Beijing Night in
Havana
THE 80 circus artists who
accompanied Guo Jinlong, member of the Political
Bureau of the Communist Party of the People’s
Republic of China, on his visit to Cuba, presented
Havana residents with an impressive and spectacular
show.
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The 12 tightrope
artists performed
some amazing feats.
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Lázara Mercedes López Acea, member
of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of
Cuba’s Central Committee, and José Ramón Balaguer
Cabrera, member of its Secretariat, attended the
event in the Mella Theater with the distinguished
visitor.
Also present were Abel Prieto,
advisor to the Council of State President, and
Culture Minister Rafael Bernal.
The Chinese circus performance,
titled Beijing Night, included a number of
acts that won prizes at the International Circus
Festival in Monte Carlo.
One of the most astounding was the
acrobatic "Balance and Elevation," in which a young
artist climbed 15 meters above the stage and, at
this height, balancing both feet on a column,
performed gravity-defying feats.
The team game of diabolo – a
traditional children's toy involving rolling a spool
on a string between two sticks – also left the
audience breathless, given the mastery with which
young performers manipulated the toys at great speed
high above the stage.
Other stellar moments included the
spinning plates act, the acrobat who juggled nine
balls in dizzying combinations while dancing a
choreography involving his entire body, and the
young woman who balanced various parasols from her
partner's back and arm.
Those present were also thrilled by
the 12 tightrope bicycle artists who provided the
show’s finale.
Chinese artists performing in the
show were from the National Circus, the Red Poppy
women’s percussion band, and the Beijing Opera.
Cuban performers included Havana
University's Confucius Institute Choir and the
Habana Compás Dance group.• (CubaSí )
