Saturday October 29, 2011 - The National Acrobats of the People's Republic of China played a single show at the Brooklyn Center for the Performing Arts this afternoon. I met Kokyat on this taste-of-Winter afternoon after my long trek to the venue. We didn't know what to expect, really.
But it was quite exciting to see these athletes showing off their skills. In a production full of vivid colours, the acrobats kept the audience cheering with a series of remarkable feats displayed in what could be described as Asian vaudeville. As one production number after another filled the stage, the two-hour show zoomed by and - despite the awful weather - a large crowd showed up and really got into it.
Here's a gallery of Kokyat's images from this event. Click each image to enhance.
A ballerina danced on pointe on the shoulders and elbows of her partner.
There was only one 'flying saucer' during this long number.
Brilliant male ensemble with weighted ropes.
Balancing act. This woman should be in international diplomacy.
These two guys did some really impressive feats of strength and balance.
One of the many lavish production numbers.
This hoop was ten feet off the floor!
She ended up 'juggling' five umbrellas.
This guy was so strong; he was holding his balances in complete steadiness.
Leaping from bike to bike...
...ending up with a moving 'tower'.
This punky juggler was a real showoff...
As balls kept flying in from the wings, he ended up with nine or ten. And never missed a beat.
A toss-up.
Click to enlarge this one; a woman flying over the top of this towering human structure.
All images by Kokyat.
There's been a Chinese invasion in NYC recently, with Cloud Gate and Beijing Dance Theater both at BAM, and an upcoming visit from the Beijing Dance Company at Alice Tully Hall in late November.