From 18 to 22 June, the 12th China Golden Chrysanthemum Award for Circus Arts — National Magic & Comedy Competition was held at Happy Valley Shenzhen, where more than a hundred of the country's finest magic and comedy artists competed for the highest award in Chinese circus arts. In the end, 7 magic acts and 3 comedy acts won Golden Chrysanthemum Awards.
The China Golden Chrysanthemum Award for Circus Arts is a national professional arts award jointly organised by the China Federation of Literary and Art Circles and the China Acrobats Association, and the highest award in Chinese circus arts. This edition opened officially on 18 June, with 24 magic acts and 9 comedy acts reaching the finals. The competition was rich in highlights:
Younger contestants: entrants were mainly people born in the 1980s, 1990s and 2000s, who made up a high proportion in both the magic and the comedy competitions. The youth of the field is an indirect sign of the healthy development of Chinese acrobatics, magic and comedy, and of strong momentum in both inheritance and innovation.
New arts groups rising fast: in recent years new-type arts groups have risen rapidly, accounting for half of all entries and doing well in the finals, showing how active and important they are in Chinese magic and comedy.
Strong innovation in blending culture and art: the works entered used magic and comedy as their form, centring on carrying forward Chinese culture and telling China's stories. Their themes were clear, their structures complete and their storytelling strong, and they wove magic and comedy technique organically into theme, narrative and characterisation, greatly raising the artistry of both.
On 22 June the closing ceremony was held at Happy Valley Shenzhen. After several days of competition, 7 magic acts and 3 comedy acts took the "Golden Chrysanthemum." The winning magic acts were: "The Heavenly Maiden Scatters Flowers," by the Chongqing Acrobatic Art Troupe and partner teams; "Saviour · Crossing Realms," by the Shenyang Acrobatic Performing Arts Group; "Light," by the Dalian Acrobatic Troupe; "The Language of Umbrellas," by the Hebei Provincial Acrobatic Troupe; "Illusion · Realm," by the China National Acrobatic Troupe; "Encounter," by the Nanchong Acrobatic Troupe; and "Dream Dragons of Helake," by the Shenzhen Acrobats Association and partner teams. The winning comedy acts were: "Crazy Chef," by the Guangxi Acrobatic Troupe; "Panic at the Museum," by the Nanjing Acrobatic Troupe together with the Tianjin Acrobatic Troupe; and "Vying for Glory," by the Shenzhen Acrobats Association and partner teams.
As a new-generation large theme park under the OCT Group and a national brand among China's theme parks, Happy Valley has long worked to promote the integrated development of culture and tourism by creating themed cultural festivals. As the China Acrobats Association's only magic culture and creative industry base, Happy Valley Shenzhen's hosting of this competition shows its determination to press ahead with that integration.
Bian Faji, vice-chairman of the China Federation of Literary and Art Circles, chairman of the China Acrobats Association and chairman of the Hebei Federation of Literary and Art Circles, said: "As the main host of this awards event, Happy Valley Shenzhen put the whole company's strength into careful planning and hard work on the venue, event security and every other link, making an outstanding contribution to the smooth running of the Golden Chrysanthemum national magic competition and national comedy competition, and showing the social responsibility of a fine cultural enterprise."
The 12th China Golden Chrysanthemum Award for Circus Arts has come to a successful close. In future, Happy Valley Shenzhen will continue to play its leading, exemplary role as a "Chinese magic culture and creative industry base," training circus arts talent, uncovering outstanding acts and driving the development of the cultural economy.