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Crowd flips for acrobats
By Ryan Buckmiller
Published:
Thursday, October 30, 2003
Media Credit: Ching Fung
Chinese Golden Dragon Acrobats leap through a six-foot-high hoop during a performance at Ritsche Auditorium Tuesday night.
Stretching back 27 centuries, Chinese acrobats, dancers and martial artists have awed and entertained crowds of people. The Stars of the Golden Dragon Acrobats have appeared in theaters and universities across the United States and worldwide, visiting over 60 countries and all 50 states. Tuesday night they appeared at Ritsche Auditorium
"By Monday we were out of our 850 tickets," said UPB Performing Arts Director Janice Courtney. Braving the rainy and cold weather, a line of ticket holders had already started to arrive an hour before the event, the line nearly leading out the front doors of the building. The 920-seat auditorium was almost completely filled with students, staff and community members.
The 10 artists, wearing traditional Chinese dress, did a variety of stunts, dances, katas and other feats requiring incredible balance and strength, for over two hours. Splitting their performance into five acts, the acrobats entertained the crowd with foot and jar juggling, two Chinese dragons, demonstrations of Kung Fu, elaborate dances with ropes, banners, a bicycle, chairs and much more. The young performers then concluded the event with a display of group tumbling and feats of agility, topping it off with a stunt where all 10 athletes formed a human barrier dubbed "the Great Wall."
"The show surpassed expectations and the crowd really seemed to get into this stuff. Some of the things they do seem impossible," senior Daniel Scheff said. "The Great Wall of China was crazy."
Oftentimes the audience was caught in the performance, clapping and cheering in rhythm with the music and the show. All the feats were performed with a mix of traditional Chinese and contemporary music, ensuring that they would never miss a beat.
"The chair tower was incredible!" junior Martin Weygand said. "People should definitely see it. Amazing, different and shocking stunts. It was an entertaining show and a cultural experience."
The Tower of Chairs stunt had over a half dozen chairs, stacked one on top of another with a gymnast on the very top. The base of the tower was balanced on four glass bottles, and gasps and cheers could be heard from the crowd as the lone performer did a variety of handstands and various poses. He earned himself a rare standing ovation from the crowd.
"It was a great opportunity for the community," said fifth-year student Cassandra Kentzelman, who helped plan the event. "I was so happy for them. The crowd's reaction was phenomenal. I've never seen such a great reaction from the crowd. We've had a good turnout and applause before, but not like this. And two standing ovations!"
"The university needs to make a community connection. Students need to work together with the university, which is a big part of the community, and we can provide events like this which the city cannot put together," Courtney said.
The University Programming Board sent out 40 tickets to local private and public schools as far out as Rocori, inviting principals or dance and gymnastics instructors to attend.
At the end of the show, the Chinese Golden Dragon Acrobats lined up and bowed to their audience. Those in attendance filled the room once again with a deafening applause in response, and for the second time that night, gave a standing ovation which held well after the curtains had closed on the stage.
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