Watching a video on her mobile phone, Cao Lei could almost be mistaken for any other 20-year-old woman.
But the Chinese acrobat was fixated on her screen while balancing upside down, and holding her entire body aloft with just the palm of one hand pressed on a pole.
Ms Lei casually contorted her limbs into a variety of stunning positions yesterday morning, while her colleagues from the Chinese State Circus busily prepared a big top set-up on Elgin’s Lossie Green.
Just hours later, she was costumed in a dazzling outfit and entertaining hundreds of spectators as the first in a series of shows in the town began.
Moray residents took shelter from rainy skies beneath the canvas for an afternoon event, and children celebrating the beginning of the school holidays proved a lively audience for a 7pm performance.
Ms Lei’s translator, Stephanie Zhang, explained that the star attraction was constantly trying to break her own records for how long she can remain balanced.
Company manager and trainer, Said Debbach, added that the feats performed by the Far East crew dated back thousands of years.
He stated: “These performers grew up in the circus, they went to circus school at four or five years old and they have been travelling the world since finishing that.
“The acrobatics they perform come from thousands of years ago.
“It all stems from ancient martial arts training, which has now become entertainment.
“The stuff they do with their bodies is incredible.”
The new production is entitled Dynasty and focuses on the extraordinary feats that can be performed using the most humdrum of household objects.
The show features acrobats balancing on huge pyramids of tables, or spinning plates, while aerial specialists execute nimble movements high above them.
There will be three shows today, at 2pm, 4.45pm and 7.30pm, followed by two tomorrow at noon and 3pm.
On Monday, there will be performances at 3pm and 7pm and the final Moray show will take place at 3pm on Tuesday.
More information is available at www.chinesestatecircus.com
