Understanding the life of a Chinese acrobat

MANILA, Philippines - Gu wakes up at half past six in the morning and automatically starts his exercises. Gu can be considered quite a globetrotter because he has celebrated his birthday in five countries. He has gotten used to living out of a suitcase, traveling from city to city in rooms that he shares with his companions, many of whom come from provinces he has never visited. Even if the language is mostly what he has in common with them, he feels a great deal of camaraderie and support. They are what he considers as family because he sees his biological family only an average of two weeks in a year. Gu is a member of the Grand China National Acrobatic Circus. And he is only 15 years old.

Gu is going to be one of a total of 44 performers from the Grand China National Acrobatic Circus that will be coming to town in next month for 12 shows from May 8 to 13 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. Dubbed as Legends of the Dragon, the brand-new show will consist of 16 acts that defy gravity, challenge physical strength and manipulate objects that demonstrate strong technique and high level of execution while maintaining astounding rhythm.

Being part of the Grand China National Acrobatic Circus is no mean feat. For people like Gu, being accepted in the troupe is a dream come true, both for him and his parents. Training usually begins at the young age of four or five when the body is very lithe and not yet fully developed. Acrobats like him usually spend the first two years learning the basic skills of tumbling and dancing. When they are deemed ready, they “accelerate” to more specialized roles and more mentally and physically challenging routines.

In China, acrobatics is considered an exalted art form, far from the usual “perya” mentality that some Filipinos may have. The performances show a fusion of cultural elements and other art forms such as music. There is no need for over-the-top production elements except for the music. The acrobats’ awe-inspiring movements more than suffice for the simple set-ups. There is usually no plot in the performances except for a pervading theme. The acrobats use simple props that are ordinarily seen in their day-to-day lives in the provinces. But what they do with these chairs, tables, bowls are far from ordinary. The costumes are usually very colorful but are pliable and diaphanous enough to accommodate their endless cacophony of leaps and somersaults.

Chinese acrobats like Gu are considered very fortunate. They are now regarded a national treasure. After 1949, acrobatics received strong government support. It must have also helped that Mao Zedong was a great fan of acrobatics. 

The Grand China National Acrobatic Circus is certainly going places, literally and figuratively. They now have over 300 performers. In recent history, they captured worldwide acclaim during the opening ceremonies of the Beijing Olympics. Some of their alumni are actually members of the equally famous Cirque de Soleil. Along with belonging to a greater artistic community, these Chinese acrobats also receive education while on the road, health benefits in the form of injury prevention, on site emergency care and nutritional support and other care to ensure their well-being. Some of them also get lured by the technical aspects of the production, which makes a smooth transition to a life even off the stage when they retire. All told, the life of a Chinese acrobat is far from sedentary.

With more than 10,000 people now involved in the industry, the acrobatics industry can be considered a thriving one. The career of an acrobat is not easy, but it has its perks. They get to see the world and interface with a gamut of different cultures. The pay is good and there are benefits. Yet, it’s not a career path for everyone. But hey, if the shoe fits, you know the drill.

(The Grand China National Acrobatic Circus: Legends of the Dragon is presented by the Araneta Center, Smart Araneta Coliseum and Uniprom. Tickets are available at TicketNet, 911-5555. Show dates are from May 8 to 13.)