Its so nice to be able to open our touring season with such magnificent showmanship, said Bob Cerchio, assistant director of Southeasts Earl and Margie Holland School of Visual and Performing Arts. Gasps, cheers and laughter will fill the Bedell and not just from the kids!
From the Peoples Republic of China, The Shanghai Acrobats troupe was founded in 1959 and has earned multiple awards at acrobatic and circus competitions around the world.
Its acts Two Persons Climbing the Pole, Leather Belt and Bottles and Branches won the 2nd prizes in the Central South Competition in preparation for the 2nd National Acrobatic Competition of China in 1986. Silkworms Spin Silk and Balancing on the Ball won gold medals, and Acrobatic on Pole and Hoop Diving won silver medals at the First National Juvenile Acrobatic Competition of China in 1988. The company has won many other awards from Belgium to Vietnam.
Since the 1980s, the company has been invited and successively performed in more than thirty countries including the United States, Germany, Spain, Britain, Mexico, Netherlands, Switzerland, Japan, Turkey, Canada, Indonesia, Fiji, Cameroon, Guinea and Nigeria. Through the frequent activities of the international tours and performances, the troupe has not only worldly introduced Chinese acrobatic and circus art, but also promoted the friendships with the peoples of various countries. In 1999 and 2000, the company toured Germany and Netherlands as The Great Chinese State Circus for seven months. In recent 15 years, the company and its acts have ever performed for the tour of Ringling Bros. And Barnum & Bailey Circus in 2002/03, Mystere of Cirque du Soleil at Treasure Island Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, Stardusts World Christmas circuses in Germany and Netherlands 2011/12. From 2004 till 2010, the troupe performed for seven years as a permanent show of six months each year at Rixos Hotel in Turkey. In 2012, its forty acrobats performed a tour in Canada with the Kitchener-Waterloo Symphonys 52 pieces orchestra. The company also performed ERA, a permanent show of over fifty performers as Shanghai Acrobats in Xinyang, one of Chinas tourist cities for three years from 2012 till 2014.
The tour of Shanghai Acrobats of the Peoples Republic of China 2016 will bring the company to the coast to coast performances in North America. The presentation will be the debut of Shanghai Nights!!
Tickets
Tickets may be purchased by contacting the River Campus Box Office, located in the Cultural Arts Center, 518 S. Fountain St., weekdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., by calling (573) 651-2265, or online at RiverCampus.org.