by Liu Baiyun, Chen Gang, Maria Spiliopoulou
ATHENS, Sept. 11 (Xinhua) -- "Mom, I want to do that too." Eight-year-old Sofia had just watched a female acrobat rise onto her male partner's shoulder, stand en pointe and spin before holding a poised final position on stage at Athens' Christmas Theater.
The scene, known as "Shoulder Ballet," was one of the defining moments of Swan, an original Chinese acrobatic drama by Guangzhou Acrobatic Arts Theatre performed in Athens on Thursday night. As the breathtaking sequence came to an end, the theater exploded with cheering and applause.
Sofia, who practices rhythmic gymnastics, was particularly drawn to the moments when acrobatic movements combined with the grace and balance of ballet.
"It's a bit like ballet, acrobatic," Sofia's mom, Christina Sotiriou, said. Sofia's reaction offered a glimpse of the enthusiasm surrounding Swan at its Athens premiere. The performance, staged as part of the China-Greece International Theatre Festival, drew nearly 2,000 people to the Christmas Theater.
After the finale, the cast had to make two curtain calls, and many audience members waited to take photos with the performers.
For 10-year-old Athena, who studies ballet, it was the first time she had seen an acrobatic performance. Her interest was sparked by her aunt Bella, who teaches in Beijing and had told her that a performance incorporating elements of ballet into Chinese acrobatics would be coming to Greece.
Athena's younger sister Dora, who is eight and learning Chinese martial arts, was equally enthusiastic. "The show was perfect. The dancers were amazing," she said.
"What I saw was truly unique," said another spectator, Markos Kantzios, praising "the acrobatic artistry of the Chinese, who excel at it and are ranked number one in the world."
He also highlighted the effort involved in bringing the troupe all the way from China to Greece.
"It's quite an undertaking to come all the way from China to Thessaloniki and Athens to present this unique performance to Greek audiences," he said.
Rather than retelling the story of the classical ballet Swan Lake, the production draws on the real-life experiences of Chinese acrobats and follows a young performer's pursuit of her dream of becoming a "swan."
The protagonist undertakes demanding training, injuries, setbacks and moments of self-doubt before gradually finding her way forward.
The signature scene "Shoulder Ballet" combines the physical strength, balance and precision of Chinese acrobatics with the lightness and elegance associated with ballet. The play also features acrobatic techniques such as diabolo, rolling-ring acrobatics and hat manipulation.
Using scrim, projections, lighting and stage machinery, the production shifts between the performers' physical and inner worlds.
For artistic director Wu Zhengdan, who is also the real-life inspiration for the production, the story's emotional appeal lies in its connection with the performers' own experiences.
"This work can resonate with audiences in different countries because it tells a real story," Wu said. "It tells the experiences and challenges that every acrobat has truly gone through."
For Wang Wanping, founder of the Sino-Hellenic International Theatre Festival, the Greece tour is also about creating connections through performance.
"We always believe aesthetics is a universal language," as music, body movement, and stage images can transcend borders and cultural differences, creating connections between people with different life experiences, Wang said.
For Sofia, the young rhythmic gymnast, Swan's spectacle of strength, balance and movement had planted a seed--a simple desire to try it herself one day. ■
