CIRQUE ZIVA Plays the New Victory Theatre, Beginning Tonight

New York's premier theater for kids and families adds East Asian pageantry to this season's holiday fare when time-honored traditions take on a terrific technicolor transformation in Cirque Zíva at The New Victory Theater from tonight, December 5, 2014 - January 4, 2015. From Hebei Province, China, the Drama Desk-nominated Golden Dragon Acrobats (New Vic 2005) represent the best of Chinese circus in a stunning spectacle of breathtaking skill and spellbinding beauty.

Captivating acts of ancient artistry, dazzling showmanship and spectacular costumes are on display and there's not a bad seat in the house. Ensemble performances like acrobatic hoop diving and the whizzing diabolo are punctuated by awe-inspiring solo acts of unparalleled precision. An acrobat of incomparable strength winks at balcony patrons as his chair stack teeters over 30 feet high. A gifted contortionist balances over 60 wine glasses while her body bends impossibly backwards. Neon German wheels, an act enticingly called "A Thousand Hands" and a festive lion dance join the impressive lineup to compete for crowd favorite in this thrilling theatrical experience.

The newest show from producer and artistic director Danny Chang, Cirque Zíva is a fast-paced, technically innovative celebration of an art form steeped in 2,000 years of tradition. The large cast and spectacular set design illustrate Chang's signature artistry, high production values and solid commitment to cultural exchange. Since 1985, the Golden Dragon Acrobats remain the only Chinese acrobatic company touring year-round in the United States, presenting over 200 performances at hundreds of venues across the country each year. Its members are athletes, actors and artists who have studied and trained in their craft from early childhood. In 2005, their Off-Broadway debut and seven-week run at The New Victory Theater earned two prestigious New York Drama Desk Awards nominations (Angela Chang for Best Choreography and Danny Chang for Most Unique Theatrical Experience).

Today, the Golden Dragon Acrobats are recognized as the preeminent Chinese acrobatic company in the U.S. Every year, Danny Chang and his wife and choreographer Angela Chang attend the world's top acrobatic competitions to select elite performers to join the Golden Dragon Acrobats. The company works with the industry's best, including Cirque Zíva lighting designer Tony Tucci, a two-time recipient of the B. Iden Payne Award and a Critics Table Award-winner for lighting. In recent years, members of the Golden Dragons have won the President's Award at the International Acrobatic Competition and received awards at the Hebei Regional Acrobatic Competition, the China National Acrobatic Competition, the National Teen Acrobatic Competition, the Italian National Acrobatic Competition and the International Young Adult Acrobatic Competition in Japan.

The cast includes Mei Zhuo Cao, Kang Chen, Bing Bing Cui, Shen Tong Guo, Ya Nan Hou, Wen Cai Li, Yu Shun Liu, Yuan Yuan Pan, Hui Min Pang, Jia Hui Shen, De Long Sun, Wei Kang Wang, Ya Ru Wang, Zhi Yang, Hua Ye Yin, Meng Di Zhang, Ning Zhang, Tai Long Zhang, Xiao Zhang, Chen Ying Zhao and Hui Yuan Zhu.