THE BALLOON MAN

6/27-7/2: Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey at US Airways

 

by Kevin Downey 
Special for The Republic
from:  azcentral.com
Jun. 25, 2012
It's the Chinese Year of the Dragon, and Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey is celebrating with a new spectacle that highlights four traits of the mythical beasts: strength, courage, wisdom and heart.
Ringling's "Dragons" is told with high-tech (and old-fashioned) storytelling, animal acrobatics, athletic feats and the type of tricks you shouldn't try at home, such as driving a motorcycle at top speed while balancing on a wire 30 feet in the air.

Ringmaster Johnathan Lee Iverson said different aspects of dragon lore are told by four groups of performers.

"We have situated our acts into tribes," he said. "For instance, the Flying Caceres, who are celebrating 30 years of flying brilliance, display strength by flying on the trapeze. Another tribe represents courage. We have two motorcycles, not one, on a high wire. The audience goes wild."

The performers are some of the world's best-known circus acts, including big-cat wrangler Alexander Lacey, who's making his U.S. debut in "Dragons."
Read more: http://www.azcentral.com/thingstodo/events/articles/20120614ringling-bros-barnum-bailey-us-ariways-phoenix.html#ixzz1yxsm6Rzd