Chinese acrobat brings a ‘balance’ of learning and fun to Marion Music Hall
Li Liu performed at the Marion Music Hall on Saturday, March 28. Photos by Grace Roche
Part of Liu's act is a one-handed handstand. 
Liu teaches young volunteers how to keep plates spinning on a stick. 
Liu taught some of the children in the audience how to perform a ribbon dance. 
A member of the audience captures part of Liu's routine. 
Liu passes a spinning plate down the line.
The audience cheers after Liu's performance.
Li Liu performed at the Marion Music Hall on Saturday, March 28. Photos by Grace Roche
Part of Liu's act is a one-handed handstand.
Liu teaches young volunteers how to keep plates spinning on a stick.
Liu taught some of the children in the audience how to perform a ribbon dance.
A member of the audience captures part of Liu's routine.
Liu passes a spinning plate down the line.
The audience cheers after Liu's performance.
MARION — Spinning plates, colorful ribbons and feats of strength were just a few parts of Chinese acrobat Li Liu’s show at the Marion Art Center.
The performer demonstrated her talents while educating her audience about Chinese culture and her own experience as an acrobat during her Saturday, March 28 performance.
Liu has been an acrobat for 53 years, and has toured across the world. She came to Marion through a cultural grant the Elizabeth Tabor Library received.
Children’s librarian Macy Davis was responsible for bringing the acrobat to Marion. She hosted Liu at a library she worked at previously, and thought people would enjoy her interactive show.
During the show, Liu invited kids on stage to learn how to perform a dance and balance spinning plates on sticks.
Ten-year-old Grace Duarte learned how to do a Chinese ribbon dance during the event. She said she had fun on stage, nodding enthusiastically.
Part of the performer’s routine involved a series of two- and one-handed handstands on a pair of metal bars. Grace said she was amazed by Liu, “especially when she did the handstand — I can barely do a handstand.”
The kids weren’t the only ones impressed by the show.
“Despite having worked at a library that had hosted them before, I had never actually seen the show before,” Davis said. “I thought it was super cool, just really incredible feats of physicality.”
