The Suining Acrobatic Troupe from Sichuan, China, achieved an important international success in February 2025 when its spectacular “Bowl Balancing” act won the prestigious Golden Elephant Award at the 13th Girona Golden Elephant International Circus Festival in Spain.
The performance also received the Audience Award, making the achievement even more significant.
The festival was held in Girona from February 20 to 24, 2025, with 26 outstanding circus and acrobatic acts from 13 countries competing for the major awards.
What Is the Golden Elephant International Circus Festival?
The Girona Golden Elephant International Circus Festival is an international circus event held in Girona, Spain.
It brings together professional circus and acrobatic performers from different countries and provides an important international platform for contemporary circus arts.
The 13th edition featured performers from countries including China, the United States, Russia, Ukraine, Chile, Canada, Japan and Kazakhstan.
For the Suining Acrobatic Troupe, winning the Golden Elephant Award represented an important achievement on the international stage.
The Award-Winning Bowl Balancing Performance
The Bowl Balancing act combines traditional Chinese acrobatic techniques with extremely demanding balance and partner-acrobatics skills.
The China Acrobats Association described the performance as combining risk, spectacle and elegance while demonstrating exceptional technical skill and traditional Chinese cultural elements.
The performers must maintain precise control while balancing bowls during complex movements.
The difficulty increases as the performers combine balance, handstands, partner acrobatics and rapid transitions.
Why Is Bowl Balancing So Difficult?
Bowl balancing may look simple to an audience, but it requires exceptional coordination.
The performers need to control several things simultaneously:
- Body balance
- Bowl position
- Timing
- Flexibility
- Strength
- Partner coordination
- Spatial awareness
A small movement can affect the balance of the entire formation.
This is what makes the performance so exciting to watch.
A Combination of Traditional Chinese Acrobatics and Modern Stagecraft
Chinese acrobatics has a long history of developing everyday physical skills into highly sophisticated performance techniques.
The Suining Acrobatic Troupe’s Bowl Balancing act demonstrates how traditional Chinese acrobatic skills can be presented to modern international audiences.
The performance combines traditional balancing techniques with modern choreography and theatrical presentation.
The result is both technically difficult and visually elegant.
Why Did the Performance Win Two Awards?
The Suining Acrobatic Troupe achieved an unusual double success at the Girona festival.
Its Bowl Balancing performance won:
Golden Elephant Award
and
Audience Award
The first recognized the performance among the festival’s major artistic and technical achievements, while the Audience Award demonstrated its popularity with spectators.
Winning both awards highlights the combination of professional technical quality and audience appeal.
Suining Acrobatic Troupe and Beijing Red Theatre
The Suining Acrobatic Troupe is also closely associated with Beijing’s acrobatic performance scene.
The troupe has performed internationally and has a long history of professional Chinese acrobatics.
Its Beijing performances have been associated with Beijing Red Theatre, making the troupe an interesting choice for travelers looking for a Chinese acrobatic show in Beijing.
The connection is particularly useful for international visitors who want to see the type of Chinese acrobatic skills that have received international recognition.
From International Circus Festivals to Beijing
For tourists visiting Beijing, watching a Chinese acrobatic performance provides a different cultural experience from visiting traditional attractions.
The Great Wall, Forbidden City and Temple of Heaven showcase China’s history and architecture.
An acrobatic performance provides an opportunity to experience Chinese performing arts.
The Suining Acrobatic Troupe’s international awards add another dimension to that experience.
Why International Visitors Should See Chinese Acrobatics
Chinese acrobatics is highly visual.
You do not need to speak Chinese to appreciate the difficulty of the performance.
International visitors can understand the excitement through:
- Movement
- Balance
- Music
- Stage lighting
- Costumes
- Physical coordination
- Audience reactions
This makes a Chinese acrobatic show particularly suitable for foreign tourists and families traveling in Beijing.
Bowl Balancing and the Chinese Acrobatic Tradition
Bowl balancing is not simply a circus trick.
It reflects several fundamental characteristics of Chinese acrobatics:
Precision: Every movement must be carefully controlled.
Balance: Performers must maintain stability during difficult positions.
Teamwork: Partner acts depend on trust and coordination.
Discipline: High-level acrobatics requires years of intensive training.
Artistry: Technical difficulty is combined with choreography and visual presentation.
These elements help explain why Chinese acrobatics has developed an international reputation.
Another Major Recognition in China
The success of the Bowl Balancing performance continued after its Girona victory.
In September 2025, the performance appeared at the 20th China Wuqiao International Circus Festival under the name “Lotus Dance — Bowl Balancing.”
China Daily reported that the performance was presented by the Sichuan Suining Acrobatic Troupe and noted that international circus artists were particularly impressed by the act.
The performance was subsequently listed among the festival’s Gold winners.
Where Can You Watch Suining Acrobatic Troupe in Beijing?
Travelers researching Suining Acrobatic Troupe performances in Beijing should check the current program at Beijing Red Theatre.
The theatre is located in Beijing’s Dongcheng District, making it convenient to combine an acrobatic performance with sightseeing in central Beijing.
Because theatre programs and performance titles can change, visitors should always confirm the current show, date and performance time before purchasing tickets.
Is the Beijing Red Theatre Acrobatic Show Suitable for Families?
Yes.
Chinese acrobatics is particularly accessible to families because much of the performance is visual.
Children can enjoy the physical skills and spectacular movements without needing to understand a long Chinese-language storyline.
Adults can appreciate the technical difficulty, choreography and cultural background of the performance.
How to Book a Beijing Acrobatic Show
When booking a Red Theatre acrobatic performance, check the following information:
- Current show name
- Performance date
- Showtime
- Seat category
- Ticket price
- Ticket collection method
- Cancellation policy
- Theatre address
International visitors should also make sure they receive clear instructions for entering the theatre.
Why This Award Matters to Beijing Travelers
A major international award provides useful context when choosing among Beijing entertainment options.
Instead of simply watching an unknown acrobatic performance, visitors can learn about the professional history and international achievements of the performers.
The Suining Acrobatic Troupe’s Golden Elephant Award gives international travelers another reason to consider Chinese acrobatics during their Beijing trip.
Final Thoughts
The Suining Acrobatic Troupe’s Bowl Balancing is an impressive example of modern Chinese acrobatics.
Its success at the 13th Girona Golden Elephant International Circus Festival in Spain, where it won both the Golden Elephant Award and Audience Award, demonstrates its international appeal.
For travelers visiting Beijing, the troupe’s connection with Beijing Red Theatre provides an opportunity to experience Chinese acrobatics in person.
If you are planning a Beijing itinerary that already includes the Great Wall, Forbidden City and Temple of Heaven, adding a Red Theatre acrobatic show can provide a memorable introduction to China’s performing arts.
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