Knowing All about Hunan

Chinese acrobatic theatre to make Finland debut

Editor:李莎宁
Source:gbtimes.com
Updated:2017-06-29 11:57:19

  Chinese acrobats have used death-defying and astonishing feats of balance, timing and agility to not only dazzle spectators but also as a rather unusual storytelling device. Known as acrobatic theatre, the art form is believed to have first been performed on the streets of China over 2,000 years ago.

  Today dozens of troupes across China employ acrobatics as a narrative technique that allows them to transport audiences on unforgettable journeys to fantastical worlds.

  One such internationally-renowned group is Hunan Provincial Acrobatics Art Theatre, established almost 60 years ago in Changsha, Hunan Province, and they are bringing this exciting art form to Finland for the very first time.

  Athleticism and balletic grace

Hunan Provincial Acrobatics Art Theatre has performed at many large international events, including the opening ceremony of the 2001 Summer Universiade in Beijing, the closing ceremony of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, and the Shanghai World Expo in 2010.

  They have also been the recipient of more than 30 accolades from acrobatic competitions around the world and their latest show, entitled Dreamy Travel, won the Tian Han Special Award at the 5th Hunan Art Festival in 2015.

  Last year, the troupe took this award-winning show to North America for a four-month tour, during which they staged it 102 times in 73 cities, with over 200,000 people in attendance. After one show, the Canadian magazine Toronto Life praised their prop-heavy routines as “mixing intense athleticism with balletic grace”.

  Since its founding in 1959, Hunan Provincial Acrobatics Art Theatre has travelled to over 60 countries and they are now heading to Finland at the end of June, marking their first visit to any of the Nordic countries. Finnish audiences will be treated to Dreamy Travel, albeit with a third of the show’s 116 performers.

  Featuring disciplines ranging from trapeze, ropes and human pyramids to juggling, tumbling and magic, the three shows will include drama, comedy and romance to narrate the fantasy adventure of a young boy who helps a phoenix fairy living in the ocean.

  The hero enters a dreamland filled with evil, danger and 17 different obstacles, each of which requiring a special acrobatic skill in order to rescue the legendary Chinese phoenix fairy.

  Bridge through culture and art

Organised by the Information Office of Hunan Provincial People’s Government and co-organised by the Hunan Performance Group, Dreamy Travel is also sponsored by the Information Office of the State Council of China and Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in the Republic of Finland.

  The aim to make Chinese culture, such as the art forms and cultural characteristic of Hunan, more visible in Finland is a result of the meeting between Finnish President Sauli Niinist and Chinese President Xi Jinping earlier this year. It is also part of the celebrations of Finland’s 100 years of independence.

  Lancy Jia, project manager for the arrangements in Finland with partner GBTIMES, said, “We would like to share local Chinese culture with Finns and build a bridge through culture and art. We also want to increase cooperation and interaction between Finland and China.”

  She adds, “Chinese President Xi Jinping emphasised this during his recent visit to Finland and invited Finland to join the new Silk Road project. We also hope that this event will increase tourism between Finland and China.”

  There will also be free exhibitions introducing Chinese art and culture, as well as a virtual reality experience.

  Dreamy Travel acrobatic theatre show

  Location: Musiikkitalo, Mannerheimintie 13 A, Helsinki

  Dates & times: Friday, June 29 at 19:15; Saturday, June 30 at 13:00 & 18:00

  Price: Adults, 18-25€; Children/Students/Pensioners, 10-15€

  Ticket information:www.bit.ly/DreamyTravelTickets

  For more information, please visit the official website