The first performance day of the 3rd China International Circus Festival on Nov 19 erupted with all 27 acts to the delight of nearly 10,000 spectators at Chimelong Hengqin Theater. 

Russian balancing

The Russian Balancers-Champions With Perches proved there is no limit to human balancing. Perched a few dozen meters high without any protective measures, the artists demonstrated tacit understanding of one another and extreme balancing ability in completing a series of difficult and breathtaking high-pole formations and movements.

Team leader Alexey Sarach, 73, said the most difficult movement was the final pyramid. Performers need to not only shoulder about 250 kg, but also keep their balance, which can be achieved only after years of practice and experience.  

Having performed on circus stage for more than 50 years, Sarach originally demonstrated tricks and trick combinations with his wife and now with youngsters in repertoire of ensemble.

Chinese perform Russia Bar

Another challenge to the limits of balancing was Chinese Golden Elephant Award-winner Russia Bar. The performers demonstrated highly demanding continuous somersault and double somersault moves on a bar merely 15 cm wide. The male horizontal bar acrobatic troupe from Shanghai performs a perfect fusion of Chinese elements with acrobatics to showcase a combination of classical beauty and complex acrobatics. 

According to technical instructor Ren Zhiqiang, Russia Bar is one of the most difficult circus acts in China and even internationally. It features the most continuous somersaults in a short period of time. To achieve the breathtaking result, performers practice for four years, reaching a high degree of tacit understanding and stability. 

Two other shows, namely Ancient from the Netherlands and Prison Break from Italy/Greece, brought audiences to other worlds. 

Ancient was presented in epic and poetic form, fully arranged by a dedicated creative team which covers the entire production from creation, music composition and costumes to props. It once won many awards, including the 2015 Gold Award of the Golden Magic of the 21st Century in Moscow, and Magic World Champion of the England International Magic League Official World Magic Championship (Stage Magic Category) in 2012. 

A talented team supported by stunning choreography and ideal dance accompaniment was a visual feast on stage. Large-scale magic has its legendary presence in any circus festival, but a magic show with a complete story line made it a highlight inasmuch as this circus festival was the venue for the show’s official world premiere.

Prison Break is not merely magical, but also a gripping stage play. To wit: a lady goes to prison to visit her lover, but time-space freezes all of a sudden and the man gains freedom. But when the pair is celebrating their reunion, the space-time continuum comes back to normal and the man is recaptured -- hence the cruel reality of arrest and punishment is depicted through choreography and superb magic. Surprisingly, no matter what kind of “punishment” method is used, the protagonist will be able to escape in the nick of time. The stunning show set seven Guinness World Records and won the 2015 Eagle Head Award for movie “Grotto” at the 45th Giffoni Film Festival in Italy.

Canadian and US performers have cooperated to make La troupe Cat Wall the “Best Circus Act in the Past 40 Years.” This is a TV program popular worldwide. They appeared on the Ellen DeGeneres Show, which is currently the top-rated talk show in the United States. Two airings in Germany attracted more than 7 million audiences each time. 

The six-person team with the world’s best artists has performed in more than 24 countries and earned countless awards. The reason for its crowd-drawing prowess is blatant defiance of human physical limitations. Full of imagination, it is gravity-defying, yet it depicts down-to-earth scenes incorporating dances and acrobatics moves.

Vampire showed really authentic Russian art, with seamless interconnecting movements and highly difficult aerial somersaults. The charm of Sokolov’s Springboard Troupe, accompanied by special music and traditional Russian costumes, brought audiences a wonderful yet heart-stopping show. The performers, from 19 to 47 years old, achieved a takeoff height of 9.2 m, the highest among peers in the world.  

Handstand pyramid [Photos by Yan Xing / Zhuhai Daily]