Not your average circus act

Heads up: the circus is in town.

And no, it's not your average yellow and white striped tent with clowns, unicycles, elephants and peanuts.

It's the Cirque du Soleil.

At risk of a shameless self-plug, as an arts writer for the Diamondback, I get a lot of amazing opportunities to see shows that I cover. After finding out that the Cirque du Soleil - the king of all acrobatic circus shows - was coming to Washington, I had to take the chance to see its show, Kooza.

For all not in the know, the Cirque du Soleil is the pinnacle of acrobatic performance, a combination of circus acts with the theatrical "wow" factor that has cemented the Cirque du Soleil reputation since its inception over 20 years ago. Based in Montreal, the company tours several shows each year in specific regions: Cirque 2009 in Montreal, Alegría in Korea and Taiwan, Quidam in the United Kingdom, and Saltimbanco in Hawaii and mid-southern US states.

For Washingtonians, our chance to experience Cirque du Soleil is through Kooza, which is touring mainly the Eastern US coast and performing at the National Harbor in Washington through Dec. 14.

Kooza tells the story of the Innocent, a lonely misfit who is searching for a place in the world. He meets the Trickster, a mysterious and agile character who shows him the world of Kooza with its death-defying feats and out-of-this-world performances.

Experience the familiar, like a unicycle, a trapeze and juggling, but with the flair of the Cirque du Soleil. Experience the jaw-dropping stunts like the Wheel of Death and a 23-feet tower of chairs on which an acrobat balances.

Either way, if you make the trip out to the National Harbor for this show, you'll be in for a treat and leave the show wowed and talking about it for days to come.