Jackson Community College

New Shanghai Circus promises a show with many twists & turns!

More than 2,000 years of Chinese circus traditions come to life as Jackson Community College welcomes the New Shanghai Circus to the Potter Center for one show only, 4 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 27.

Enjoy a beautifully orchestrated presentation of Chinese circus acts dating back to harvest festivals of centuries past. Astonishing athletes will defy gravity and execute breathtaking feats as they stretch the limits of human ability.  These fearless performers bring boundless energy.  If it’s humanly possible – and even if it’s not – Shanghai’s acrobats, jugglers and contortionist do it with spectacular flair. This talented troupe sold out a Broadway tour and continues to thrill audiences of all ages.

Under the direction of Zhai Lizhi, the artistry, individually and collectively, attains levels that make it seem almost unfair to single out any act, from jugglers to the comic knife thrower and the bicyclist who finishes by piling about 10 of his colleagues aboard his vehicle.  Fans of circus of any sort are bound to appreciate the young women spinning six plates at a time atop sticks, while one of their number goes through amazing contortions without every dropping a dish. And what about the women who stacks chair atop chair on a fragile foundation of four vases atop a table, and makes her way acrobatically to the pinnacle of this rickety structure?  Or the young man who juggles a huge jar, usually using only his back or shoulders, and catching it on the edge atop his head? 

These are just a few of the kinds of acts audience members will enjoy. Tickets for this fun event are $20, $18 and $15, with a student discount of $5 off any ticket.  Purchase tickets by calling the Potter Center Ticket Office at 517.796.8600, or online at www.jccmi.edu under “Visitors” and “Events.”