KEY POINTS:
Quebec's Cirque du Soleil are jumping the ditch this July, bringing their Asian-inspired production Dralion to Auckland for a winter season.
Arriving from a year-long tour of Australia, the show will combine traditional Chinese acrobats with Cirque's avant-garde Western style of performing. In fact, the name Dralion comes from combining the Eastern symbol of a dragon with the Western symbol of a lion.
The show will be the fourth visit by the troupe, following 2007's Varekai, Quidam (2004-5) and Alegria (2001)
Launched in 1999, Dralion has toured 56 cities and been seen by more than eight million people worldwide.
Formed in 1984 by two street performers, Guy Laliberte and Daniel Gauthier, Cirque du Soleil now employs more than 35,000 people worldwide and has six touring troupes, as well as nine resident shows in Las Vegas, Tokyo and Macau.
Centred around the four elements - earth, fire, air and water - Dralion will see 65 artists perform under the signature blue and yellow Grand Chapiteau at Auckland's Alexandra Park Raceway from July 9. Tickets go on sale on Monday, February 16, priced from $55, and will be available from www.cirquedusoleil.com or by phone, (09) 357 0133.
