When I first arrived at the Orpheum Theater in downtown Omaha, my expectations of The Peking Acrobats were high from what I had heard about them. I knew the acrobats were an extremely talented group of people. I figured it would be fun, and I was pretty excited to go see the talented performers. However, I was unaware at how diverse each performance was, and how strongly they were able to capture the audience’s excitement.

The world-record holders have been seen in many films (including their own), television shows and have even performed at the Hollywood Bowl.

Their debut in 1986 completely altered the way entertainment was shown, with their daring stunts and tumbling skills.

From the opening performance and thereafter, the stage was filled with an array of bright colors and followed many Chinese traditions. Both the music and the costumes followed their traditions and introduced the audience to a variant culture.

Each of the 19 different scenes showed off the acrobats great feats of strength, endurance, discipline and extreme flexibility. Each presentation was different. Where some were comedic, some were so daring it was nerve-wracking, even for the audience.

For me, the most memorable and astonishing scene was when an acrobat performed tricks 21 feet above the ground, with multiple chairs all stacked on four glass bottles.

The crowd was constantly cheering, and I noticed that the only times we were quiet were when we were struck in awe at the jaw-dropping acts.

It was definitely an adrenaline rush, and any mistakes made were recovered easily and without pause.

The Peking Acrobats also did a great job at keeping the audience in tune with the show. We repeatedly clapped to the music with them during the highly impressive performances, which kept me far away from boredom. At the end, the acrobats received a well-deserved standing ovation.

It is a great show to see anytime of the year, whether you go for a family event or on a first date, it is a promising night of fun.

The next time anyone has a chance to see this phenomenal tour, I highly suggest attending, because they definitely exceeded my own expectations and never ceased to amaze me.