Circus Spectacular at the Verizon Center (photos)

For kids of all ages, the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus opened at the Verizon Center in Washington D.C., and runs through March 22. Entitled “Built To Amaze,” it is the 143rd edition of the “Greatest Show on Earth,” probably qualifying it as the longest running show on Earth. It is also one of the largest with 110 performers from 17 countries and close to 100 animals. The circus features a variety of acts of strength, courage and dexterity from around the world, including animal trainer Tabayara “Taba” Maluenda of Chile with his 16 tigers, human cannonball Elliana Grace who soared over the length of a hockey rink, the King Charles Troupe’s version of basketball on unicycles, and some unbelievable acts of body strength by two man-woman teams (Duo Fusion & Duo Solys) that you should not try at home. Other featured acts included poodle acrobatics with Alex and Irina Emelin of Russia and the Tower Tumblers gymnasts from Ukraine. We counted six elephants and 1,000 clowns (O.K., not really one thousand). Ringmaster Andre McClain holds the show together. A former cowboy, McClain even gets to ride a horse in the show — and, boy, does he sing.

If you miss the show in D.C., you can catch it at the Baltimore Arena in Baltimore (March 26 through April 6) and at the Patriot Center in Fairfax (April 9 through April 20).

View our photos by clicking on the photo icons below.