The Templeton-Blackburn Alumni Memorial Auditorium is far from the large tent and dirt floor that usually house a circus, but the New Shanghai Circus isn't the traditional display of rowdy clowns and exceptionally trained wild animals.
This circus features the Incredible Acrobats of China from Deyang, China. They won a number of awards for their spectacular aerial performances and toured extensively throughout Europe.
This is more of a European or Asian circus
said Andrew Holzaepfel, assistant director for the office of university events. It's not the kind of circus that most Americans think of with animals. The only animals presented are two men dressed as lions acting out a story with body movement.
The acrobats of China should be able to perform their full show as Mem Aud meets the stage requirements for the performance. Besides some special rigging from the ceiling, no major alterations had to be done to the stage, Holzaepfel said.
While similar circuses have performed at Mem Aud, this is the first time the New Shanghai Circus will visit Athens.
The danger lies in the particular act said Greg Wilson, creative director. One obvious difference is that in a circus ring
you can cycle around in a circle where
on a stage
you have to worry about curtains in the back and the orchestra pit in the front.
In China, the troop practices on a theater stage like Mem Aud and other stages on the American tour, Wilson said.
The Incredible Acrobats of China are independent from the Chinese government that controls most acrobatic troupes. The troupe holds competitions to choose the most promising children to join the act, Wilson said.
The show will include amazing acrobatic feats, such as the rolly polly
in which one man balances a long board on a can, balanced by another man balancing the same objects. Other acts include contortionists and unicyclers, Wilson said.
Tickets still are available for the event which will be Feb. 26 at 7 p.m.
17
Archives
Cicely Gilbert
