Aerialists, acrobats, strongmen and contortionists will perform under the big top in the state capital this weekend. Cirque Italia, a European-style circus has set up camp at the Dover Mall.
The two hour show will feature an international cast and the action will center around a 35,000-gallon tank of water that rises 35 feet in the air.
Cirque Italia spokesperson Nicole Fusco says the company was founded in response to a void its Italian owner saw in the U.S. circus world.
“He came to America and thought, you know, we need to do something different here", says Fusco. “We need to do something that the American audience hasn't really seen before and that’s how he came up with the idea to do the water stage and to add this water dynamic to the show.”
Fusco adds that European style circuses are more closely related to theater.
“Many times in an American circus you might have a small one or three ring tent but the audience still ends up being pretty far away from the mainstage and the artists, and where everything is happening,” she says. “Here at Cirque Italia our tent is set up in such a way that you’re closer to the performers so you feel more of a connection.”
Cirque Italia will perform six shows Friday through Sunday at the Dover Mall. More information is available on their website, cirqueitalia.com