Expats
New moves for Myanmar acrobat
By Qin Zhongwei (China Daily)
Updated: 2010-01-25 10:03
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Pyeatphyooo is a 20-year-old man from Yangon, Myanmar. His grandparents, his parents and one of his brothers are all professional acrobats. And now, he is training to be one too.
The avid student remembers watching his mother walk the high wire when he was a baby, and started training when he was only 5 years old.
Learning acrobatics was the reason he came to China. He told METRO recently that after his first trip in 2007, his return in 2009 was to satisfy an addiction to learn more. "There is a lot to be learned here because Chinese acrobats are more accomplished," he said.
These were his words when he first came to China in 2007 as an exchange student, sponsored by his government to learn acrobatics in Beijing.
Being totally unable to speak Chinese at that time was never a problem. He believes acrobatics is an art form that everyone "can enjoy without understanding Chinese".
By studying at the Beijing International Arts School, affiliated to the China Acrobatic Troupe, Pyeatphyooo has learned plugging, pole climbing and flying fork. According to his teacher, Liu Baoxiang, each program needs at least two or three years of systematic training to master.
In his first three months, despite not speaking Chinese, he watched carefully. When his language was good enough to communicate, he started talking with his classmates and teachers. Even the diplomats from the Myanmar Embassy in China were impressed with the progress he made. "We used to perform before the diplomats and they are very proud of me," he said.
The 20-year-old already has fans in his home country. "Every time I go back, they come to see what kind of new program I will bring them," he said, somewhat proudly.
Of course, as a young man who loves listening to pop music and playing football, he also dreams of being a star like others his age. His experience sets him apart though, and he can now hide his on-stage excitement after completing a performance.
Controlling his emotion comes from practice. In fact, every single day of his first three months at the school was spent doing nothing but simple training. This practice might be seen as tedious, but his progress is remarkable. He can hold a handstand for 10 minutes or longer and can juggle with seven balls.
For four days a week, Pyeatphyooo hits the mat and goes over his exercises again and again. You can also find him still practicing after dinner.
"Work, hard work, and plenty of it, year after year, and each additional year will add to its value," he said.
