A full house of flying and crouching tigers

Breathtaking moves, incredible balancing acts, spectacular and colorful costumes, and fantastic music were the order of the day during the three-day performance of the Liaocheng Acrobatics Troupe of China at the Marianas High School Gymnasium.

The dazzling acrobatic show so amazed the audience that came to see the performances Friday, and Saturday that they kept asking for encores.

The two-hour show always ended up on a standing ovations befitting what many observers believe has been the best family-oriented show on Saipan the past few years.

Liaocheng Acrobatics Troupe’s jaw dropping stunts was also a bit different than their previous shows because it was made more special with the addition of two youthful acrobats.

“This year is better because they included kids in the show,” said Ana Glushko, a Russian prima ballerina in the CNMI who came to watch the show with her family Saturday night.

Bringing the house down were the group’s specialties: “Love of dish-flowers,” “Skills Among Four,” “Circle Running,” “Blue Silk in the Dream,” “Light of Gentle and Charming,” “Pose of Chairs,” “Flying Skills,” “Leap of Climbing Pole,” and various hula hoop, juggling, and spear dance acts.

The kids as well as their parents were kept on the edge of their seats and their eyes riveted on the performers with the balancing of plates and bowls on sticks with two of the acrobats dressed as chefs.

The funny antics of the acrobats also added to the suspense as one of the “chefs” tried to keep the spinning plates on sticks, while the other one kept bringing on more plates and bowls. The performers surprised the audience when they ended the act with small plates spun at the base of the sticks with spinning bowls and plates.

The Liaocheng Acrobatics Troupe of China ended the show by forming a human pyramid, with the Olympic theme blaring on the speakers. The acrobats were clad in traditional red Chinese costumes, which painted the stage a bright red color. The group is set to fly back to Liaocheng, China tomorrow.

Northern Marianas College Foundation organized the event and earlier said that the net proceeds of the show will go all to the college. Pepsi, Joeten Enterprises, Inc., 103.0 KZMI, McDonald’s, Fiesta Resort & Spa Saipan and Tan Holdings Foundation are major sponsors. Co-sponsors include Chong’s Corporation, Aon Insurance, FAS Moving and Storage, Shirley’s Coffee Shops, Saipan Tribune, and Century Travel and Tour Agency Ltd.