The Xi’an Acrobatic Troupe’s The Acrobatic Swan Lake has dazzled sold-out audiences around the world since its premiere in 2004 and is now returning to London this Summer for a strictly limited run. The production will play 13 performances from Friday 21 to Saturday 29 June at Sadler’s Wells Theatre.
A unique fusion of the traditional Chinese art of acrobatics and classical dance, this spectacular 20th anniversary production, created by China’s Xi’an Acrobatic Troupe (formerly the Guangdong Acrobatic Troupe), showcases the rich cultural heritage of ancient Xi’an and the Tang Dynasty, one of the most famous of Ancient China, marked by exceptional achievements in acrobatics within the royal court.
The Xi’an Troupe’s reinterpretation of Swan Lake, the most famous of all ballets, is an extraordinary blend of artistic disciplines which delivers an unforgettable, awe-inspiring experience for audiences of all ages.
This stunning and upgraded version combines even more top-notch acrobatic performances as well as an updated stage design and more than 200 new costumes.
With a cast of 35 dancers and acrobats from across China, the multi-award-winning Xi’an Acrobatic Troupe have performed in 25 countries and at a host of major sports opening ceremonies and international television shows, reaching billions of viewers worldwide.
Encompassing more than 30 classic acrobatic techniques, including Shoulder Ballet, Diabolo, Parallel Bars, Hoop Diving, Contortion, The Meteor ball, Aerial Hoop, Hand Balancing and Partner Acrobatics, the human body is pushed to its very limits in a spectacular show of ‘Complete Chinese Acrobatics’.
With a history spanning over 2000 years in China, acrobatics boasts a rich heritage and a wide range of disciplines. The Acrobatic Swan Lake features the famous “Oriental Swan Ballet On Top of Head”, as well as Chinese Shoulder Ballet, an incredible feat of strength, precision and skill which sees Sun Yina as ‘The White Swan’ pirouette on her partner, Zhou Jie’s shoulders in a breathtaking show of balance and beauty. The Shoulder Ballet, a unique art form pioneered by the troupe, is now a classic technique studied and performed in the contemporary acrobatic world.
The average age of the troupe’s artists is 25 years old, and they have been training for over 20 years. These performers began learning acrobatics at the age of four or five, dedicating more than eight hours each day to a rigorous regime that continuously pushes their physical and mental limits. The Troupe get through more than 400 pairs of ballet shoes and around 1.92 million meters of bandages during the year.
The innovation of “Acrobatic Ballet on Shoulders” is born from this exploratory spirit. This performance requires executing ballet movements on a surface area of only 9.5 cm². During the dance, the male performer Zhou Jie’s shoulders endure an average pressure of 473 kPa, equivalent to the pressure produced by a water column 47 meters high. Female performer Sun Yina’s top toes can endure pressures exceeding 2000 kPa, equivalent to the pressure produced by a water column 200 meters high. Amidst this immense pressure, the two performers must maintain perfect balance and present the graceful elegance of ballet. They depict the deep connection and harmony between The Prince and The Swan, leaving the audience in awe.
The Acrobatic Swan Lake is directed by Yan Hongxia and choreographed by Zhang Yuan and Liu Xin. The troupe is led and the show produced by Zhang Quan and presented in London by Jurek Zhang for Joyway Promotions.
