For 10-year-old Athena, who studies ballet, it was the first time she had seen an acrobatic performance. Her interest was sparked by her aunt Bella, who teaches in Beijing and had told her that a performance incorporating elements of ballet into Chinese acrobatics would be coming to Greece.

　　Athena's younger sisterDora, who is eight and learning Chinese martial arts, was equally enthusiastic. "The show was perfect. The dancers were amazing," she said.

　　"What I saw was truly unique," said another spectator, Markos Kantzios, praising "the acrobatic artistry of the Chinese, who excel at it and are ranked number one in the world."

　　He also highlighted the effort involved in bringing the troupe all the way from China to Greece.

　　"It's quite an undertaking to come all the way from China to Thessaloniki and Athens to present this unique performance to Greek audiences," he said.

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

　　The protagonist undertakes demanding training, injuries, setbacks and moments of self-doubt before gradually finding her way forward.

　　An acrobat from the Guangzhou Acrobatic Troupe performs an aerial act during Swan at Athens' Christmas Theater, Greece, Sept. 9, 2026. (Xinhua/Marios Lolos)

　　The signature scene "Shoulder Ballet" combines the physical strength, balance and precision of Chinese acrobatics with the lightness and elegance associated with ballet. The play also features acrobatic techniques such as diabolo, rolling-ring acrobatics and hat manipulation.