Li Liu Acrobat from Naugatuck, CT

"Traditions of Chinese Acrobatics" is a one-woman acrobatic performance. The documented history of acrobatics in China goes back more than 2000 years. Li Liu performs hand balancing, plate spinning, artistic cycling, ribbon dancing, Chinese yo-yos and foot juggling. A limited number of volunteers get to join her on stage to create an impromptu ribbon dance, and also to try their hand at plate spinning. Educational connections are made with the Chinese language and culture. Li explains some of the rituals of Chinese New Year, teaches the audience some basic Chinese phrases, and encourages them to think about what it might have been like to grow up in a different time and place. Li was born in the city of Shenyang, located in Liaoning Province in The Northeast of China. When she was six years old she began her acrobatic training with her father. The following year she was chosen to attend The Chinese National Circus School in the capitol city of Beijing where she trained for eight hours a day until the age of 16. Her artistic cycling act won a gold medal at the prestigious Festival Mondial du Cirque de Demain in Paris, France. Li was also awarded the Golden Lion prize for her hand balancing performance at The Wu Qiao International Circus Festival For many years Li traveled extensively throughout Europe, Africa and Asia with The Liaoning Acrobatic Arts Troupe. She performed with Zirkus Knie in Switzerland, Circus Krone in Germany and with countless other touring shows in Italy, Holland, France, South Africa, Singapore, Japan and Indonesia. She came to the United States in 2000 with Ringling Brothers Barnum & Bailey Circus and toured all over the US for two years. She has been living in the US and working as a freelance performer since 2002. She is a regular performer on the NBA halftime circuit and is also is a featured performer on Princess Cruise Lines. Li does over 100 school performances every year in the Northeast. She also performs at numerous libraries & summer camps as well as for special events.