynasty, started in China more than two thousand years ago. Because of the early development of the art, Chinese performers today have amassed an amazing array of skills and techniques.

But the popular acrobatics that we know of today didn’t exist until 60 years ago. Though greatly admired by the masses, the art was looked down upon by the nobility and was never allowed to perform in theaters. All that changed when in the 1950’s the Chinese Acrobatics Troupe was created. The group revived the art and gave it a new dose of life. Acrobatics once again became popular and has since become a source of national pride. Today, troupes are organized in every province of China and some of them, like the Chinese Golden Dragon Acrobats, are now famous throughout the world.

Traditional Chinese acrobatics get their inspiration from the people’s daily lives. Hence, the use of jars, pails, tables, chairs and even tridents can be seen in their performances. They also get inspiration from ancient folklore. Numbers like the lion dance for example stemmed from an old folk dance in China.

Acts of a typical performance includes the aforementioned lion dance. The dance involves the performance of two lions, a big lion which is played by two men, and a small lion, which is played by a single man.  This has become one of the most popular acts with the audience. The also popular tight-rope act involves such breathtaking skills such as doing a cartwheel, back and front somersaults while navigating a wire that is suspended almost 50 meters from the ground. The act shows the incredible focus and skill that is only possible with rigorous training.

There are over 120 troupes in China today. Some of them have performed internationally and has even won international acclaim throughout the world. As of the present, China has already won 85 gold prizes at different international acrobatic competitions. But with the prestige of being an acrobat comes the difficult task of training to become one.

Training to be part of an acrobatic troupe starts at an early age. Students typically start training at the age of 6 or 7. Basic skills, such as flexibility, are emphasized. Later, the training shifts to juggling, handstands and acrobatics. Students are taught on handling different kinds of apparatus. They will also be taught on theatrical skills such as clowning, theatrical expression and creative movement. Training can be very hard and intense and that some schools employ stretching exercises that are very painful.

It is amusing to know that an art that was once frowned upon by lords and rulers has given China a unique source of pride. Most people, upon hearing the word “acrobat”, automatically conjures a mental image of an extremely flexible Chinese acrobat doing incredulous somersaults on dangerously high wires. Such is the legacy of the art, an art that stresses physical and artistic beauty while preserving the grandeur of ancient China.