The First China Acrobatic Art Festival, organized by China Federation of Literature and Art Circles, the Beijing Municipal Government and China's Association of Acrobatic Artists, invited more than 20 acrobatic troupes to perform at the festival and drew an audience of over 70,000 people.

In the opening ceremony, the Chinese Acrobatic Troupe staged a themed evening for the audience, which presented spectacular and exciting programs of acrobatics with the Great Wall, snow areas and Beijing Siheyuan (four-side enclosed courtyards) as the background.

In the closing ceremony and art joint performance, the 10 selected programs excited the audience and won loud applauses from them.

Blue Daydream on Silk Strips

Blue Daydream on Silk Strips, by the Flag Circus of China, has its origins in an aerial stunt that appears in a regional Shaoju opera from southern China called 72 Suspensions. In this stunt the performers roll themselves in and out of a long suspended strip of white silk, bobbing up and down like human yoyos. During the 1960s, a number of acrobatic troupes adapted and refined this technique, incorporating aspects of Leather Strip acrobatics and suspended ring gymnastics to create the innovative act known as Silk Strips. Utilizing amazing arm strength and impeccable balance, the performers twist and fly up and down the flexible silken strips as effortlessly as if they were providing rigid support.

Another demonstration of combination of Chinese and Western techniques in this festival was the amalgamation of artistic forms. The Handstand: Oriental Swan, performed by Guangzhou Military Area Combatants Acrobatic Troupe, ingeniously integrated classic ballet of the West and Chinese traditional acrobatics. Besides, in order to bring out the most excitement from the audience, programs like Rolling One-Arm Handstand and so on performed by the Chinese Acrobatic Troupe removed all protective measures.

The Spirit of China, performed by the Chinese Acrobatic Troupe

The large-scale theme acrobatic soiree -- The Spirit of China, performed by the Chinese Acrobatic Troupe, won the Golden Chrysanthemum Award. On the Other Side of the Moon, performed by Shenyang Military Area Advancement Acrobatic Troupe, won the Excellent Play Prize. Six programs including Blue Daydream on Silk Strips, by the Flag Circus of China, won the Gold-lotus Prize. Colorful Chains in Air, by Heilongjiang Provincial Acrobatic Troupe, and other six programs won the Excellent Program Prize. Five performers including Xiang Li won the Best Actor Prize. In addition, some other performers and programs won the Best Director, the Best Actress, the Best Music, the Creation of the Stage Properties and the Excellent Trainer.