Profile | Who is NBA Red Panda? China acrobat dazzles US fans with beloved half-time act, juggles bowls expertly on unicycle
- Learns acrobatics from father, tours world at 14, becomes firm US hit
- In 2014, father died plunging her into depression, now at 54, she is more committed than ever
A Chinese-American acrobat known as Red Panda has become a star at United States basketball games due to her remarkable acrobatic bowl-balancing performances during half-time shows.
Born in Shanxi province in central China, Niu Rong, 54, is a fourth-generation acrobat.
She started practising at the age of seven under her father’s guidance, joined the Shanghai Acrobatics Troupe for international tours at 14 before settling in San Francisco aged 19.
To make it easier for foreigners to remember her, Niu adopted the stage name Red Panda.
“Red is the colour of China, and pandas symbolise China. Putting these two words together represents China well,” she said.
In 1993, Niu performed at an NBA league game half-time show for the first time, showcasing her Chinese acrobatic skills for about five minutes.