2011-09-27 "ERA" become one of the most popular evening entertainments in Shanghai

Shanghai is a dynamic city featuring colorful night entertainments. The show "ERA" in Shanghai has become one of the most popular evening entertainments for tourists in the city.Now,it has been staged for six years.
As a multimillion-dollar stunning acrobatic extravaganza, the first of its kind in China, ERA is a multimedia odyssey whose inspiration is a direct result of the combination of traditional Chinese acrobatic arts and modern technology. Just like Shanghai, ERA evolves through a constant collision between the past and future.

ERA is a love story, yet it is also contemplation across the millennia, a fascination with that other dimension man has yet to conquer: time. ERA's acrobats are on a quest to find that tenuous point of balance, the intersection between X, Y and Z.

Not only will the audience be amazed by the acrobats' control and precision, they will be enchanted by the world that is created through the use of multimedia, technology, lighting and sound effects, elaborate costumes, original live music and a lot more.

As such, ERA can remain universal, without language or cultural barriers. A thousand-year-old gesture is worth a thousand emotions, a thousand images, a thousand words...

Shanghai Acrobatic Show is a must-see when you travel to Shanghai, integrating traditional love story with modern performing art. Get impressed by the brilliant acrobatic arts to feed your imagination and bring your dreams back to the present.

2011-09-26 Entering the new Era of Kaleido

Its highly awaited and equally extravagant sequel, "Kaleido," premieres tonight at the renovated Shanghai Gong Stage. It will run daily and is expected to be staged for 10 years. "Era" continues.BEIJING, Sept. 27 -- The daily multimedia spectacular "Era - Intersection of Time" has captivated audiences for five years with its ingenious visual narrative connecting past and present China.

"Kaleido" promises a lot more audience interaction.

The name is derived from kaleidoscope, a "spyglass" device showing endless patterns and possibilities. "Kaleido" refers to China's future and presents a back-to-the-future experience.

"Kaleido" is also a 100-minute multimedia show that combines Chinese acrobatics, martial arts, modern dance, singing, extreme sports and many other Chinese elements. "Kaleido" will provide a journey through time and a back-to-the-future adventure.

"The average age of our 'Kaleido' performers is only 20," says Zhang Liqing, a producer of the show. "They have unleashed their own imaginations about the future world in unique performances."

In addition to traditional Chinese acrobatic stunts, the show features urban games such as skateboarding and parkour, which is the unassisted moving through an urban obstacle course.

If you liked "Era," you'll love "Kaleido," which is a freer and more dynamic multimedia extravaganza taking viewers back to the future, according to the creative team.

In one fabulous scene, lights, smoke, mist and a water curtain create a crystal cave and underwater world. A dancing mermaid is ready to leave the water and witness a magnificent future.

Targeting visitors from around the world, it has an impressive creative team. The director is Eric Villeneuve, a veteran Canadian artist and choreographer, who directed "Era" and the cultural gala in 1997 at the APEC (Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation) summit in Vancouver.

The team includes lighting director Alain Lortie and music director Michel Cusson.

The show's 200 or so costumes are designed by Michel Robidas, who has designed outfits for French-Canadian divas such as Celine Dion, Diane Dufresne and Ginette Reno. Each garment is exceptional and suits the scenes. One costume is decorated with mini LED lights shining mysteriously in the dark.

The score is performed by a one-man band, who with the help of music software, plays keyboard, trumpet and saxophone on his own.

Many Chinese performers are enjoying their collaboration with the foreign creative team.

Qiu Dawei, a 14-year-old acrobatic performer who plays the mermaid, says she has learned many performing skills, especially how to unleash her own emotional power and act naturally on stage.

According to Chen Tao, a marketing manager of the show, the market positioning and strategies of "Kaleido" will be different from those of "Era."

"'Kaleido's unparalleled downtown location enables it to attract more business visiting guests and independent tourists," Chen said.