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The Peking Acrobats® CAL PERFORMANCES PRESENTS Saturday, January 25, 2014, 2pm & 8pm Sunday, January 26, 2014, 3pm Zellerbach Hall For Families The Peking Acrobats® with special guests JIGU! Thunder Drums of China® Cal Performances’ 2013–2014 season is sponsored by Wells Fargo. CAL PERFORMANCES 23 PROGRAM The Peking Acrobats® ince their début in 1986, The Peking Eventually, the excitement of the acrobats’ SAcrobats have redefined audience per- amazing feats caught on and held the attention with special guests ceptions of Chinese acrobatics. They perform of the ruling classes. During the Warring States daring maneuvers atop a precarious pagoda of Period, acrobatics became widespread. It was ® JIGU! Thunder Drums of China chairs; they are experts at treacherous feats of believed that practicing acrobatics could steel daring, trick-cycling, precision tumbling, som- people’s will, increase their physical strength, ersaulting, and gymnastics. They defy gravity and hone the accuracy of their movements. PROGRAM with amazing displays of contortion, flexibility, During the Han Dynasty (207 B.C.–220 and control. They push the envelope of human A.D.), acrobatics flourished, and this wide possibility with astonishing juggling dexter- variety of juggling, tumbling, and magic Hear the Tiger and the Dragon Roar (featuring JIGU!) ity and incredible balancing feats, showcasing acts came to be known as the “Hundred Pole Position tremendous skill and ability. They are masters Entertainments.” It was at this time, according of agility and grace. Accompanied by the live to Fu Qifeng, that Emperor Wu Di presented The Nose Knows It musicians, playing traditional Chinese instru- the first grand acrobatic performance at the Diving Daring Do ments with modern flair, high-tech special ef- Imperial Court. The emperor invited a number It’s a Tight Squeeze fects that coalesce with the music, and all of of important foreign dignitaries, thus making this in harmony with the Acrobats’ awe-inspir- this performance the first time in Chinese his- The Sounds of Rolling Walnuts (featuring JIGU!) ing feats, an exuberant entertainment event tory that acrobatic art was presented for dip- Let the Spinning Plates Spin appears before your eyes, featuring all the ex- lomatic purposes. The foreign guests were so Let’s Have a Ball! citement and festive pageantry of a Chinese impressed by what they saw that they agreed carnival infused with fresh, explosive energy. to enter into military and trade alliances with The Happy Chef’s Colorful Contortion Many of the magnificent acts we see today, the Han Emperor. Kung-Fu Ceremony despite their sophistication, were performed Chinese acrobats through the ages have in ancient times. The history of Chinese acro- continued to perfect what has become an evolv- batics is rich in tradition and dates back over ing folk art tradition. The Peking Acrobats’ INTERMISSION 2,000 years. Records of acrobatic acts can be ability to perform the astounding is rooted found as early as the Ch’in Dynasty (221–207 in centuries of this tradition. No doubt, the B.C.). Throughout the history of China the ac- Chinese acrobats of the Han Dynasty would be The Lion Dance robatic arts flourished, but in varying degrees. awestruck and amazed at how their modern- The Bull and the Tiger (featuring JIGU!) Originally, court entertainments were formal day counterparts have elevated their art, and Fruit on the Tree and monotonous, quite the opposite of the that their tradition, begun so many ages ago, lively, folk arts of the people. And, it did all be- is still going strong, even into the 21st century. Keep It Under Your Hat gin with folk arts: tumbling, juggling ordinary Tradition demands that each generation of What a “Jar”-ring Experience! household objects, and balancing. According acrobats add its own improvements and em- Daring Diablos to Fu Qifeng, author of Chinese Acrobatics bellishments to their acts. Generations of fam- Through the Ages, acrobatics originated from ilies have carried on this tradition. Children Pagoda of Chairs the people’s daily life, drawing from their ex- begin training at a young age and adhere to a Springtime Paradise (featuring JIGU!) periences in work, war, and sacrificial rites. rigorous training schedule which they follow Human Pyramid/Bicycle Pagoda Finale Common games of the people, such as “rang over the length of their careers. Today, the ac- hitting,” or throwing a small wooden strip robat in China is considered an artist. Because the size and shape of a shoe sole at a target, of the unusual and difficult nature of the feats developed accuracy. Modern-day whip feats involved, high honor is conferred upon those The program is subject to change. are traced back to this game. Myth and reli- skilled enough to become acrobats; in China, gion also influenced the acrobatic arts. The an acrobat may be considered the equivalent The Peking Acrobats suggest that parents advise their children that what they Lion Dance is Buddhist in origin. The lion was of an opera star in the West. As the years go by, see on stage takes years of practice and should not be tried at home! seen as the reincarnation of a woman, who was it is telling that the Chinese acrobatic tradition teased into revealing her true identity. This just gets stronger, due to the continued inno- dance was a symbol of spiritual renewal and vation of the artists and the endless enthusi- revered for dispelling bad luck. asm from their adoring public. 24 CAL PERFORMANCES CAL PERFORMANCES 25 ABOUT THE ARTISTS ABOUT THE ARTISTS he peking acrobats have been the Bowl Orchestra, conducted by John Mauceri. Tfeatured performers on numerous televi- The company’s musicians played traditional sion shows and celebrity-studded TV specials, Chinese instruments alongside the Hollywood including appearances on The Wayne Brady Bowl Orchestra as the acrobats inspired Show, NBC’s Ring in the New Year Holiday audiences with their powerful maneuvers Special, Nickelodeon’s Unfabulous, and Ellen’s in a multicultural, multimedia spectacular. Really Big Show, hosted by Ellen DeGeneres. Between the “fireworks” on stage and the The Acrobats set the world record for the “fireworks” in the air, audiences experienced Human Chair Stack on Fox’s Guinness Book theatrical alchemy at its finest. Primetime, where they astounded audiences Since their Hollywood Bowl début, the with their bravery and dexterity as they bal- Peking Acrobats have performed with some anced six people precariously atop six chairs, of the most prestigious symphony orchestras 21 feet up in the air, without safety lines. The in North America today, including the Atlanta Acrobats are also making the Hollywood Symphony, the Ravinia Festival Orchestra, the scene on the silver screen. Company members San Diego Symphony, the Cincinnati Pops, the were featured in director Steven Soderbergh’s Buffalo Philharmonic, and the San Francisco hit film Ocean’s 11, playing alongside Julia Symphony. In fall 2008, the Acrobats were Roberts, Brad Pitt, and George Clooney and invited to return to the Hollywood Bowl, other members of Hollywood’s élite. Qin where they performed with the Hollywood Shaobo, an alumnus of the Peking Acrobats, Bowl Orchestra as special guest artists. In appeared in that film’s two blockbuster se- May 2011, the Acrobats performed in sold-out quels, Ocean’s 12 and Ocean’s 13. The Acrobats concerts with the Edmonton and Winnipeg were also the featured performers at the star- symphonies in Canada. These concerts marked studded Hollywood première of Ocean’s 13 in the first time that the Acrobats had performed Peking Acrobats Staff June 2007. with Canadian orchestras, expanding their As an added treat for their 2014 North reach to yet another concert-going audience. Ken T. Hai Company Director American tour, the Peking Acrobats are joined In February 2005, the Peking Acrobats Li N. Zhong Group Leader on stage by drum and percussion virtuosos débuted in Italy, where they astounded Qin Bo Technical Consultant JIGU! Thunder Drums of China. The per- audiences on a five-week, twelve-city tour Kevin Couture Technical Director formers in JIGU!—which in Chinese means to that took them to Milan, Pisa, Bologna, and Michael Couture Assistant to the Technical Director touch or beat the drum—literally make music Naples, where they performed to sold-out Jiang F. Jun Stage Manager with drums and percussion, and are an inno- crowds. Their opening in Milan was covered Zhao Wen Xi Orchestra Director vative new addition to this year’s tour. Hailing by the national Italian press. Zhang Ping Translator from Shanxi Province, this world-renowned Today in China, professional acrobatic Liu L. Jun Assistant Translator company of drummers, percussionists, and troupes have many outlets for displaying their musicians has toured North America many talents. Some appear on Chinese television, times, and has thrilled audiences around the since the broadcast industry in China has 2014 North American Tour Credits globe with their awe-inspiring performances. expanded to include several channels featuring IAI Presentations, Inc. They add a full-tilt sensory dimension to the diverse programming. Some travel throughout Don Hughes President & CEO Acrobats’ performances, and you can feel their China, bringing their own unique costumes, Cynthia A. Dike-Hughes Vice President & COO incredible music inside your soul as they play. stage props, and acrobatic styles to factories, The Peking Acrobats achieved another villages, army units, remote areas, and frontier International Asia, Inc. milestone as they made their début at the outposts. Still others have formed joint Ken T. Hai President Hollywood Bowl in fall 2003. They performed ventures with theme parks as an economically Melinda Hai Assistant to the President as part of the Hollywood Bowl’s Fireworks thriving China has fostered the growth of its Season Finale, where the company blended own family entertainment industry, where North American Representation their unique brand of acrobatics with the they perform seasonally as part of the theme majestic sound of the 100-piece Hollywood park’s entertainment.
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