The National Acrobats of the People's Republic of China to perform at Southeast

The National Acrobats of the People's Republic of China will perform at the Donald C. Bedell Performance Hall at the Southeast Missouri State University River Campus as one of the featured acts of its touring series this year.

The performance group, which originated in Beijing, will feature many different acts including Global Motorcycling, Kicking Bowls to Heads on High Unicycles, Russian Bars In Chinese Traditional Style and exciting acrobats. The group has won more than 20 gold and silver medals at international and national acrobatic competitions and circus festivals and has toured 80 countries. Another interesting thing about the group is its influences with world renowned group, Cirque du Soleil.

Robert Cerchio, assistant director of the Holland School of Visual and Performing Arts, said that this performance is one of the best that students will see because it is the most authentic performance of this kind.

"This is the country's [performance], this isn't a private organization doing it, so it's very much so at the top of the pyramid of its kind," Cerchio said.

Cerchio went on to say that it is essential to bring diversity to the Bedell Performance Hall, not only for the students of Southeast but the community of Cape Girardeau as well.

"That what we do, even in our local productions we are doing a lot of different kinds of productions like Shakespeare, a tango company is coming, an Irish company is coming," Cerchio said. "We bring the world to the people of Cape Girardeau, not just the students and faculty, these are companies that have toured nationally and internationally."

The National Acrobats of the People's Republic of China have been performing for more than 50 years and have left audiences around the world with views of Chinese martial arts, acrobatics and illusions. All of their sets are done while using traditional Chinese music.

Planning for this event started last year but was met with challenges when trying to find an open date that would work for both the company and the Bedell Performance Hall schedule. This year, however, both groups agreed on a date and the performance was set.

The National Acrobats of the People's Republic of China will be held at 7:30 p.m. on Oct. 23 in the Bedell Performance Hall at the River Campus. Students receive half-off ticket prices for this event and tickets can be purchased at the River Campus Box Office.

For more information about this performance and ticket prices, contact the River Campus Box Office at 573-651-2265 or go to RiverCampusEvents.com.