Acrobatic drama “Backbone” premiere in STHLM

December 9, 2025 – The acrobatic drama Backbone, jointly presented by China Cultural Center in Stockholm and Guizhou Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism, was brilliantly staged at the Nya Cirkus in Stockholm. More than 800 guests, including friends from various sectors in Sweden, diplomats from multiple countries residing in Sweden, overseas Chinese, Chinese-funded institutions, and international students, gathered together to witness this cultural encounter that transcended mountains and seas. Wan Degang, Chargé d’Affaires ad interim of the Chinese Embassy in Sweden, attended the event upon invitation and delivered a speech.

Backbone takes the transportation development in Guizhou as its narrative core, transforming the heroic feat of building roads through the towering mountains of Guizhou into a powerful and beautiful stage performance through the acrobatic language of “thrilling, astonishing, daring, and elegant”. The show skillfully integrates a variety of traditional acrobatic techniques. “Shoulder ballet” showcases the elegant beauty of balance at the limits of human physicality, with every spin and turn on the performers’ shoulders leaving the audience breathless.

Traditional intangible cultural heritage items such as “diabolo”, “hand techniques”, and “bounce juggling” are revitalized through contemporary expression, preserving the roots of Chinese culture while pushing the boundaries of traditional acrobatics. To cater to the aesthetic preferences of overseas audiences, the performance team specially designed a combination of “quick change magic” with ethnic costume elements like Guizhou’s Miao embroidery and Dong silver, creating stunning visual spectacles.

During the performance that evening, the theater was filled with applause. Each time a performer completed a highly difficult move, the audience erupted into enthusiastic cheers. After the show concluded, as the curtain rose once again, the performers lined up on stage and bowed deeply in gratitude. Swedish audiences rose to their feet, expressing their admiration and respect with sustained, thunderous applause. Cheers and shouts of “Bravo!” echoed throughout the venue. Standing at the center of the stage, the performers’ eyes glistened with emotion—they saw the same warm smiles on the faces of audiences from different cultural backgrounds and felt the sincere appreciation that transcended language.

After the performance, many guests lingered in the theater, unwilling to leave, taking photos with the performers and asking questions about Chinese acrobatics and Guizhou culture. This show not only demonstrated the superb skill of Chinese acrobatics, but served as a bridge connecting Chinese and Swedish cultures. Guests stayed in the lobby, enthusiastically discussing the performance they had just witnessed. “I couldn’t believe my eyes!” exclaimed one Swedish audience member excitedly. “The body control of those performers was incredible.” A pair of sisters from Stockholm, who were watching a Chinese acrobatic show for the first time, said, “We were completely captivated. It wasn’t just the techniques—the artistic design and emotional expression of the entire performance deeply moved us.”

As the New Year of 2026 is approaching, China Cultural Center in Stockholm is also celebrating its 10th anniversary. This performance is not only a visual feast for friends from all walks of life who support cultural exchanges between China and Sweden, but a blessing for the future. China Cultural Center in Stockholm will, as always, remain committed to cultural exchanges and cooperation, building more “roads and bridges” for closer people-to-people ties and mutual understanding. Together with friends from all sectors, the center will join hands to write a new chapter of mutual learning, exchanges, and win-win cooperation between China and Sweden.