Xiaochu Feng has invested nearly half of his life into the New Shanghai Circus, which Feng directs.

But that commitment is nothing compared to that of the acrobats Feng guides — they were practically born into their work.

"They start very young, maybe five or six years old," Feng said through a translator. "Then when they are about 15 they are ready to become professional acrobats."

Performance Time: 8 p.m. Date: Today Place: Eisenhower Auditorium

Feng, who is 57 and has been involved with acrobatics since he was about 30, said he expects his professionals to dazzle when they take the stage at 8 p.m. today in Eisenhower Auditorium.

"We have quite a few programs and acts with special stunts and features," he said. "Some acts do somersaults in the air, off of a wooden springboard. In another act, a girl will kick a ball and the ball will fall down and bounce off her head while she rides a unicycle."

Acts like these require a tremendous amount of balance, Feng said, but his acrobats are prepared, having been trained for years in acrobatic schools in China.

"Most acrobats should receive five years of training," he said. "Some of our different stunt acrobats receive more than 10 years."

Thanks in part to the years of training, the acrobats of the New Shanghai Circus have developed into a tight unit that has received accolades from numerous critics.

The circus' reputation has earned the group the opportunity to tour around the globe, Feng said.

"We travel to Asian countries and European countries," he said. "Ten years ago we even traveled to South Africa."

The circus has 20 traveling members, Feng said, but the troupe is made up of more than just acrobats. Contortionists, jugglers and musicians round out the group.

Those contortionists are what inspired Marie Oliver (senior-biochemistry and molecular biology) to buy a ticket.

"I saw a program about contortionists on (The Learning Channel)," Oliver said. "They talked about a segment of the Chinese population that's hyper-flexible. It's very bizarre. I can only wish I could do something like that."

Feng said that if past stops on the present tour are any indication, fans like Oliver will not be disappointed.

State College is our fourth stop," he said. "So far, so good. The audience has been very excited and we've been welcomed everywhere."

Along with traditional Chinese acrobatics, some elements of Western acrobatics are incorporated into the show, Feng said.

"We use thing like Russian bars," he said. "People usually see this in European circuses, but we have it here."

However, the focus of the show is definitely Chinese acrobatics, Feng said.

"Western acrobatics always have big-scale acts and always involve five to 10 people," he said. "But Chinese acrobatics always has small-scale acts like contortion. We focus on personal skills. Western acrobats focus on teamwork."

If all goes according to plan, Feng said, his State College audience will go home with a better understanding and appreciation of Chinese culture.

"Our purpose is to bring acrobatic, traditional acts of Chinese culture and maybe increase cultural exchange between the United States and China.

"Acrobatics are pretty popular in European culture so our hope with this tour is that our art will be accepted by the United States and its people. That is our hope," Feng said.

Tickets for tonight's presentation are $25 for general audience members and $10 for Penn State University Park students. The price for other students is $20 and $13 for children 12 and younger.

Tickets can be obtained at Eisenhower Auditorium or by calling 814-863-0255.