By Zhou Qiong

In September, 2009, seven acrobats of Zhejiang Acrobatic Troupe staged a spectacular show called “Arhats Headstand” at the fourth world festival of circus art in Moscow, a prestigious event of circus art and acrobatics in the world. The Zhejiang artists won the gold prize and the original creation prize for their brilliant and breathtaking stunt.

The festival, held in celebration of the 90th anniversary of Russian State Circus Company, was larger on scale than previous ones. Twenty-six programs from eighteen countries competed for top laurels. Many participating artists had won top prizes at circus festivals in France, Italy and Monte-Carlo. Jurors were all prestigious A-list artists in this field from all over the world.

The show put up by nine young men from Zhejiang had been selected in a national competition by the organizing committee of the festival in 2008. Wei Zhenbai, the director of Zhejiang Acrobatic Troupe, headed the group and came to Moscow. Wu Hangping, associate to the director of the Zhejiang Acrobatic Troupe, acted as the manager and art director of the show. Xia Juhua, a veteran acrobat and president of China Acrobats Association, came to Moscow as a juror. Before the competition started, she came to see the young men from Zhejiang at a rehearsal on the competition site, encouraging them to do their best.

The young artists from Zhejiang found it difficulty to do their best in Moscow. They needed to adjust to time difference and food difference in record time. They had to rehearse after midnight as the arena was mostly used in daytime for rehearsals of big shows.

But the nine acrobats prepared and adjusted well. The nine averaged 20 in age. The headstand stunt had grown up from a two-man show five years before to a complicated and ingenious teamwork of nine in 2009. It had evolved through various inspirations and new choreographies under the close care and supervision of Wei Zhenbai. The show incorporated various elements such as Chinese kongfu and Buddhism. It was innovative, delightful, amazing, breathtaking, aesthetic, and purely Chinese.

They successfully staged the headstand stunt. Audiences and jurors gave the performance a long standing ovation. It went on so long and so warm-hearted that the performers felt sure that they would win a top prize. They convinced everyone and won the gold prize.

BBC and Fuji Television Network each have produced a documentary on the show and screened it. News came on October 14, 2009 that the show was accepted as a new Guinness record.

The show has been booked for commercial performances in foreign countries. Invitation keeps coming in, asking the group to participate in more competitions. Wu Hangping comments proudly on the changes the troupe has seen since the top-prize winning: “Now we will surely feel more confident when we go abroad. Our respected artists will stage their shows in better theaters and arenas.”□