By Avinoam Idhe
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The National Acrobats of the People’s Republic of China performed “Cirque Peking” November 9th at the Lehman Center for the Performing Arts.
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Show highlights included: jumping and flipping through hoops, astounding balancing acts atop of stacked chairs, and contortionists who were able to twist and turn their limbs in ways that baffled an excited crowd.
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Many of the feats test the acrobats’ ability to balance while in motion.
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Acrobatics in China has a very long history, with many of the acts originating from farm labor such as harvesting or crafts such as pottery.
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Other acts of the 2014 tour were Drums Girls, Grand Hoop Diving and High Chairs.
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An acrobat spins through the air.
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This particular act is called “Kicking Bowls from High Unicycles.”
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The acrobatic troupe was established in 1951 and performed in the White House in 1972 when U.S-China relations were rocky.
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