THE PEKING ACROBATS Leap Into Gainesville 3/21

Daring maneuvers atop a precarious pagoda of chairs...treacherous wire walking...a trick cycling kaleidoscope of magnificent movement...powerful precision tumbling, somersaulting and gymnastics...amazing displays of contortion, flexibility and Control...astonishing foot juggling dexterity...incredible balancing feats showcasing tremendous skill and ability...extraordinary exhibits of agility and grace...live musicians displaying their talents by skillfully playing traditional Chinese instruments....high-tech special effects and all the excitement and festive pageantry creating an atmosphere like that of a Chinese Carnival!! All of this is just a part of the magnificent show offered by The Peking Acrobats from the People's Republic of China on Sunday, March 21, 2 p.m. at the Phillips Center for the Performing Arts.

Last year, this engaging troupe marked its 22nd North American tour following sold-out headline Theatre Tours from 1986-2007. Because of the unusual and difficult nature of the feats involved, high honor is conferred upon those skilled enough to become acrobats; an acrobat can be considered the Chinese equivalent of an American opera star. In China there are approximately 100,000 acrobats studying at schools dedicated to the art. After 10 or 11 years of extensive tutoring, often beginning as early as age 5 or 6, the student will join a professional troupe, usually a citywide organization that draws its members regionally. Only the best acrobats find themselves members of an elite world-touring troupe such as The Peking Acrobats. For centuries, dating back to the Ch'in Dynasty (221 B.C. - 207 B.C.), Chinese acrobats have continued to perfect an evolving folk art form. Tradition demands that each generation of acrobats add its own improvements and embellishments.

Each new movement or action takes many years to practice and perfect. Those who have seen The Peking Acrobatson any of their previous tours can be assured that they will see new, exciting acts and new twists to their old favorites! It is telling that the Chinese Acrobatic tradition just gets stronger, due to the continued innovation of the artists and the endless enthusiasm from their adoring public.

The Peking Acrobatshave built a tremendous reputation over the years, performing not only on stages around the globe, but also on many popular television shows, including Nickelodeon's Unfabulous and Ellen's Really Big Show, hosted by daytime talk show host and actress, Ellen DeGeneres. They have performed with world-famous Symphony Orchestras including the San Francisco Symphony, the Atlanta Symphony, and the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra.

They have performed for prestigious Corporations around the world, including Unisys, Ferrari/Maserati of Beverly Hills and the International Monetary Convention. They have performed four consecutive European tours in recent years, visiting such countries as Italy, Switzerland, Belgium, and the Netherlands. They have been featured in star-studded feature films, including Steven Soderbergh's Ocean's 11. Their incredible popularity and longevity as a performing entity is a testament to the awesome power of their performances. Their renown continues to grow with each passing year, refining their unique brand of ancient artistry by inspiring crowds of all ages, from all walks of life, performance by performance.

A performance by The Peking Acrobats, therefore, brings with it the opportunity to view the epitome of a rich and ancient folk art tradition in addition to the pageantry and spectacle of the modern Chinese Theatrical Circus. As The Seattle Times has reported: "Nearly everything the Peking Acrobats did last night was amazing - and stunning, and breathtaking and WOW!" and Chris Pasles of the Los Angeles Times stated: "The Peking Acrobats regularly passed from the seemingly impossible to the virtually unbelievable."

The Peking Acrobatshave performed the world over to standing ovations and packed houses, including such far-reaching corners of the globe as Australia, Europe, throughout the Americas, the Middle East, Africa and numerous Asian countries. Now, 2,000 years of tradition, perfection and spectacle comes to Gainesville - are you ready to be amazed?

The Peking Acrobats
Saturday, March 21, 2 p.m.
Phillips Center for the Performing Arts
The performance is sponsored by Wachovia.
Ticket Prices: $20 - $30
University of Florida Performing Arts: www.performingarts.ufl.edu
The Peking Acrobats: www.iaipresentations.com/pa.html

To Purchase tickets, call the Phillips Center Box Office at 352-392-ARTS (2787) or 800-905-ARTS (toll-free within Florida) or call Ticketmaster at 800-277-1700 (toll-free). Tickets may also be purchased in person at the Phillips Center Box Office, the University Box Office at the University of Florida Reitz Union or from any Ticketmaster outlet, or online at www.ticketmaster.com. Cash, checks, MasterCard and Visa are accepted.

UF students may purchase $10 tickets (with a valid student ID) at the Phillips Center Box Office and the University Box Office at the Reitz Union. Other students may purchase $10 student tickets (in the balcony) at the Phillips Center Box Office.