Balancing Objects
It is an item of feat
in acrobatics. The performer balances a cudgel on the head, the forehead or the
nose, or holds it in the mouth and put fragile or heavy objects like lamp, vase,
desk, bowl or egg, etc on one end of the cudgel to show his/her feat in
balancing objects. In some complicated performances, several layers of glasses,
lamps or eggs are placed on the cudgel. Some acrobats demonstrate their sleight
of hands or play musical instruments while performing the balancing feat.
Circus
Circus is an ancient feat of
acrobatics. In the Tang (618-907) and Song (960-1279) dynasties, circus was very
prevalent, and specially referred to taming horses and performance of
horsemanship. Today, circus is the collective name of the taming all kinds of
animals and acrobatic performances. It usually includes the horsemanship and the
performance of various animals that have been trained. Circus generally is held
in a square, a specially built circus ground, or a big tent.
Vocal Imitation
Vocal Imitation is one of the fine traditional
items in China. Records in ancient classical books can be traced back
to as early as 2,300 years ago in the Warring States Period (475-221). Through
repeated process by generations of performers, its contents as well as its forms
of performance have been greatly enriched. Gastriloquists can imitate the sound
of worms, birds, beasts and machines or even the sound made by human activities,
such as military drilling, and baby crying. They often accompany their
performances with body movements.
Juggling Objects with the Feet
Juggling Objects with the Feet
involves objects of varying weight, including heavy objects like wine jar, wood
block, ladder, gong and drum, and even quick, and light objects like colored
umbrella made of thin silk. The object juggled spins rapidly like flying wheels
no matter it is a smooth painted jar made of pottery, or a heavy, square table.
In the past, this acrobatics mainly focused on heavy objects, but nowadays it
involves both heavy objects and light objects, and performers can shift the
object from one foot to the other even it is a colored umbrella or a carpet as
thin as a piece of paper.
Jar Tricks
Jar, originally a grain container, is
used by the peasants to perform various feats in celebration of a bumper
harvest. Later, it was adapted by acrobats and became a very popular number
among the broad masses of the people. It demonstrates simplicity and steadiness
and possesses a distinctive national flavor.
Tightrope Feats
Known as "Rope-Walking" or "Walking
on a rope" in ancient China, it is a traditional number recorded with vivid
portrayal in the Han Dynasty two thousand years ago. Walking on a wire instead
of a rope is a renovation imparting new vigor and skills.
The acrobat uses somersault dexterity that
is a basic acrobatic skill to perform such difficult feats as cartwheel, forward
and backward somersault, etc. On a trembling wire thus the performance on a
tight-wire has been elevated to a new level.
Pole Climbing
Pole Climbing is one of the main
traditional acrobatic numbers in China, vivid description appeared in drawings
more than 1,000 years ago. On the basis of Pole Climbing, new acrobatic
movements such as jumping from one pole to the other, swift descent and many
others are added. It demonstrates resourcefulness, courage and optimism, and
brings the art of pole climbing to a new high level.
Plate Spinning
It is also called Juggling Flowery
Plates. In the performance, the acrobat holds with both hands two to three thin
poles with a plate on the end of each pole, and makes the plates spin rapidly by
dint of the brawn. The acrobat is required to perform difficult feats such as
flips, carrying swords on the back, holding a flower in the mouth and handstand
on a single arm, while ensuring the plates not to fall. Acrobats with high
technique can spin about ten plates at the same time.