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'Dragons' soars into the hearts of Pittsburgh

Dragons might be a myth to many – but last week they were real at Consol Energy Center as Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus brought their amazing performance of ‘Dragons’ to Pittsburgh – complete with a giant, flying dragon!

Known for their over-the-top, high-energy and amazing performances, Ringling Bros. did not disappoint fans this year with one of the best performances ever. Featuring act after act of unbelievable stunts, skills and animals – this year’s circus was a must-see event.

While the event featured many traditional acts, such as clowns and aerialists – the animals truly stole the show. Starting with one of the best big cat acts I’ve ever seen! Just about every big cat act has animals that jump over objects, sits on their hind legs and walks – but these animals weren’t just obedient, they were comedians. His animals were so well-trained and trusting that they created a show unlike any other. From the always aggressive Princess to the lion who refused to jump on the disco ball or the tiger who simply refused to go home until he had a proper belly rub – these animals were beautiful, magnificent and very entertaining.

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The furry critters were stealing the show at all angles. First the cats, and then the dogs, llamas, donkeys and horses. It’s always amazing to see just how amazing animals can be and what they can be trained to do. From elaborate dances in the ring, to tricks on their front and back feet and even pretending to be a wild mustang only to be tamed by a beautiful lady. They were all believable and did a great job executing their performances. Kudos to all their trainers for such a flawless performance. 

Keeping with amazing animals, some of the biggest performers of the evening appeared to take a back seat this year. Normally the elephants have a much “larger” presence in the show, but this year – the real focus seemed to be on other animals and people. Still, the incredible elephants performed their standard tricks with flawless execution – and they looked absolutely adorable.   

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Just as amazing as the animals were the Shaolin Kung Fu Warriors, men who seemingly defy the laws of physics to perform amazing feats of strength and mind over body. From bending bamboo poles to balancing on spikes, jaws were picked-up off the floor throughout the entire arena.

Of course, no Ringling Bros. circus would be complete without a theme. One of the best parts of the Ringling Bros. brand is that all their shows do a great job of weaving the theme throughout. This year, the theme was Dragons and one small circus performer really wanted to call the mythical beast out. But in order to bring out the dragon, he must show great strength, courage, wisdom and strength – which he did through many of the acts and in the end, the elusive beast arose from backstage and flew around the arena breathing fire.

If you missed out on this year’s show, there’s hope – Ringling Bros. returns every year in the fall so watch for next year’s announcement soon!

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