Cirque Italia stops by Colony Square Mall

ZANESVILLE, Ohio- If you’ve been by Colony Square Mall this week you’ve seen the big white and blue tent signaling the circus is in town – but this one is unlike any other show you’ve seen before.

Cirque Italia is the first circus of its kind. Like others there are jugglers, aerialists, clowns, and more, like families performing together. Many acts, such as The Fusco Brothers, come from generations of circus performers learning their skills from a young age.

“Well when we were little kids my brother was a juggler so we always watched him and was our favorite act,” said Emiliano Fusco. “So one day we asked him to teach us how to juggle and we learned really fast. We love it.”

But Cirque Italia offers one feature that you won’t see anywhere else:

“It has this new feature with the water. Which they only see in Dubai. They have it one place and here. With the water designs and the waterfalls it’s something beautiful. Something amazing. You have never seen in your life.”

Cirque Italia first started in 2012 and has quickly become a favorite attraction across the U.S. The travelling water show features 35,000 gallons of water. The waterfall has different designs as it cascades down around the performers. Sara Elizabeth is an aerialist performer in the show. She says it’s fun to look through the water and watch the reactions of the audience.

“As a performer we are in the middle of the water in the stage. So the water curtain and the water fountain is around us.”

Not all performers get to enjoy the water. One family of skaters don’t use the water for obvious reasons. The Fusco Brothers can’t use it with their act because – slippery clubs – but that doesn’t stop them from enjoying the show. They also like to watch the audience reactions to their tricks.

“The audience..the reaction of the audience. When you do something and they clap for you and squeal for you it’s like something you feel like everything we practiced so hard everything is worth it. You know what I mean?”

Another unique feature of Cirque Italia is something that you may be accustomed to seeing at other circuses but won’t see in their show.

“Well we’re animal free,” says Elizabeth. “No animals in here. We are the animals in this tent.”

Tickets for the show start at $25 for adults and $10 for kids. Children under 2 years of age do not need a ticket. Shows on Saturday, October 21st will be at 1:30 p.m., 4:30 p.m., and 7:30 p.m.. Shows on Sunday, October 22nd will be at 1:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m.. Cirque Italia will next appear in Dayton, Ohio.