Recently, we had the opportunity to speak with Hong Mabas, a circus educator from Laos, who is currently in the rehearsal hall of the Hebei Wuqiao Acrobatic Arts School. She was collaborating closely with Chinese instructors to guide her Laotian students in various acrobatic skills, such as stilt walking, contortion, and juggling.
“This opportunity to study in Wuqiao is invaluable, and we’re making the most of every moment,” Mabas shared. Despite being in Wuqiao for the fifth time, she dedicates her evenings to additional practice with her students after classes, offering them advice to enhance their movements and stability. She hopes to learn more acts and refine new techniques because, in her eyes, these young students mirror her own passion and aspiration for acrobatics when she was their age.
Mabas’s journey in acrobatics began when she was just nine years old, joining the National Acrobatic Troupe of Laos. “In 2008, I stumbled into a shop run by Chinese owners, and on the TV, I saw a Chinese acrobatic performance for the first time. I was immediately captivated,” Mabas recalled. Her first chance to come to Wuqiao was in 2016, through an acrobatic aid program facilitated by the school.
“I feel incredibly fortunate to learn in China,” Mabas expressed. She believes that studying in Wuqiao not only helps her quickly advance her performance skills and fulfill her acrobatic dreams but also fosters cultural exchange to promote the development of acrobatics in Laos.
Wuqiao County, part of Cangzhou City in Hebei Province, is known for its rich acrobatic heritage, encapsulated in the local saying: “From the elderly to the young, everyone in Wuqiao has a talent in acrobatics.” When Mabas first visited this “hometown of acrobatics,” she was profoundly impressed by the range of nearly 1,000 acrobatic acts across ten categories. “It was far more dazzling than what I’ve seen on television—it was breathtaking,” she remarked.
Today, Mabas has evolved from a student to a leading instructor and translator. Not only has she learned Mandarin, but she has also become a vital link between her Laotian students and their Chinese teachers. This year, her 15 students have mastered many of Wuqiao’s essential acrobatic skills.
“Many of the performances in Laos now incorporate elements from the acrobatics we learned in China, and they’re very well received by the local audience,” Mabas noted. She looks forward to returning to Wuqiao to learn even more new acts, as she believes acrobatics is not just a physical art form but also a universal language that bridges cultures.
