Oscar Surprise: Chinese Acrobats to Perform at Kodak Theatre

It will be the dragon effect at the Oscars on Sunday, February 26, as Chinese performers hit the stage at the Kodak Theatre as part of the Oscar ceremony.

Chinese performers would be showcasing their acrobatic skills and physical prowess at the Academy Awards function for the first time in the history of Oscars.

The group consists of nine performers from the Shandong Province of east China, who were honoured at the 34th International Circus Festival of Monte Carlo in 2010.

The group will not be using any props and the show will be a rare glimpse of physical prowess for the western audience, shanghaidaily.com quoted Zhou Yonghui, the acrobatic team's coach, as saying.

Chinese acrobatics focuses more on speed and agility and has a tradition of more than 2000 years.

"It may impress Western audiences, as such art is rarely seen in their countries," the shanghaidaily quoted Yao Jianguo, head of the Shandong Provincial Acrobatic Troupe, as saying.

Acrobats from Russia, France, Brazil and Ukraine will also be performing during the ceremony.