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"Golden Lions" from China: "Dream team" stuns audiences
with super acrobatics on a grand scale
| Once every four years, the Chinese government
organizes "National Acrobatics Championships", a veritable
"Olympics of acrobatics" that culls talent from all over
China. Winners of the "Golden Lion Awards", the top prizes
in the championships, were eligible for selection to the Golden Lions,
a national "Dream Team" of acrobatics, in a venture to celebrate
three decades since the normalization of Japan-China relations. With
composition, writing, music, lighting, and other teams provided by
Japan, this completely new kind of collaborative entertainment was
on show for the first time in Japan between December 14th and January
3rd. Woven into a fantastical story that hardly gave time to draw
breath, a sequence of "ultra-acrobatics" on the grandest
of scales drew a series of disbelieving gasps as well as cheers from
the packed auditorium. |
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| A dazzling line-up of Chinese stars on a stunning stage |
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"In a word, superb! All the performers were so amazingly skillful,
and it was really clear that they'd been selected from the very best.
This was the first time we'd been to the Tokyo International Forum,
but we're very impressed. We would love to come back if we have the
chance." (Couple from Saitama)
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"It was mind-bogglingly interesting. The acrobatics were great,
of course, but the costumes and stage sets were beautiful, too. Just
looking at them was enjoyment enough." (Couple from Chiba)
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"I learnt about this event on the Internet, and brought my
child to see it. All I can say is that it was really interesting.
The parents may have been more excited than their children!"
(Mother with child from Miyagi)
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"It was very nice. We were particularly amazed at the woman
who balanced on one hand on a ladder. And when the little child appeared,
that was very cute. We were on the edges of our seats the whole time.
We wish we could thank the Chinese performers for giving us such a
wonderful time." (Couple from Machida)
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"A friend of ours told us how amazing it was, so we came to
see for ourselves. It was true! It was like nothing we'd ever seen
before. We're very satisfied at a show that exceeded all expectations."
(2 women from Tokyo)
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"The superb skills and beautiful dancing of the acrobats...
everything was just excellent. We have been to events in Hall A of
the Tokyo International Forum before, but this was our first time
in Hall C. The seats are comfortable here too, and we were able to
watch in complete relaxation." (Mother and daughter from Yokohama) |
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