Traveling the world, seeing big cities and small, was something Andrea Ayala-Raffo had always enjoyed — even if those visits were interspersed with a few daring acrobatics. But hanging from her hair ...

You've heard of Cirque du Soleil's mesmerizing acrobatic feats: their signature hand-to-hand acrobatics, soaring trapeze displays, and performances interwoven with jumping, spinning, and flipping.

Whether in Oakland or Oklahoma City, Boston or Cleveland, Los Angeles or San Antonio, there is one person who can bring NBA fans together to cheer. Almost none of them know her name. Rong Niu was born ...