Cirque Du Soleil: Dralion (2000)

Mixing two very different traditions can go wrong in a hurry. Done right, though, the result can be something neither side could have created alone, and "Cirque Du Soleil: Dralion" is a dazzling example of getting it right. The show's name comes from its symbol, a mythical creature that's half dragon and half lion, a nod to the lion's place in Chinese culture as a bringer of good luck. It's the perfect emblem for a production that brings 36 Chinese acrobats together with the renowned Canadian troupe in a true fusion of East and West. The show celebrates the four elements, each represented by its own color - blue for air, green for water, red for fire and ochre for earth - and it blends centuries-old Chinese circus traditions with everything that makes Cirque du Soleil so distinctive. You get the high-tech single ring, the kaleidoscope of lights and costumes, a soundtrack that draws on rock, New Age and an array of world music influences, and a band of madcap clowns who pull an unsuspecting volunteer from the audience (who turns out to be a terrific sport). Of course, the real reason you watch Cirque is the acrobatics, and Dralion delivers in spades. You'll see a performer balancing on a single hand, a powerhouse juggler, a soaring teeterboard act, double trapeze, contortionists, parasols spun and tossed by foot, furiously synchronized hoop diving and jaw-dropping rope skipping. Nothing fully replaces seeing this troupe live, but the cameras catch close-ups you'd never see from your seat. Skills like these take a lifetime of discipline to build, and you'll want to watch them again and again.