Thousands of spectators were wowed at the first China International Circus Festival, which was inaugurated by Vice Minister of Culture Li Xiaojie at Chimelong International Circus Stadium in Hengqin Free Trade Zone Wednesday evening. Vice Governor Chen Yunxian delivered the welcoming speech and Mayor He Ningka presided over the opening ceremony.

A panel of ten international experts will decide the winners of the Golden, Silver and Bronze Fisher Maiden and individual awards. Thirteen teams from 11 countries performed on the opening day.

A state-approved contest and cultural exchange , the festival is sponsored by the Ministry of Culture and provincial government and co-organised by Zhuhai government and Guangdong Chimelong Group. Thirty global circus teams from 17 countries will perform from November 20 to December 1.

Li said that the circus festival, which incorporates acclaimed circus and acrobatics acts, is important for promoting Chinese circus arts worldwide and for international circus culture to develop.

The ceremony was also attended by senior officials from local and national government bodies.

Exotic Knight

The Kazakh performance Exotic Knight opened the first show to enthusiastic applause. The Kazakhstan National Equestrian Team has won the Silver medal at the China Wuqiao International Acrobatics Festival and Gold medal at the Kazakhstan Art Festival.

Performers grew up in circus families and started to ride horses in early childhood, some even from age 3. Having toured in Chengdu, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Xi'an and other cities, this was their seventh performance in China.

The knights skipped rope on galloping horses, made a human pyramid on two running horses, got off the back of a horse and returned from below in the twinkling of an eye. The actors and their horsemanship drew screams and excited applause.

Animals 

Seven elephants with expertly choreographed and performed tricks from the mysterious world of Thailand danced to music on stage, arousing laughter and acclamation from the audience. They demonstrated European court-ball dances and African tribal dances, skipped rope, played football, stood on one leg, spun and did many other incredible tricks.

Aydyn and his animal partner Roni from Russia performed unicycling, juggling, hand- balancing, and bicycling and comedy in tacit understanding. Meanwhile, Thailand coach Toom and his partners -- three orangutans -- played a humorous combination of an unusual ping-pong competition and a fabulous magic wheel act.

Chinese diabolo

'Gorgeous Girls -- Diabolo' [a1] -- a unique combination of acrobatic diabolo and Peking Opera Huadan (female role in the opera), was the only Chinese programme on opening day. Featuring traditional costumes and the highest-level diabolo, the show has won the Gold Clown Prize at the 37th Monte Carlo International Circus Festival, President Award at the 26th International Circus Festival of Tomorrow in France, and many more awards.

Diabolo is Chinese folk game and a traditional repertoire representing simple but sophisticated acrobatic techniques. In the background of Peking Opera music, Chinese girls in delicate Peking Opera makeup and costumes demonstrate difficult and beautiful stunts, with zealous ovations from spectators.

Nightmares Magic

Also staged on opening day was Nightmares Magic played by world-renowned Marcel. The magician told a story through a series of acts. Lying in bed, Marcel encountered a nightmare and began his magic experience by playing a she-devil in a split second.

The Nightmares act won the World Championship of Magic in the Stage Illusions category. The original illusions are the décor which tell the story. Marcel, the main actor, is the antihero experiencing a nightmare. During the World Championship, 2,500 fellow magicians gave Marcel and his team a standing ovation. They won many awards including World Champion Illusionism, FISM 2012, and Grand Prix Winner Dutch National Magic Convention 2010.

Trapezes

Aerial Russian Swing, a completely original take on the trapeze combining high-flying acrobatics with Russian swing, trapeze, and ring all mixed into one, was spellbinding, along with a Silk Act combining the single trapeze and traditional silk by Elisabeth Schmidt from Germany. The former featured Russian men and women demonstrating thrilling and dazzling acts whereas the latter mixed the traditional silk trapeze with music, dance, performances and sport in tender softness. Elisabeth won Best-Newcomer-Award Germany 2012 and Bronze Medal Circus Festival Wiesbaden.

Ventriloquism

Willer Nicolodi, a ventriloquist from Italy and a circus star , showed ventriloquism with his mouse. The audience would never believe that the mouse’s words were said by Willer. His act lasted for about 15 minutes as he gave birth to a puppet called Joselito.

From a member of a family of circus performers and live performance artists, Willer started out as an acrobat at a very young age and eventually performed in a trio act with his brothers Alex and Ben. Willer Nicolodi then discovers he has a gift of ventriloquism -- an act in which the performer projects his voice so that it appears to originate from an object. Willer Nicolodi's acts as a ventriloquist are mixed with irresistible comedy spiels. The 7th-generation successor of ventriloquism, he has won the Bronze Clown Prize in Monte Carlo International Circus Festival and Gold Prize at the International Festival of Art in Izhevsk Russia.

The Power of Strength from Australia, Abyssinia Voltige Act from Ethiopia, a juggling act from Russia and other shows also demonstrated world-class circus acts.

Day II

The second-day circus show featured Cuba's Bar Act, which combined a Russian bar act, bar, Latin music and toned men, was undeniably one of the hottest acts in the festival. The performance was the newest and it was the first time performed outside Cuba.

In the meantime, Wire Act from Ecuador had a breathtaking display of rope skipping, human pyramids and walking backward.

Moreover, Russia's Ground Russian Swing combining artful, traditional dance with high-level Russian swing was eye-opening. The eight performers aged between 22 and 33 stunned the audience with light and precise aerial somersaults and landing on a swing bridge.

The last performance, China's Saint Fight -- Hoops, with a motorized twist and combining warrior dance choreography with completely original hoop-jumping, won the most lasting applause. The programme won the Gold Clown Prize at the 37th Monte-Carlo International Circus Festival and many other awards.