ON TOUR

ON TOUR
Alain M. Pacherie presents
What the
Press say
Paris Capitale
Every scene is amazing. It’s magic
Liberté Dimanche
Not just a circus...
A grandiose show
Figaro et vous
A poetic moment
Madame Figaro
A host of sensational acts
France 3
Under the Cirque Phénix stars
Télé Star
A dream-like show with a continual flow of
Journal du Dimanche
Grandiose and poetic show
France Info
Impressive show...
A magic moment
Le Parisien
Breathtaking acts with artistic prowess,
beauty and humour
Gala
An incredible epic; visual, athletic…Magic!
Magazine du Monde
Wonderfully thrilling and chilling! Outstanding
techniques...breathtaking acts
Figaroscope
An acrobatic saga
Le Parisien
The Phénix soars
Le Journal du Dimanche
The Beijing Circus Sars, grandiose
Figaro
The Legend of Mulan has given circus
a new lease of life.
Version Fémina
Extreme oriental virtuosity
Tentation
Make it a date!
performances
Télé Poche
A spectacular fresco filled with adventure and
thrills
Télé Magazine
An incredible journey to the heart of imperial
China
Télé Z
Journal du Dimanche
Breathtaking!
Graceful and tasteful
Télé 7 jours
A masterpiece
2
A completely
“modern”
ancient legend
In the year 316, the countryside was dominated
by the Great Wall of China and the land invaded
by the Huns. The emperor thus decreed that, in
order to ensure his protection, one man from
each family would have to join the army.
Against the deafening drum rolls announcing
the conscription of the men in the village, the
young angelic Hua Mulan ponders on her role
in the family. An only daughter, Mulan refuses
to let her father sign up, saying that he is too
sick to fight. At day break, the beautiful young
girl cuts her long black hair with a sword and,
taking her father’s armour, goes off to join the
army.
a woman with
a destiny
Mulan is as well-known in China as Joan of Arc
in France. Both challenged the social codes
of their time. They embark on ready-made
destinies to live out their respective legends
and, seen today as modern heroines, they
continue to inspire creators. Both are visionaries
who symbolize, from the outset, the woman of
today; heroines whose destinies are entwined
with those of their countrymen.
3
Chinese acrobatics
More than two
thousand years
of excellence
Numerous archaeological discoveries bear witness to the fact that Chinese
acrobatics already existed two thousand years before the Christian era.
Known in Asia as “Zaji” (medley of talents), Chinese acrobatics covered
many disciplines including juggling, gymnastics, trapeze, contortion, magic,
mime and clowning. It was during the Song Dynasty that the precursor of the
modern-day circus emerged. Known as “Washe ”, these amusement areas
were made out of drapes strung together to form a circular stand, and set
up at key points in busy towns where spectators could meet to enjoy the
acts. During the Han Dynasty (206 B.C.-220 A.D.), emperor Wu, a wellknown epicurean, organised banquets in which acrobatics played a key role,
performing dozens of acts, one after the other.
Particular importance was given to acrobatics during the dynasties of Song
(960-1279), Yuan (1279-1368) and Ming (1368-1644), when the accent
was no longer on finesse, but rather strength and complexity. Acrobatics
integrated other art forms, such as the Peking Opera, until the fall of the
Ming dynasty in 1644. Forced to take to the streets, acrobats remained
absent from the scene for around three hundred years.
4
Chinese acrobatics
of today and
tomorrow
With the advent of the People’s Republic of China in 1949, Chinese acrobatics
took on a new lease of life to become a veritable scenic art form. In 1980,
the Chinese Acrobatics Association, which includes 106 Chinese troupes
of practicing acrobats, became a member of the Federation of Literature
and the Arts, thus putting acrobatics on a par with music, dance, literature
theatre, calligraphy and all the fine art forms.
The Artists of the Beijing Cicus Stars in France are direct heirs to this Chinese
tradition. They epitomize the essence of Sino-French relations. With an eye
to the future rather than the past, they present creations worldwide, in acts
bearing witness to an ancestral art. Chinese acrobatics, as presented by tthe
Beijing Cicus Stars, distinguish themselves in terms of technique, execution,
composition and the ingenuity of the acts.
These artists are to the circus what virtuoso dancers, such as prima ballerinas,
are to the classical dance world. This is why Chinese acrobatics, far from
declining, have been gaining in popularity for more than twenty centuries,
and are now box-office hits in many countries. At Cirque Phénix, these stars
have drawn in more than 2 million spectators since 2003.
5
«A Grandiose and poetic show»
Journal du Dimanche
PHOTOGRAPHS: YAN FORHAN
©SSE/Cirque Phénix
6
»
50 breathtaking artists, 16 incredible acts, 300 fabulous
costumes, Amazing decor
«An incredible journey to the heart of
imperial China
Télé Magazine
7
also touring
ON TOUR
ON TOUR
CREATION
Alain M. PACHERIE
PRODUCTION
CIRQUE PHéNIX / SSE
MARKETING
David DICKENS
[email protected]
+33 1 45 72 62 09
ON TOUR
INTERNATIONAL BOOKING
Philippe DUTHEIL
+ 33 6 13 43 87 38
[email protected]
CIRQUEPHENIX.COM
CIRCUS LIKE YOU’VE NEVER SEEN it BEFORE!
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