Special to The Washington Examiner Like Peter Pan, the Peking Acrobats are perpetually youthful and vibrant as they perform their gravity-defying routines for the entire world to enjoy and 2011 marks the 25th anniversary of their first U.S. visit.
| On stage |
| Peking Acrobats: 25th Anniversary Tour |
| Where: The Music Center at Strathmore, 5301 Tuckerman Lane, North Bethesda |
| When: 8 p.m., Thursday |
| Tickets: $25 to $48; 301-581-5100; strathmore.org |
In the D.C. stop of a four-month, whirlwind tour of American and Canadian cities, the troupe of 25 acrobats, ranging in age from 16 to 25, will grace the concert hall stage at Strathmore Thursday. In a show filled with spectacular sets and backdrops, colorfully lush costumes and amazing acrobatics will enthrall audiences of all ages.
“We have many wonderful surprises in store for this year’s audiences,” said the show’s promoter, Cynthia Dike-Hughes, vice president of IAI Presentations Inc. “Among them are the six members of the Women’s Peace Orchestra of China performing with the acrobats on stage and playing traditional Chinese instruments.”
The rich tones that accompany the acrobatic feats are derived from ancient pieces such as the er-hu, a type of violin, the pipa, a stringed instrument that resembles a Western banjo and a yang-qing, an instrument most comparable to a Western zither. Percussion instruments, such as drums, gongs and cymbals, add to the depth of the sound.
“The music is beautiful,” Dike-Hughes continued. “It is one of the things that make this version of the show really special.”
Then, there are the acrobats themselves, all professionally trained from the age of 6 or 7 to perform daring maneuvers atop a precariously assembled pagoda of chairs, to walk on thin wire and glide along the stage in trick cycling. There is also precision tumbling, somersaulting and a variety of gymnastics. In short, these young performers are masters of agility and grace.
The Silver Anniversary Tour features routines that include “Puppet Fun,” “The Lion Dance,” “Kung-Fu Surprise,” “Flights of Fancy” and a surprise ensemble finale.
“This program is really a tour de force and an expression of joy onstage,” Dike-Hughes said. “You come away very uplifted because you’ve experienced something very special.”
