2015 / 2016 SEASON PRESENTING THE BEST OF MUSIC, DANCE, COMEDY AND ENTERTAINMENT FROM AROUND THE WORLD. FUN EVENTS FOR KIDS AND THE ENTIRE FAMILY. JORGENSEN Center for the Performing Arts jorgensen.uconn.edu | 860-486-4226 Saturday, November 7, 2015 at 8:00 pm University of Connecticut School of Fine Arts Anne D'Alleva, Dean Jorgensen Center for the Performing Arts Rodney Rock, Director presents Direct from Beijing National Circus and Acrobats of the People's Republic of China Peking Dreams Columbia Artists Management LLC Andrew S. Grossman 1790 Broadway New York, NY 10019-1412 (212) 841-9558 www.cami.com PEKING DREAMS Peking (today known as Beijing), the capital of the People’s Republic of China, is a famous historical and cultural city with a history spanning 1,000 years and a wealth of precious Chinese cultural heritage including the Great Wall, the Forbidden City, the Summer Palace and the Temple of Heaven. Acrobatic art, Chinese circus and Peking Opera are Chinese cultural treasures and are beloved among the people of Peking. These art forms combine music, acrobatics, performance, mime, and dance along with sharing many similarities with Western culture. Foreign tourists walking along the streets or strolling through the parks of Peking can often hear natives sing beautiful Peking opera, see them play diabolo or see them perform other acrobatics. Peking Dreams, incorporating elements of acrobatics, Chinese circus and Peking Opera, invites audiences into an artistic world full of history and wonder. The actors' flawless performance, colorful costumes and elaborate make-up will astound audiences with visual and aural treats. PROGRAM 1. Opening 2. Acrobatic Master and His Pupils The Peking courtyard is bathed in bright moonlight. In the dim light of the training room, three children formally become pupils to an acrobatic master. Through patient teaching, the master is determined to pass his art and tradition down to his pupils. 3. The Drunken Beauty Amidst hundreds of flowers in bloom, the imperial concubine in the Forbidden City admires the full moon while drinking and toasting. Hanging on the swing of a trapeze, the actress performs a variety of stunts. Beneath her, the beautiful maids of the palace perform the spinning plates. 4. Martial Art Inspired by Chinese philosophy and legend, Chinese martial art combines hard and soft elements with the philosophical principles of Yin and Yang. Actors strike, kick, throw, and jump onstage in a jubilant manifestation of freedom and boldness. 5. Solo On A Pole This performance represents a perfect combination of energy and beauty beyond compare. 6. Contortion With Carpets’ Spinning In the Forbidden City, the Emperor and his maids drink wine and dance. Artfully waving long sleeves, the maids sway and twirl with a tapestry. This act is a combination of dancers’ long sleeves in classical Chinese dance, contortion and carpet spinning, and a reflection of suppleness and beauty. 7. Hoop Diving Everyone is merely a transient guest in Beijing, a fast-developing modern city, and each visitor is prone to a sense of loneliness. This seemingly negative attitude is a vivid picture of how helpless the people of Beijing sometimes feel. Young people work at an extreme pace and constantly achieve new speed records. The two actors sweep past two hoops on the table, backward somersault past five hoops, execute a 360-degree twist past five hoops, and backward somersault past six hoops. The actors perform with enormous vitality, spirit and extraordinary skills in a perfect representation of Peking culture. Intermission 1. Diabolo Diabolo has a long history in China, initially as a game in the imperial palace and then becoming popular among the greater population. The diabolo craze swept Peking and to this day is known to every household there. The diabolo comes alive in the hands of the girls who fly backwards and forwards, allowing us to see the quickness, gracefulness and even humor of the performers. 2. Aerial Silk A boy from Peking is handsome and forthright; a girl from Peking is beautiful and elegant. From acquaintance to friendship, and from friendship to love, the couple represents a moving, romantic story. The actor and actress move and dance with remarkable skill on the colored silk high above the floor. They at times express tender and romantic sentiments, hugging tightly, and at other times gaze deeply into each other's eyes, deeply emphasizing the sentiment and glamour. 3. Umbrellas Feet Juggling & Hula Hoops In autumn, the weather of Beijing is unpredictable: sometimes sunny and peaceful and sometimes raging and stormy. Dexterous and quick in action, the performer juggles umbrellas by feet. The umbrellas fly on the girl’s feet and the hoops twirl around the other girls. This act demonstrates the flexibility and beauty of the Chinese circus and acrobatic art. 4. Straw Hats Juggling In old Peking, a rich family marries off their daughter and many people take part in the merry-making. The actors perform various stunts while holding straw hats and spinning them high in the air in this humorous and popular program. 5. Bicycle Stunts This act is based on a famous Peking Opera story: “The Generals of the Yang Family.” Accompanied by music and dressed in the costume of women warriors, the acrobatic girls execute spectacular and stunning tricks on their bicycles. 6. Final act: Balancing On High Chairs The Great Wall, the greatest miracle created by the people of China, is recognized as a symbol of Peking. It has witnessed thousands of years of Chinese culture; it has heard the drums of war roaring; it has seen countless dynasties rise and fall; it can tell of the vicissitudes of history. In this piece, the actor flawlessly executes various stunning and breathtaking movements on stacked-up chairs. 7. Finale The final act ends with a finale featuring all performers! THE NATIONAL CIRCUS AND ACROBATS OF THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA The National Circus and Acrobats of The People’s Republic of China were founded in 1958, and since that time the company has been dedicated to the innovation of and excellence in the circus and acrobatic art. It has produced a large number of excellent circus and acrobatic acts with distinctive Chinese national style and characteristics. The company’s Juggling Benches with Feet won gold medals at the 11th World Acrobatic Championship in Britain in 1986 and the 10th Cirque de Demain Festival in France in 1987. In 1990, it again won the Gold Medal at Korea’s “Spring of April” Art Festival together the company’s other act of Hula Hoops. The act of Balance on Double Planks won the Silver Clown at the 14th Monte Carlo International Circus Festival in Monaco in 1989. The act of Aerial Silk won the Silver Medal at the 5th China Wuhan International Acrobatics Festival in 2002. In October 2003, at Second Brazilian International Acrobatics Competition, the company won the Golden Award with the act of High Chairs’ Stacking which also later won the Golden K medal in Monte Carlo at the 17th Premiere Stage International Circus Festival in February 2005. In 2006, the Balance on High Chairs received the Golden Elephant Prize at the sixth Moscow International Circus Festival. In 2012, the company again won the Golden Medal at the 2nd International Circus Festival in Spain and Silver Medal at the 6th International Festival of Circus Art in Russia. Many other acts of the troupe were also rewarded gold medals, silver medals and other prizes at the national acrobatics and magic competitions in China. In recent years, the company's show productions like City of Springs and Peking Dreams have been highly praised by domestic and international audiences. Many of the Company’s acrobats were employed by Cirque du Soleil to perform the Lasso in Tokyo Disney’s Cirque du Soleil Theater for more than two years and by the French Cirque’s Arlette Gruss national tour in 2014. In 2000, the Company’s Grand Girl Bicycle was also performed for the Ringling Brothers Barnum & Bailey Circus. Representing China, the Company has visited and performed in more than 50 countries and regions including Japan, the United States of America, Romania, Hungary, Germany, Russia, Brazil, Singapore, Pakistan, Britain, France, Spain, South & North Korea, Indonesia, Colombia, Hong Kong and Taiwan, alongside many others, making great contributions to the role of China’s national acrobatic and circus art on the international scene. The National Circus and Acrobats of the People’s Republic of China 2015 tour of North America will feature “Peking Dreams,” which showcases many impressive circus and acrobatic acts such as hats’ juggling, diving through rings, bicycles, feet juggling with umbrellas, unicycles, adagio of four and grand martial arts and so on. The program also includes traditional circus acts like hula hoops, balance on high chairs, aerial silk, solo trapeze and rope tricks (lasso) commonly featured under the circus tent. This production was performed for the Beijing Olympic Games in 2008 and has been performed for more than 600 shows in front of more than 400,000 people in China, Europe, Japan, Singapore, Hong Kong and Taiwan. HISTORY OF THE CHINESE CIRCUS The origin of the Chinese circus is something of a debate. However, what is clear is it is an ancient art. First records date back over 2000 years to the Qin Dynasty (225-207BC) when China was unified by the First Emperor Qu Shi Huang. It is believed the art started about 3000 years ago. Some believe that the circus evolved out of the Imperial court performers, something similar to court jesters in Medieval Europe. These performances, however, tended to be quite formal and staid, and it is believed the adaptation of some of these acts into popular performances for the people, in turn, became popular with the ruling classes.