From the Flying Fruit Flies to facing MND: Guang Rong’s story

As a performer, a teacher and a father, Guang Rong Lu has spent his life in motion. Today, as he lives with MND, that movement has slowed. But his presence is as powerful as ever. 

Born in Shanghai, Guang Rong grew up in a one-room home with six siblings and no running water. His childhood was shaped by simplicity, scarcity and strong family bonds. At just 11 years old, he left home to train with the renowned Nanjing Acrobatic Troupe, joining his older sister Ping. The training was gruelling, the discipline unrelenting, but Guang Rong thrived. It was there he learned the values that would define his life: precision, perseverance and quiet strength. 

For decades, he performed across China and around the world, becoming a master of handstands, shoulder pole and group acrobatics. But it was in Australia where his legacy would truly take root. 

In the early 1980s, Guang played a central role in the creation of the now-iconic Flying Fruit Fly Circus, helping shape its philosophy of community, creativity and care. He later became Head Trainer, guiding generations of young performers with a steady hand and a warm heart. His impact only deepened when he took up leadership at the newly formed National Institute of Circus Arts (NICA), cementing his influence across the next wave of Australian circus artists. 

Those who trained under Guang Rong speak of a teacher who never raised his voice, who led with patience and purpose, and who saw each student’s potential long before they did. His words often carried quiet wisdom — part acrobatics, part philosophy — always delivered with care, and never without humour. 

In 2015, he received an Order of Australia Medal (OAM) for his outstanding contribution to the performing arts. 

Since his MND diagnosis in 2018, Guang Rong’s world has changed. Physically, it has grown smaller. But spiritually, it has never been fuller. He spends his days reading, reflecting, sharing meals with loved ones, and being “Grandpa” to his grandson, Hudson. His body may be in decline, but his presence remains deeply felt. Calm, grounded and full of meaning. 

“Culture will go on, even when we are gone,” he says. “We are just part of the continuation.” 

Learn more about Guang Rong’s story and his journey with MND in the video below.