Xinjiang Art Theatre concludes its 2024 acrobatics professional assessment and ‘Art Lecture Hall’
From 6 to 7 December, Xinjiang Art Theatre’s 2024 acrobatics professional assessment and ‘Art Lecture Hall’ were held successfully.
Judges and assessment participants hone their craft and press forward
Three senior experts in the field were invited to serve as judges for this assessment: Ruxianguli, chief magician and artistic director of the OCT Happy Valley Tourism Company in Shenzhen; Wang Qiang, deputy head of the Quyi and Acrobatics Troupe of China Railway Art Troupe Co., Ltd.; and Xin Wei, artistic director of the Xinjiang Corps Acrobatic Troupe. A total of 55 acrobats took part in the assessment.
The assessment focused on two core areas, basic skills and act presentation, with the basic-skills section further divided into handstand work, flexibility and tumbling. It followed a strict and professional procedure, precisely evaluating each performer's professional level and stimulating their enthusiasm and initiative. It gave the performers a platform on which to show themselves, and laid a solid foundation for the troupe to draw up targeted training plans and refine its acts.
The judges gave comprehensive and in-depth comments on the assessment. They affirmed the hard work and unremitting persistence the performers had put into their training, while pointing precisely to the shortcomings that remain and offering highly constructive suggestions.
They encouraged the performers to innovate boldly in staging their acts, to dig deeply for points where acrobatic art can merge with diverse cultures, and to create acts of greater watchability, depth of thought and originality, adding their share to the flourishing development of acrobatics.
The judges giving their comments. Innovation and development: a new chapter for acrobatics
On December 7, Ruxianguli and Wang Qiang each gave a master class packed with substance, on the themes "Creation and Performance in Magic" and "The Current State of China's Acrobats: Advancing the All-Round Development of Acrobatic Artists in the New Era" respectively. Ruxianguli explained the essence and the mysteries of the art of magic in clear, accessible terms. Through case studies and live demonstrations of acts, she gave the cast and crew a more systematic and profound understanding of the art of magic. She stressed: "Creativity is the soul of magic, and the creation of Chinese magic should be rooted in China's broad and profound fine traditional culture; acrobats should hold to an enterprising and dedicated spirit and make their due contribution to the development of the Acrobatic Troupe of Xinjiang Art Theatre."
The "Grand Art Lecture Hall" in session
Drawing on his own experience and on vivid real-life cases, Wang Qiang gave a full analysis of the opportunities and challenges facing Chinese acrobats today and dissected the state of the industry. He argued for strengthening team management, improving incentive mechanisms for talent and doing everything possible to retain outstanding acrobatic talent, so that acrobats can achieve all-round development on the tide of the new era.
Text and photos | Zuhure Ilihamu, Acrobatic Troupe of Xinjiang Art Theatre. Supervising editors | Wang Chao, Xi Chuangde, Fu Qiang. Editors | Li Hong, Zaiyire Sikandan