NORWICH – This attraction has been called “incredible,” “breathtaking,” “stunning,” and “quite unbelievable,” to quote just a few of the critics. The Shangri-La Chinese Acrobats have taken the world by storm and continue to do so on this, their 32nd North American Theatre Tour. The Shangri-La Chinese Acrobats will appear at The Martin W. Kappel Theater at the Chenango County Council of the Arts, Norwich, on Thursday, Nov. 10 at 7 p.m.

Produced by IAI Presentations, Inc., The Shangri-La Chinese Acrobats offers more than a glimpse into the fascinating traditions of the Orient. It consists of sensational Chinese acrobatics, balancing feats, martial arts displays, and much more. A truly Oriental spectacular and a show for all ages, the grace and precision of the acrobats are the triumph of years of dedicated training and discipline. Chinese acrobatics are, in fact, more than just a series of stunts. Most of these acts clearly demonstrate the achievement of perfection through finding harmony between mind and body - an ancient concept in the Orient. The art has been formed by centuries of tradition.

This sensational group has performed throughout South America, Central America, Southeast Asia, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Monte Carlo, Canada, New Zealand, Israel, Canada, and the United States. Besides appearing on many TV specials, The Shangri-La Chinese Acrobats have also been seen on the Family Channel’s “Home & Family Show,” KTLA’s “Good Morning - LA” and New York One News. They have also been seen on CNN, where they were interviewed by Christiane Amanpour, as well as Calgary’s “Big Breakfast” morning show on the A-Channel in Canada. They have met many celebrities and dignitaries over the years, including former President Jimmy Carter and his wife, Roslyn.

Training to become a member of the touring company of The Shangri-La Chinese Acrobats begins at an early age and it is a family affair. Children who watch their parents contort, leap and sail through the air obviously take it for granted that they will, in time, do the same - and they invariably do. Becoming an accomplished Chinese Acrobat in The Shangri-La Chinese Acrobats offers the performer a special status in China and allows them the opportunity to travel around the world, sharing their talents with a wide variety of audiences.

Formal lessons and training begin at the age of five or six, when observation has already become a fantastic teacher. There are three schools for the arts in China: the first dealing with Dance, the second with Chinese Opera, and the third with Acrobatics. Here, acrobatic students spend four hours each day going through their paces, so that by the time they reach the age of 14 or 15, their art has become a part of their daily lives and is virtually second nature.

The entertainment provided by these gifted performers appeals to all ages, from young children to grandparents. Most important, there is no language barrier and everyone attending a performance by The Shangri-La Chinese Acrobats will thrill to their incredible feats. So, audiences should prepare to sit back, relax and be transported by these incredible performers to the mystical land of “Shangri-La,” where anything is possible … and illusion becomes reality!

Tickets for the performance range in price from $24 to $30 with discounts for members of the Council of the Arts and seniors. Students 18 and under are always $10. Family pack tickets are also available. For tickets, visit the Council’s website at www.chenangoarts.org or call 336-ARTS (2787). The Council is located at 27 West Main Street, Norwich.

This is the first performance in the CCCA’s annual performance series. Upcoming performances include: Canadian fiddle group Barrage on December 10; chamber music group Cordis with the Kansas City Modern Dance on February 4; The Clancy Legacy on March 10; and a cappella vocal group m-pact on May 11.