China Mom / Web 2012 / Lions and tigers and hair - oh my!

Jun 2, 201203:40 PMChina Mom

Lions and tigers and hair - oh my!

We went to the circus today and it really is the greatest show on earth. All the clichés apply – there’s something for everyone going on, all the time! It's a…why, it’s a three-ring circus!

We went an hour early and got to participate in the pre-show, which was a lot of fun and I highly recommend it. Piper danced with clowns, watched Kelly Ann the elephant paint a lovely painting and even did a little Kung Fu with the Shaolin Warriors.

The show itself is amazing. I held my breath during the lion and tiger act. I couldn’t tell if the cats wanted to play with the Courageous Alexander or maul him when they would growl and lunge at him. Either way, he is courageous and the animals are mesmerizing. You can tell he really trusts them and the respect is mutual. Still. Yikes.

I found myself wincing throughout the Hair-Hanging Wonders of the West performance. Yes, the Hair-Hanging Wonders: two aerial artists who do their entire performance hanging by their hair. If that were me, I’d really dread going to work every day. But it was captivating and I couldn’t stop watching. And wincing.

Piper and I couldn’t take our eyes off the Fantastic Felines. Seriously. We were captivated by a couple of cats. There was literally a three-ring circus going on with a literal dog and pony show happening in the other two rings, and in the third ring they had housecats jumping through hula-hoops and walking on tightropes. I can’t get my cats to stay off the sofa, let alone balance on a beam. I really want to know their secret.

Speaking of secrets, I want to know the secret of the Shaolin Warriors. Piper loves Kung Fu, but the Shaolin Warriors brought Kung Fun to a whole new level for her. Until today, it’s just been a fun activity at China Camp where she gets to kick and yell a lot. But today, I think she got a glimpse into the whole “power of the mind” behind it. I think most of the audience did – especially when they wrapped a metal pole around their necks and balanced on the points of a spear. They say it's mind over matter and they channel their "qi" (chee) or energy to perform incredible feats of strength. They really are incredible. And they aren’t just guys who ran away to join the circus. These are trained Kung Fu masters who have been guided by Shaolin Monks since the age of four to achieve total control of their bodies and minds.

If you think a little Kung Fu would be out of place amidst elephants and trapeze artists, think again. Their incredible act fit right in place with the high-wire motorcycles and the troupes of acrobats flying through the air.

The circus is in town through tomorrow with shows at 7:30 tonight and 3 pm Sunday. For tickets go to the BOK website. It's great for children of all ages - just like all my circus clichés!