Martial Artists and Acrobats of Tianjin, People's Republic of China Come to the Center for Arts

The Martial Artists and Acrobats of Tianjin, People's Republic of China brings scores of the best acrobatic and martial artists in the world to Pepperdine University's Smothers Theatre at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, September 28, officially opening the 2017-2018 season at the Lisa Smith Wengler Center for the Arts.

Tickets, starting at $20 for adults, $17 for youth 17 and under, and $10 for full-time Pepperdine students, are available now by calling (310) 506-4522 or visiting arts.pepperdine.edu.

The Martial Artists and Acrobats of Tianjin of the People's Republic of China was established in 1957 as a combination of the former China Circus & Acrobats that was founded in 1948. It is one of the best acrobatic troupes in China with over one hundred acrobatic, magical and martial arts performers. With novelty and superior techniques, the acrobatic troupe is favored by the audiences all over the world.

Combining circus actos, illusions, aerial stunts, juggling actos, contortion tricks, feats of balance, and maritial arts demonstrations, the company has had acts perform in Ringling and Barnum & Bailey Bros. Circus, Cirque du Soleil, Big Apple Circus, Swiss Knie Bros., National Circus, and UniverSoul Circus and has traveled extensively to France, Japan, Australia, Finland, Germany, Sweden, Iceland, Italy, Israel, South Korea, Russia and Hong Kong, and many others.

The Martial Artists and Acrobats of Tianjin of the People's Republic of China has more than 30 representative acts, many of which have won prizes in national and international festivals and competitions. Leather Straps won the Silver Clown Award and Circus Art Development Association Award at the 13th Monte Carlo International Circus Festival. Double Poles won the Silver Award at the 12th Cirque de Demain Festival held in Paris, France and the Silver Lion Award at the 4th China National Acrobatic Competition. Air Acrobatics won the Golden Prize of the 10th Spring of April Friendship Art Festival in North Korea. One-Hand Handstand seized the Golden Lion Award of the 4th China National Acrobatic Competition, the Golden Award - the first prize of the Republic President at the 19th Festival of Cirque de Demain in Paris, the Honorary Gold Lion Award, and the Artistic Innovation Award at the 5th Wuqiao International Circus Festival. At the First China National Comic Acrobatic Competition, the Comic Swan Lake and Comic Music received the Gold and Silver Award respectively. The Jars' Head Juggling won the Silver awards at the 5th Hungarian Budapest International Circus Festival (2005) and Russian International Circus Festival (2013). In 2015, the Icarian Tumbling and Jumping by 18 acrobats won the Silver Clown at the 39th Monte Carlo Circus Festival in Monaco and the First Golden Award at the 2nd China International Circus Festival in Zhuhai, China.

This performnace is sponsored by Bui and Herb Simon.

The Lisa Smith Wengler Center for the Arts at Pepperdine University provides high-quality activities for over 50,000 people from over 800 zip codes annually through performances, rehearsals, museum exhibitions, and master classes. Located on Pepperdine's breathtaking Malibu campus overlooking the Pacific, the center serves as a hub for the arts, uniquely linking professional guest artists with Pepperdine students as well as patrons from surrounding Southern California communities. Facilities include the 450-seat Smothers Theatre, the 118-seat Raitt Recital Hall, the "black box" Helen E. Lindhurst Theatre, and the Frederick R. Weisman Museum of Art.