acrobats

We returned to the hotel and had a quick dinner because we didn't want to be late for our next event. We were going to see the Shanghai acrobats!

I take full responsibilty for this outing. Before I left for China, my friend Elaine and I were brainstorming ideas for new books, and one of the possibilities was a book on Chinese acrobats...so I asked the tour guide to book tickets for a show.

Which was not exactly what I expected. I had thought it would be full of traditional acts like plate spinning, bowl balancing, and chinese yo-yo's; but it was more an Asian pirate of a Cirque du Soleil show.

And like all things that are pirated, things were not exactly up to the same quality. Don't get me wrong, the performers did absolutely amazing and mind-blowing stunts--but unike a Cirque show were you have a certain confidence that the performers will be fine, we didn't feel that so much in this show. It was rather watching Olympic ice skating--you know the skaters are doing amazing things but you also know at any minute they might fall. Jen, who is in the midst of doing her medical internship, was gripping her seat the whole time. "I'm afraid I'm going to have to run up there and save someone!" she whispered.

But she didn't, and all the acrobats were well and alive by show's end. And once fear for the acrobats left, I was able to enjoy the beauty as well as gasp at the feats. Perhaps the fear made the show better for us, it definitely made it more exciting.