National Acrobats of The People’s Republic of China will perform Oct. 19, 2011, in a Hancher event at the Englert Theatre in Iowa City. (National Acrobats of The People’s Republic of China photo)

By Diana Nollen/ SourceMedia Group

Hancher is traveling around the world this month, inviting audiences along for the ride to China, Ireland and Mongolia.

The National Acrobats of The People’s Republic of China will bring their ancient artistry to the Englert Theatre on Wednesday, Oct. 19, 2011. The National Chamber Choir of Ireland is coming to St. Mary’s Catholic Church on Thursday, Oct. 20. And AnDa Union will bring traditional Mongolian music to the Englert on Thursday, Oct. 27. All the shows begin at 7:30 p.m. and all the venues are in Iowa City. 

AnDa Union also will be featured in a series of discussions, film screenings and a throat-singing workshop during their UI residency from Oct. 26 to 29.

Bringing such international acts to the University of Iowa not only brings the world to Hancher’s home, it also brings a taste of home to the UI’s international students.

“Last year, we had a group of dancers from the Philippines,” says Chuck Swanson, 58, 0f Coralville, Hancher’s executive director. “We have a fairly large group of university students from the Philippines and I’ll never forget the exchange after the performance. It was at the Englert, and we brought (the dancers) out into the audience. It was a tearful exchange, with such happiness and such joy. That, to me, just made it all worth it.

“To bring ‘home’ to international students at the University of Iowa is very special,” he says. “It makes you realize this work is very, very important.”

Bridging cultures is part of Hancher’s long-standing tradition.

Chuck Swanson, Hancher's executive director

“We have always striven to bring the world to the university,” Swanson says. “We’re all about giving people (cross-cultural) experiences. We want to look beyond our own country. … It’s important to expose our audiences and our students to other cultures. Of course, we want to bring the finest artists, to give (audiences and studens) the finest experience possible.”

The Chinese acrobats, hailing from Beijing, spring from the Institution for Acrobatic Schooling, which houses 150 resident performers and 500 students. The educational institute merges acrobatic science research with traditional artistry to create jaw-dropping feats of contortion, martial arts and dance in a circus atmosphere.

A blip in their paperwork last week nearly took the acrobats off the Hancher platter. The issue was resolved and the show will go on.

The National Chamber Choir of Ireland will perform Oct. 20, 2011, at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Iowa City. (National Chamber Choir of Ireland photo)

Such are the challenges of booking international acts, from visa glitches that can cancel a tour to communication problems that leap beyond language barriers.

“You have to make sure the appropriate paperwork is done,” Swanson says. “With the acrobats, it was an issue with tax withholdings. Other complications (that can arise) have to do with immigration status, all sorts of things, and even just communication. …

“It’s always best when you can talk with an artist, but in some cases you can’t. You have to go through others to communicate with the artists. … Then there’s the logistics once they’re here. AnDa Union’s (visit) is more complicated because of their instruments, making transportation more difficult.”

But it’s all worth it to bring such artists to Iowa.

“AnDa Union are very, very young musicians from Mongolia. They have this mission, this vision in life where they want to share the traditional music of Mongolia with the world,” Swanson says. “They learned their music through mentoring with older musicians in Mongolia and a movie was made of this (which will be shown at the UI’s Bijou Theater).

AnDa Union, young musicians keeping alive ancient Mongolian traditions and styles, will perform at the Englert Theater in Iowa City on Oct. 27, 2011. The ensemble also will be featured in workshops and film screenings at The Bijou Theatre. (AnDa Union photo)

“They look at the past and the traditions in a country and how important that is to today. They have to honor that and have to preserve that. It’s a real interesting approach to bring to university students — an appreciation for another culture.”

All thing Irish have long been embraced in the Corridor, home to the County Johnson Irish and SaPaDaPaSo in Cedar Rapids. Faire sounds from the homeland will float through the Englert when the National Chamber Choir of Ireland makes its U.S. touring debut.

Described as “the country’s flagship choral ensemble,” the group commissions work by Ireland’s leading composers and is hailed for its “fresh and innovative” sound.

 “It’s so important that when there are opportunities like this, we hope people do want to take advantage of them,” Swanson says.

“We’re becoming very, very diverse, so it’s important that we connect with other parts of the world and Hancher is definitely a place where that can happen,” he says.

“To be able to learn about other parts of the world — we can read about them, but we can learn so much through the arts. A performance can be very educational beyond residencies,” he says. “Seeing the acrobats — to me that is an educational experience that is a fun one — a real joy and a family experience that stimulates discussion and teaches everyone about the world and other ways of thinking. That’s important for all of us.”

ARTS EXTRA

What: Upcoming Hancher events

Where: Various venues, Iowa City

Tickets: Hancher Box Office, (319) 335-1160, 1-(800) HANCHER or www.hancher.uiowa.edu/tickets.html

National Acrobats of The People’s Republic of China: Wednesday, Oct. 19, 2011, 7:30 p.m., Englert Theatre, 221 E. Washington St., $12.50 to $30

National Chamber Choir of Ireland: Thursday, Oct. 20, 2011, 7:30 p.m., St. Mary’s Catholic Church, 228 E. Jefferson St., $10 to $45

AnDa Union: Thursday, Oct. 27, 2011, 7:30 p.m., Englert Theatre, 221 E. Washington St., $15 to $35; pre-performance discussion producers/directors of “From the Steppes to the City,” 6:30 p.m., Englert’s second floor gallery

AnDa Union related events:

Film screenings: “From the Steppes to the City,” 7 p.m. Oct. 26, 9:30 p.m. Oct. 28 and 7 p.m. Oct. 29, Bijou Theater, Iowa Memorial Union

Mini Performance and throat singing workshop: 3 to 4 p.m. Oct. 27, 1117 University Capitol Centre

WorldCanvass Studio: AnDa, Voices from Mongolia, noon to 1 p.m. Oct. 28, Room 2780, University Capitol Centre

Information: www.hancher.uiowa.edu/events/index.html