MORRISTOWN — The Peking Acrobats will show off their feats of agility and athleticism at Mayo Performing Arts Center on Saturday, March 2. This performance is sponsored by McCarter & English.
Since their Western debut in 1986, The Peking Acrobats have redefined audience perceptions of Chinese acrobatics. They perform daring maneuvers atop a precarious pagoda of chairs; they are experts at treacherous wire-walking, trick-cycling, precision tumbling, somersaulting and gymnastics. They defy gravity with displays of contortion, flexibility and control.
They push the envelope of human possibility with juggling dexterity and balancing feats, showcasing skill and ability. They are often accompanied by live musicians skillfully playing traditional Chinese instruments and high-tech special effects that coalesce with the music to create awe-inspiring acts featuring all the pageantry of a Chinese Carnival.
The ability to perform the astounding is rooted in centuries of Chinese history and folk art. Records of acrobatic acts can be found as early as the Ch'in Dynasty (221 B.C. - 207 B.C.) and Chinese acrobats through the ages have continued to perfect what has become an evolving folk art form. Tradition demands that each generation of acrobats add its own improvements and embellishments. Because of the unusual and difficult nature of the feats involved, high honor is conferred upon those skilled enough to become acrobats; an acrobat can be considered the Chinese equivalent of an American opera star.
The Peking Acrobats will perform on March 2 3 and 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $25 to 39.
The Mayo Performing Arts Center is located at 100 South St. in Morristown. For more information or tickets call the box office at 973-539-8008 or visit mayoarts.org.