Acrobats are very special individuals who never cease to amaze all who have the chance to see them in action. Acrobats can do so many different gymnastics tricks, but the tricks which spring to mind include variations on walking on a tightrope, balancing on one another, spinning flawlessly through the air, but so very much more.

They take the special talents they have learned, and provide them for your entertainment value. It is certainly very exciting to see these performers work their magic, and there is no question that you will be wowed and impressed with what you see.

Some of these most skillful of artists one can see on TV and in film, and here we will look at some of the artists that have made their mark on each of these mediums.

The Peking Acrobats

The Peking Acrobats are among some of the most famous of all acrobat groups that have made appearances on live television. This group of men and women has been performing stunts and glorious feats since 1986, at which time they were famed for their contortions and intricate performances. During this time they have become well-known all across the world, with special appearances on favorite shows such as The Wayne Brady Show, The Ellen DeGeneres show, Nickelodeon’s Unstoppables, and many more. These acrobats are among the best in the world, and a beautiful sight to see perform.

Qin ShaoBo is an acrobat with the Peking Acrobats, and for those who like to see their acrobatics on the big screen he may be best remembered for his role in the 2001 re-make of Ocean’s Eleven, as a bank robber who uses his acrobatic skills as part of a gang who steal millions of dollars from a Las Vegas casino. He reprised this role in the sequel in 2004, and brought acrobatics once again into the mainstream.

Man on Wire – Philippe Petit

Another acrobat that made a big splash on the big screen was is Philippe Petit, in a documentary named Man on Wire. This film chronicles and recreates where in 1974 Petit illegally scaled the Two Towers building in New York and crossed between the towers in a spectacular high-wire show. He was subsequently arrested, and the title of the documentary comes from the police report that documented the feat.
Thanks to the enduring memories of those who were involved in the breathtaking event, footage from their video cameras, and interviews with those who witnessed the event from the ground, the 2008 documentary brought to life the entire drama.

Perhaps just as interesting as the event were the details regarding the backstory, and Petit’s own passion for the high-wire. Petit manages to show people how he believes the high-wire to be a true art that transcends the mundane, something which can both simple and spectacular at the same time. His enthusiasm for the arts is boundless, and will have certainly inspired a new generation of tightrope walkers and high-wire artists.

By Alexandre Hourdequin