Peking Acrobats bring excitement of a Chinese carnival
Steve Hai is still amazed. After years as creative director for The Peking Acrobats, he says, his mind is blown at the athleticism of the performers in the group.
“Inspiration can strike anywhere,” he says during a recent interview. “The best part about what I do is that we’re always looking to push forward.”
For more than 30 years, The Peking Acrobats have redefined audience perceptions of Chinese acrobatics.
The group of about 30 performers travels around the world performing daring maneuvers atop a precarious pagoda of chairs.
The members are experts at trick cycling, precision tumbling, somersaulting and gymnastics.
Each one defies gravity with amazing displays of contortion, flexibility and control, all while pushing the envelope of human possibility with astonishing juggling dexterity and incredible balancing feats, showcasing tremendous skill and ability.
“The talent and training that each performer goes through is amazing,” he says. “There are times the performers come up with their ideas. Other times, it’s something that I’ve dreamed up. I’ve gotten inspired while shopping at Home Goods. It’s something that I have to pay attention to.”
The Peking Acrobats are often accompanied by live musicians skillfully playing traditional Chinese instruments and high-tech special effects that coalesce with the music and awe-inspiring feats to create an exuberant entertainment event featuring all the excitement and festive pageantry of a Chinese carnival.
Hai says each show gives a little bit of a history lesson.
“Our hope is that we provide genuine entertainment,” he says. “We want people to put their phones down, sit through the show and see some amazing acrobatics. This is a time for the audience to unplug from the world and enjoy the stories we’re telling. There’s about 3,000 years of history that we go through.”