Acrobatics have been a part of Chinese culture for thousands of years. Reflecting the people's daily working life, early performances incorporated labor instruments — wicker rings, tables, chairs, jars, plates, bowls — as props. Rudimentary acts eventually evolved into the "Hundred Plays," with more difficult and precise feats of balance, agility and coordination accompanied by music and presented in front of the royal families. Hebei, China's Golden Dragon Acrobats, have enchanted audiences around the world with daring and graceful feats for nearly three decades, their routines fusing traditional dance and costumes with ancient and contemporary theatrical techniques — kinda like Cirque du Soleil without the inflated ticket price and fancy sets. See it this Sunday evening at Mahaffey Theater. Jan. 21, 7 p.m., 400 First St. S., St. Petersburg, $12-$17, 727-898-2100, goldendragonacrobats.com.
This article appears in Jan 17-23, 2007.