Dance Review : Peking Acrobats: Exercise in Amazement

A performance by the Peking Acrobats is built on layers of amazement. Standing ovations must be a routine response, because after performers’ bodies hurtle through space and balance the unbalanceable, it seems no trouble at all for those in the audience to spring to their feet.

Nor to be vocal.

As evidenced at the troupe’s appearance Sunday at Orange Coast College, there’s just something about seeing a man climb steps on one hand, or nine women decoratively riding a bicycle, or a large ceramic bowl being lobbed and caught by its edge on a man’s forehead, that calls for gasping. And even as you ask yourself how juggling a paper umbrella on the soles of the feet could be all that captivating--Poof!--another level of amazement kicks in.

One choreographic trick that enhances acrobatics is to start small. These performers (unfortunately not identified in the program) began each act with martial poses taken from Chinese Opera or the coy walks from folk-dance tradition before simply handling a prop until we got the feel of its weight or lack of it.

Then came rhythm changes and balancing strategies: The umbrella floats and is spun by its edge furiously, then two, three and four are added; another woman is balanced on the first and both twirl cloths on all available limbs, making an odd kind of kinetic sculpture.

The troupe’s tumbling is not as complex as some, but the men--amazingly swift, light and flexible--were impressive diving through hoops in a potpourri of positions.

Too many pauses for effect--the ever-present “ta-das”--made the show a bit long, as did a few slow balancing acts that used taped orchestral music. Much better were flute tunes and the clamor of drums and gongs provided by musicians doing their own tricks just offstage.