A wave of dramas blending stunning, thrilling and extraordinary acrobatic skills with cutting-edge technology in stage design and cleverly crafted plots have amazed the audience, breathing new life into the ancient art form.
The Publicity Department of the Communist Party of China (CPC) recently released the list of awardees for stellar artworks which have played a role in promoting the country's cultural and ethical development, with acrobatic dramas the Snow of Tianshan Mountain and the First Sound making the cut for their outstanding theatrical works. The Snow of Tianshan Mountain, produced by the Shanghai Acrobatic Troupe, tells the story of three generations from Shanghai and northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region working together in contribution to the construction of Xinjiang over time. With 21 difficult acrobatic acts combining with drama, dance and other art forms, the performance weaves a narrative that spans over 70 years of aid efforts in Xinjiang.
Meanwhile, the First Sound centers around the historical experiences of an ordinary family in Shenyang City in northeast China during the time of the September 18 Incident in 1931, which has been defined as the start of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression from 1931 to 1945. The show incorporates more than 30 acrobatic and magic performances, including lion dance, stilts and motorbike stunts, enhanced with multimedia technology and cinematic techniques to portray the brave resistance of the people in northeast China against Japanese aggression.
"The show integrates elements of spy dramas, detective stories and suspense, blending them with acrobatics and development of the storyline," said Song Guanlin, former vice president of the National Peking Opera Company and vice president of the China Culture Administration Association. Over the past two decades, more than 300 acrobatic dramas with diverse themes and styles have been staged, using acrobatics as a medium to tell stories, shape characters and express emotions. The incorporation of modern technologies like 3D projection, holographic imaging and ice screens has made the performances more engaging, entertaining and visually captivating. "Acrobatics have a history of over 3,000 years. We should preserve the charm of them. Meanwhile, we need to learn from other art forms in the innovation of acrobatics," said Wu Zhengdan, vice president of the China Acrobats Association.
Modern drama innovation breathes new life into Chinese acrobatics
Russian President Vladimir Putin apologized for the "tragic incident" in Russian airspace during a phone talk with his Azerbaijani counterpart Ilham Aliyev on Saturday, referring to Wednesday's Azerbaijani plane crash, according to a statement issued by the Kremlin.
Putin said the Azerbaijani flight repeatedly tried to land at the airport in Grozny in Russia, adding that at that time, Grozny was experiencing a Ukrainian drone attack and Russian air defense systems repelled these attacks.
During the phone call, Putin expressed his condolences to the families of the victims and wished a speedy recovery to the injured.
Aliyev said that the plane had to be diverted to Aktau, Kazakhstan, where it made an emergency landing.
Citing testimonies from survivors, including flight attendants, as evidence of external interference, Aliyev said that the aircraft's fuselage had been punctured by foreign objects during the flight, injuring passengers and crew members.
The two leaders agreed on the need for a thorough investigation. Aliyev confirmed that an international team of experts had already begun examining the incident.
The Russian Investigative Committee had opened a criminal case under violation of traffic safety rules and operation of air transport, Putin told Aliyev, adding that primary investigations are ongoing.
Also on Saturday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky spoke to Aliyev, expressing condolences to him and the people of Azerbaijan regarding the tragic plane crash.
Calling a thorough investigation is a key priority now, Zelensky said photos and videos clearly show the damage to the aircraft's fuselage, which strongly point to a strike by an air defense missile.
He said Ukraine will support Azerbaijan with all necessary means and call on other countries to assist as well.
Regarding the investigation into the plane crash, Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev pointed out on Saturday that efforts must be made to prevent information provocation and fake news.
Meanwhile on Saturday, Deputy Prime Minister of Kazakhstan, Kanat Bozumbayev, said the country has enlisted 17 international experts to get involved in the investigation, and the experts are concluding that the plane was damaged outside Kazakhstan's airspace.
An Embraer 190 aircraft operated by Azerbaijan Airlines, flight J2-8243 from Baku to Grozny, crashed near the Kazakh city of Aktau on Wednesday, with 62 passengers and five crew members on board. Thirty-eight people were killed in the crash, and 29 were rescued, according to Kazakhstan's Ministry of Emergency Situations.
Putin apologizes to Azerbaijani president over "tragic incident" in Russian airspace
