The lights were low and the silence deafening as the sounds of pan-flutes and chimes filled Wilkins Theatre on Sunday, October 11, 2015, for Peking Dreams, a show of acrobatics and mind-boggling stunts hailing from Beijing, China.

The capability and strength of the human body is something that can be pushed to great bounds. Demonstrated by the performers of the National Circus & Acrobats of the People’s Republic of China, it is incredible what bodies can achieve through dedication, skill and unwavering focus.

Split into fourteen separate acts, this spectacle presented different themes and stories throughout the performance. After the opening segment, the first scene of The Acrobatic Master and His Pupils began. A story of children becoming apprentices to masters of acrobatics was conveyed through body movement, aesthetics and contortion. The focal point of this performance, the only male acrobat on stage, held an upside-down woman upright with one hand while two others coiled themselves around him while he kept himself composed. As the lights dimmed for the second scene, audience members began to realize that this was nothing like what they anticipated.

Directly before intermission, all of the show’s male subjects took the stage and proceeded to sit on a small, circular platform surrounded by long mats on either side. The men were all dressed professionally in white collared shirts, bow-ties and blue vests. As the theatre became illuminated, the room was startled with the sound of a ticking clock.

This act expressed the cut-throat and busy lives of the citizens of Beijing, a fast-paced modern city. After a dance montage, the boys broke apart and flew through the air, across the stage and through metal hoops of various sizes. Some of these leaps caused the crowd to gasp and sigh with relief as they were risky moves.

Ending the first half with a bang, the hoops were stacked one on top of another, creating the height of a person and a half, and one talented acrobat jumped over the stack with grace and triumph. The display of hoop diving, filled with 360-degree spins, kick-jumps and cartwheels, left the patrons of Wilkins Theatre thirsty for more. A member of the Westfield, New Jersey community, Rhonda (who has asked to keep her last name anonymous) expressed how impressed she was. “It’s fabulous!” said Rhonda, “I’m going to bring my nieces the next time. I’m really impressed.”

The second half of Peking Dreams was just as good as the first. Highlighting multiple facets of Chinese history and folklore, the stories continued to be told through gravity-defying tricks. To express the unpredictable weather of Beijing, performers amazed the audience with the feet juggling of traditional Chinese umbrellas. The pastel colored umbrellas bloomed and withered, reminiscent of flowers in the spring, creating a warm sense of beauty on the stage. 

As with the pre-intermission act, the closing act was startlingly impressive. Women dressed in sparkling pink filed onto the stage riding matching bicycles. One by one, they coordinated themselves into different shapes and structures all the while peddling their tired feet. Soon, the girls began to abandon their bikes and build a human tower atop of one peddling Peking woman. Supporting one another, nearly ten women managed to stack themselves together to form a pyramid of limbs and torsos.

The show ended with a mirage of color as all of the performers gathered back on stage for a final bow – almost taking viewers back in time through the entire show. Students of Kean University left the theatre in awe, inspired by what they had just seen. “I liked that it was creative and everything was so well put together,” said Shasae Martinez, a senior early childhood education major. “It’s definitely a must-see,” added her friend Amber Booker, a sophomore psychology major.

The National Circus and Acrobats of The People’s Republic of China was founded in 1958 and have devoted themselves to the world of wonder that is acrobatic art. Various acts have won multiple awards in performance art, such as the Gold Metal at Korea’s “Spring of April” Art Festival and gold at multiple International Circus Festivals around the globe.

This event was the first of many cultural experiences to be hosted by Kean Stage throughout the fall. For more information on future events, visit their website or the Wilkins Theatre box office.