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Peking Acrobats bend over backward for audiences

By Heather Zimmerman

The Peking Acrobats are top-tier performers, and not just because they hold the world record for tallest chair stack. The troupe is legendary for spectacular stunts performed by some of China's best acrobats.

Locally based Asian arts presenter Dimension Performing Arts brings the Peking Acrobats to Cupertino on Jan. 26, 3 and 8 p.m. Performances are at Flint Center, 21250 Stevens Creek Blvd., Cupertino.

This marks a return engagement for the group, which last performed in the South Bay in 2006, also presented by Dimension Performing Arts. That appearance was so well received that bringing the troupe back was, as Dimension Performing Arts executive director Jim Fung says, an easy choice.

"People kept asking us, "When are you going to bring them back?' " Fung says. "Because this is a show for the whole family, we had great responses from high school students, from kids, as well as the older generation, who really appreciated the acrobatic moves and dance with this kind of Chinese background."

It's fitting that the Peking Acrobats have such broad appeal because some of the acts they perform developed from an ancient folk art form that began in the home, with tricks that incorporated items readily on hand, such as housewares and tools. "The roots were really in the form of family entertainment in small villages, after dinner," Fung says. "They didn't have too much entertainment going on, and they would use a lot of bowls and plates--you can still see that in the Peking Acrobats show right now--they use plates and bowls and dishes to do acrobatic moves."

Acrobatic traditions can be traced back about 2,000 years. "It evolved from the family acts to a street act and then later on became more and more popular," Fung says.

The Peking Acrobats perform a variety of acts, such as rope-climbing, hoop-diving and a Lion Dance, based on a Chinese folk dance. Balancing acts can include everything from plate spinning to unicycle bowl balancing to the chair stack (the Acrobats' record-making stack reached 21 feet high and featured six acrobats atop six chairs).

Rigorous training is required to execute such feats, and Fung says that many artists begin acrobatic schooling around the age of 6, joining up with troupes by their late teens. The Peking Acrobats represent the crème de la crème, with artists chosen from China's top troupes. Though there are many acrobatic groups in the country, the Peking Acrobats are the most prestigious. The company grew out of the Great China Circus, renowned in the 1920s. "The level of skill really stands out," Fung says of the Peking Acrobats. "One of the reasons that they are so popular is that within the program, they always have a wide variety of acrobatic moves."

Though some of their acts have been around for a couple of thousand years, the Peking Acrobats know how to mix it up. The moves have ancient roots, but the troupe often combines them to create new acts, with colorful costumes and modern lighting adding splash.

Dimension Performing Arts brings several performing arts groups from China to the Bay Area each year. Its next show, in March, features a Chinese percussion group. With their historical foundation and wide appeal, the Peking Acrobats fit well with Dimension's mission of bringing Chinese culture to area audiences, Fung notes.

"The acrobatics went from family entertainment to street entertainment to the stage today, so the audience can almost see the evolution of how something very little could become something this spectacular," Fung says. "We hope that the audience will understand more about the history and also the culture of China through our show."

Tickets are $22-$56 ($100 VIP tickets). For tickets, call 408.998.8497 or visit www.ticketmaster.com.