THE BALLOON MAN

Cirque du Soleil: modern day circus with a twist

Posted: Apr 09, 2011

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (KTIV) --- It's really something to see live," said head coach Michael Ocampo. That's apparent even before the stage is completely set. It's head coach Michael Ocampo's job to take care of the people who fill it with tricks. "I'm overseeing the acrobats. I'm going to the trainings. I'm helping them out with technique," said Ocampo. An acrobat for ten years himself, Ocampo says the performers are more like athletes. A lot of them, most of them, come from very high level sport," Ocampo said. A lot of weights and a lot of cardio," said aerialist Amanda Orozco. Amanda Orozco's background is in dance, but as an aerialist, she uses her arms much more than her legs, up in the tissue. "It took me a while to really be able to do quite a few pull ups and sustain my own body weight and stuff like that," Orozco said. Her 7 and a half minute act involves just that -- acting. "I also participate in the aerial, which is a duo act on the aerial tissues which is very sensual, very loving act with my partner," Orozco said. So if you're ready for a modern day circus with a twist. "They're gonna be wowed, they're gonna be impressed," Ocampo said. Cirque du Soleil's "Dralion" is certainly a visual feast. Tickets are still available for Cirque du Soleil. Saturday night's show starts at 7:30, at the Tyson Events Center. And there's two more performances on Sunday at 1:00 and 5:00. Tickets range from $37 to $97. Online Reporter: Zach Tecklenburg