A world-renowned Chinese acrobatics troupe is visiting Grass Valley, thanks to The Center for the Arts

Nowhere is our region’s thriving arts scene more apparent than at The Center for the Arts in Grass Valley. The cover of our current issue is California WorldFest, which The Center is now managing. The festival celebrates its 20th anniversary this year. The headliners at WorldFest on July 14-17 include Boz Scaggs and talented performers from around the world, as we’re been reporting.

The Center is also bringing Art Garfunkle to Grass Valley on September 17, another sign of its ability to attract star-power.

Besides bringing in world-renowned performers, The Center also is expanding our region’s cultural horizons. One shining example was announced this week: Shanghai Acrobats of the People’s Republic of China is performing on September 21. It is a local multicultural experience that our family is looking forward to seeing, along with the performances and cultural enrichment programs we’ve enjoyed from Community Asian Theatre of the Sierra, another performing arts nonprofit in our region.

Chinese acrobatics troupes are among the best in the world. Though Chinese acrobatics troupes travel internationally, they are not commonly seen by audiences outside the country. On trips to China, visitors from the United States often go to see the amazing feats of balance and skill as part of the itinerary.

Now one of the most popular troupes is coming to Grass Valley. The company of Shanghai Acrobats of the People’s Republic of China 2016 was founded in 1959 and belongs to the artistic entities of governmental finance allocation (state-owned enterprise). After more than 50 years’ efforts, it has become one of the most influential and competitive acrobatic companies in China, and has won many awards at the acrobatic and circus competitions at home and abroad.

Since the 1980s, the company has been invited and successively performed in more than thirty countries including the United States, Germany, Spain, Britain, Mexico, Netherlands, Switzerland, Japan, Turkey, Canada, Indonesia, Fiji, Cameroon, Guinea and Nigeria. The presentation will be the debut of “Shanghai Nights!” For tickets and more information, visit The Center’s website. Here’s the program:

1. Opening
2. Arial Silk Su Zihui and Cao Zhiqiang
3. Energy –Adagio Trio Hu Tao, Li Yi, Deng Xinpeng
4. Girls’ Feet Juggling with Balls Tao Linyu, Li Jin, Zeng Nifei, Zeng Jing, Chen Fang
5. Teeterboard Xiang Yang, Li Yi, Hu Tao, Liu Ying, Huang Liang
6. Clowning Kicking Bowls to Head on Rola Rola Nie Jian
7. Vocal Imitating Performance Zhang Kui
8. Straw Hats’ Play Qiu Guosheng, Zhou Zhenliang, Wu Yan, Zhou Tianchen, Yuan Yuan
9. Aerial Ring Wang Caihong Intermission
(15-20 minutes)
10. Unicycle Troupe Hu Tao, Li Yi ,Zheng Tian, Qiu Guoshen
11. Ballet on Shoulders Luo Xichen and Hu Tao
12. Leather Straps Fan Lilei, Ge Hongxu, Pei Cunchuang, Zhou Shibang, Wang Dingding
13. Hoop-diving Xiong Yi, Wu Yan, Zheng Tian, Li Chong, Liu Ying, Wang Dingding, Zhang Jie
14. High Chairs Cheng Zhi
15. Vocal Imitating Performance Hu Tao, Li Yi, Zheng Tian, Qiu Guoshen
16. Plates Spinning on High Stilts Chen Fang, Wang Ji, Shen Zhonghui, Li Nan, Nie Li, Xie Qian
17. Finale All artists
Back-up acts:
1. Contortion with Candle Lights Wang Caihong
2. Happy Chef Huang Liang, Yang Min, Yin Bangqing
3. TrianglePoles Li Yi, Xiong Yi, Hu Tao, Cao Zhiqiang