Cirque du Soleil debuted in 1984 and is a world renowned performance troupe that combines the best of Broadway, opera, circus, gymnastics and magic, into one memorable event. The result is a show full of nerve-shattering, captivating and mind-boggling feats of skill that bring to light the unimaginably best that any one event can provide.

Recently, INSIDER was invited to witness the amazement of one of Cirque du Soleil's nine touring and resident thematic presentations playing across the globe - "Dralion." After working hard to get over our overwhelming excitement and chills, we decided to give Insiders the INSIDE SCOOP.

Dralion is the fusion of ancient Chinese and French circus traditions along with Cirque du Soleil's usual risqué avant-garde approach. The show's name is drawn from its two main symbols-the dragon and the lion, representing the East and the West, respectively.

Suspended in time between the past and the future, "Dralion" is a celebration of life and the four elements that maintain the natural order: air, water, fire and earth. The laws of nature are defied and you are left to witness a dynamic performance that transcends the boundaries of the imagination and leads into a dreamscape whose closest semblances in our times are the Seven Voyages of Sinbad.

If you can imagine being on the set of history's most memorable mystical performances, then Cirque du Soleil's "Dralion" is the event for you and your family.

The show combines 54 artists from 10 different countries, 35 Chinese acrobats, 4 clowns, and the persuasive voices and music of two cultures brought to life by an orchestra. The show's contortionists are from the U.S., the Ivory Coast, Brazil, Switzerland, Canada, France, Italy, Bulgaria and the Ukraine. If that's not enough, the acts combine hoop diving, clowns, dralions, skipping ropes, springboards, a double trapeze, aerial pas de deux, single hand balancing, bamboo poles, juggling, aerial hoops, ballet on lights, spirits and Chinese gymnastics.

There is much more we would love to say about the show. We are sure you will enjoy the continuous action it provides. When you are not on the edge of your seat or skipping heartbeats while watching the aerial dynamics, you are relaxing and laughing at the best quartet of clowns ever to hit the metropolitan area. You will have to witness the evolution and revolution in circus performance yourself. In the meantime, we could not help but give you a bit of the INSIDE SCOOP.

For more information on Cirque du Soleil, visit www.cirquedusoleil.com. "Dralion" is currently playing at Harbor Point in Baltimore until May 4, 2003.

Do you have or know of a show you would like reviewed? Just let us know at info@InsiderEntertainment.

© 2003, InsiderEntertainment.com, An "Another 'CJ' Production" Affiliate.