Chinese Swans

Huh. So, my first thoughts were that this was an interesting take on the ballet. Neat costumes. The acrobatics don't really have the same beautiful line and symmetry that good ballet has, but those are neat tricks.

Then about 3 minutes 45 seconds in my jaw dropped. That was INSANE.

Then I thought about it, and really it makes sense that of all people it takes a ballerina to execute that kind of balance. After all, their training yields the utmost in strength and balance combined with movement. So I guess it's not surprising that when you combine ballet and acrobatics you can get something like that. Still. Wow. Strange production though. Did they only do these two scenes? What else is that large audience going to watch?

UPDATE: I have received so many comments on this video! Here are some more thoughts
-I can't speak for their acrobatics, but their ballet dancing is just as high quality as any professional company in the states. The grace and performance of the main dancer would guarantee her a primo position were she to move here. She blows the Colorado Ballet dancers out of the water.

- On the other hand, if this is part of a larger full ballet, what an odd show that must be. I was totally annoyed that a spotter comes out to help, it ruined the theatrics. But then again, it seems necessary.

- The main swan is either the most skilled/trained/naturally gifted ballerina evah, or she is under a real evil spell by a real Rothbart/Devil. First, she does the incredible feute pirouette and STOPS IT in arabesque en pointe (which seriously, only really really good dancers can do that well).

- Then my mom pointed out that she rotates while in arabesque on his head. I can't figure this out. It's faster than a promenade but slower than an arabesque turn. I don't think there's any trickery to the guy's hat - there's no way a motor could fit on it and be strong enough to turn her that fast. I thought maybe he gave her a little push when he pulls his hand off, but I didn't detect any. Also, she speeds up into the turn, rather than slowing down after a push. So maybe she's just doing a fast promenade en pointe. But you HAVE to understand how freakishly hard that is - how few ballerinas can do that - and she's doing it on his head?!?

So yeah, I'm pretty much as blown away as everyone else with this video.