In an effort to make us "normal" folks seem stunned, uncoordinated, and massively out of shape, top Chinese acrobat troupe The Peking Acrobats are bringing their U.S. tour to California. During its Bay Area stop at Berkeley's Zellerbach Hall, the acrobats present their full evening-length circus. But don't expect a Barnum & Bailey-esque three-ring affair. The Peking Acrobats focus on superhuman feats of dexterity and control rather than parading around depressed animals in costumes. And when circus acts are as sensually named as "Bodacious Body Balancing" and "Candlelight Contortionism," who needs abused elephants? The group is accompanied by special guest Jigu, a collection of drummers as brilliant at rhythms as the acrobats are at aerobatics. If you can't tumble or lion dance with the best of them, don't despair. Traditional Chinese gymnastics have been continually refined since around 200 B.C. It's our job to just sit back and enjoy the spectacle.
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