LITERATUREandTHEATRE

By: Jenn Y =The Chinese Acrobatics =



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**Imagine doing acrobatics, but in the chinese way! Chinese Acrobatics are a combination of jumping, tumbling and balancing. Sometimes, you can easily get hurt by doing hard training. In order to prevent that, you need strong physical skills and you need to be able to bend your body. Chinese acrobats' performance is very beautiful because of their perfect movement. China is No. 1 country for acrobatics because of their long history, great abilities and wonderful performance.** ======



= = = = =Long History =  

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**If it was possible to go back in time, I would want to see the starting of Chinese acrobatics. Back then, the acrobat's performances were recorded on brick paintings and stone engravings. " A stone engraving "Bai xi tu" discovered in a Han tomb in Yinan County, provides a vivid picture of ancient Chinese acrobats performing in a circus" (Farron). It was passed on as a tradition through history of China. As time went on, Chinese acrobatics became better and was known throughout China. It was also recognized as a national art.** ======

= = = = =Great Abilities = == = =

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**For anyone that's already an acrobat, you must know there are many abilities and skills needed for acrobatics. It takes a lot of practice in order to make a performance that's worthwhile. Chinese Acrobatics is even harder because of the difficult challenges you have to go through with your body. Many of the moves that Chinese acrobats do look impossible to imagine on a human being and even painful. Some of the ablities they must have are: flexibility, muscular strength, and balance in motion. The important thing is that acrobats earn the skills they have by years of hard training. This shows the hardships and danger they have to go through in order to become the best acrobat they can be. Cultural Exchanges** ======

= = = = =Cultural Exchanges = <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0); font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;"> <span style="display: block; color: rgb(255, 0, 0); font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; text-align: left;">
 * Did you ever wonder about how many places the Chinese acrobats have performed in? All I know is that it must be hundreds of different places because that's how China is represented as No. 1 in acrobatics. While they are traveling, the Chinese acrobats meet new people all around the world. Their performances allow them to start cultural exchanges with people in other countries. Cultural exchanges would start with sharing their traditions and information in order to improve friendship and understanding. "Performances rich in ancient Chinese culture helped the people from various countries to realize that China is willing to live together with other countries in a peaceful and friendly manner." (Matour) This is how Chinese acrobatics promoted not only acrobatics but their own country as a whole.**

<span style="display: block; color: rgb(17, 158, 182); font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; text-align: center;">

=<span style="display: block; color: rgb(18, 200, 217); font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; text-align: center;"> = =<span style="display: block; color: rgb(18, 200, 217); font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; text-align: center;"> = =<span style="display: block; color: rgb(18, 200, 217); font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; text-align: center;">Doing the impossible =


 * <span style="display: block; color: rgb(18, 200, 217); font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; text-align: center;">The Chinese acrobatics have a long history and an artistic style in their performances. Their amazing qualities have helped them form the unique charm of Chinese acrobatics. Many traditions of China has passed down acrobatics and now it has become very popular in China. It was also benefitial to China as a whole because it promoted cultural exchanges to improve the friendship and understanding between different countries. The starting of Chinese acrobatics, great abilities and the promotion of culural exchanges of China has earned them the title of doing the impossible. **


 * Works Cited**

Chinese acrobatics. [Online Image] available [] march 13, 2009

Stone Engravings. [Online Image] available [], march 12, 2009

Trainings of Chinese acrobatics. [Online Image] available [], march 20, 2009

Cultural exchanges. [Online Image] available [], march 18, 2009

Doing the impossible. [Online Image] available [], march 23, 2009

Farron, Ben. __The Culture of China__. 21 Nov. 2004. 24 Feb. 2009 <http://www.chinaculture.org/gb/en_artqa/2003-09/24/content_37649.htm>.

Matour, Peter. "Trainings of Chinese Acrobatics." __China Culture__. 20 Feb. 2003. 24 Feb. 2009 <http://www.chinaculture.org/gb/en_artqa/2003-09/24/content_37649.htm>.