Performers from the Guangzhou Acrobatic Troupe stage a dramatic acrobatic sequence from the original Chinese production Swan in Athens, Greece, Sept. 11, 2026. (Xinhua/Marios Lolos)

　　Rather than retelling the story of the classical ballet Swan Lake, the original Chinese acrobatic drama Swan draws on the real-life experiences of Chinese acrobats and follows a young performer's pursuit of her dream of becoming a "swan."

　　by Liu Baiyun, Chen Gang, Maria Spiliopoulou

　　ATHENS, Sept. 12 (Xinhua) -- "Mom, I want to do that too." Eight-year-old Sofia had just watched a female acrobat rise onto her male partner's shoulder, stand en pointe and spin before holding a poised final position on stage at Athens' Christmas Theater.

　　The scene, known as "Shoulder Ballet," was one of the defining moments of Swan, an original Chinese acrobatic drama by Guangzhou Acrobatic Arts Theatre performed in Athens on Thursday night. As the breathtaking sequence came to an end, the theater exploded with cheering and applause.

　　Sofia, who practices rhythmic gymnastics, was particularly drawn to the moments when acrobatic movements combined with the grace and balance of ballet.

　　"It's a bit like ballet, acrobatic," Sofia's mom, Christina Sotiriou, said. Sofia's reaction offered a glimpse of the enthusiasm surrounding Swan at its Athens premiere. The performance, staged as part of the China-Greece International Theatre Festival, drew nearly 2,000 people to the Christmas Theater.

　　After the finale, the cast had to make two curtain calls, and many audience members waited to take photos with the performers.