That's right, Me and my sister Lisa are the newest members of Flaming Phoenix Entertainment!
Flaming Phoenix Entertainment Ltd is the International Marketing operation for the Hebei Acrobatic Troupe and Magic Group (HATMG)
The Hebei Acrobatic Troupe and Magic Group was established in 1970 by Jiquan Hou and is based in Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China. It is sanctioned as the official Acrobatic and Magic Troupe of Hebei province and is one of the largest Acrobatic Troupes in China.
The New Zealand side of the troupe is based in Auckland and specializes in professional circus entertainment for Circuses, Stage Shows, Corporate Events, Schools and Festivals. They are also resident performers at Rainbows End Theme Park performing 2 live shows daily during the Weekends & School Holidays. There is also another troupe currently on tour with Zirka Circus which is operated by Flaming Phoenix Entertainment.
It was about a month ago I received a call from my good friend Jeni Hou, Who is the director of the company that asked me If I was interested in joining the Auckland based troupe. I was really surprised and was not expecting it at all when I received the offer. But I was really honoured that she wanted me to be part of the team.
She wanted to help me out so that I could become more of a professional performer and performing and training regularly with the troupe will improve my skills as a entertainer. One other reason was that she needed somebody to manage the Auckland based troupe as she is on tour and busy managing her touring circus 'Zirka Circus'.
She knows my self promotion and marketing skills very well as I have helped create the Zirka Circus & Flaming Phoenix Facebook pages and have helped promote the circus. So she wants me to be in charge of promotions & bookings aswell.
I've been a fan of their work for a number of years now and have seen alot of their performances and was always inspired by the Chinese Acrobats being able to smoothly execute difficult tricks with amazing choreography. They inspire me.
So 2 weeks ago we headed to Rotorua where the circus was showing and caught up with everyone and the new troupe that are here for the new tour that has just recently started touring. It also gave us the chance to check out the new show.
Me showing everyone my solo Tempo Juggling routine.
They were happy with our acts but needed to be choreographed and polished up. They also wanted Lisa to be part of the team so we will be working on a Duo Juggling Act from now on.
Last weekend we headed to Taupo where the circus was situated and got our acts choreographed and polished up.
It was a 2 and a half hour process of Showing, Thinking, Discussing and Posing. Our friend Jake who is the Bounce Juggler and Globe of Death rider at the circus helped us choreograph our acts along with Dafei who is one of the coaches.
Me, Jake, and Lisa.
Choreographing my Tempo Juggling act.
The act itself hasn't changed much (If you exclude the poses) and still has the same pumping techno music! (YUS!)
Choreographing our Duo Juggling act.
We've also picked up our Duo Juggling act costumes and We're now working on coming up with some make up designs. Will upload pics soon!
We only have about 2 weeks to memorize and perfect our acts and 1 month till we start performing at Rainbows End. Currently there is a troupe performing there, But their contract finishes soon and will be heading back to China and will be replaced by us and a new troupe who will be arriving soon. (I hope you all can come see us perform there!)
As October approaches I will be super busy with alot of gigs including Street Shows for the Rugby World Cup, Auckland International Carnival and a few Corporate events thrown in.
I'm starting to feel like a proper full time performer now!
Anyways, I'm very excited about being a Flaming Phoenix and looking forward to our debut performance in Late October.
I'm finally running away to join the Circus! (Not a touring one, But still a Circus!)
My dreams are slowly coming true...
