In the celebration of the first United Nations “International Day for Dialogue among Civilizations”, a performance titled “Dialogue of Civilizations Across Mountains and Seas” was held in the UN General Assembly Hall. Artists from multiple nations presented a cultural feast, with Chinese acrobatics featuring prominently in this cross-cultural artistic showcase.
The young performers of Xi’an Acrobatic Troupe, SUN Yina and ZHOU Jie, performed the ballet-on-shoulder Butterfly Lovers, which became the center of attraction. Accompanied by the classic melody, SUN danced gracefully on her partner’s shoulders and head, performing difficult movements such as standing on her toes, spinning her shoulders, and playing the arabesque atop his head. Between the integration of beauty and danger, the intention of the butterfly transformation is thus concretized, and acrobatic art once again conquered the world’s audience.
Butterfly Lovers takes a great Chinese folk tale as its narrative foundation. Through acrobatic art, it transforms the Chinese cultural ideals of “enduring commitment through life and death with unwavering devotion” into an emotional resonance with universal values.
The cultural exchange on the stage is a reflection of the original intention of the UN in establishing “International Day for Dialogue among Civilizations”, that cultures maintain distinct identities while achieving spiritual bonds through creative artistic expression.
The Xi’an Acrobatic Troupe has consistently shown the charm of Chinese culture through art: their acrobatic ballet Swan Lake toured globally across 85 performances, the acrobatic drama The Third Team received national prize, and the ballet-on-shoulder Hua Mulan appeared at the 14th Izhevsk International Circus Festival. Contemporary Chinese acrobatics art has shifted from merely showcasing techniques to disseminating cultural values, and from participating in competitions to leading global aesthetic standards. Acrobats constantly open new windows for the world to interact with China through their exquisite skills.
