The Ringling

Brothers Barnum and Bailey Circus has performed before 500 million fans

in more than 100,000 performances over three consecutive centuries, thus

proving it truly is "The Greatest Show on Earth."

Now, the 130th

edition of the circus is coming to Phillips Arena in Atlanta, Feb. 15-25

for 20 performances.

Created by

P.T. Barnum in 1871, the circus has entertained legions of fans, both

young and old, with daring acrobatics, beautiful animals and side-splittingly

funny clowns. This year's performance features a new generation of performers

from all over the world, including Sara, The Tiger Whisperer, The Ayala

Sisters and the Quiros, a high wire act.

Sara, The Tiger

Whisperer, works with royal Bengals, golden tabbies, black striped white

Bengals and snow white Bengals. She comes from a long line of circus performerrs

and began working closely with circus animals at the age of 14. The Bengals

are approximately seven feet long and can weigh between 400 and 500 pounds.

Other animals at the show will be The Young Elephants and horses in the

The Congress of Rough Riders act.

One of the

main ingredients in a successful circus is breathtaking daredevil acts

and this edition of the circus is full of them. The Ayala Sisters hang

suspended from the arena by their hair, while the Quiros will run and

dance above the three rings on a 5/8 inch tempered steel cable. In fact,

this year will be the first time that they will perform on double wires,

one above the other. Another amazing act is 24-year-old Anton Beliakov,

who will be suspended 40 feet above the arena on two leather straps. Beliakov

has a background in gymnastics and ballet and will perform a stunningly

beautiful act of daring.

But a circus

is nothing without clowns, and the Ringling Brothers Barnum and Bailey

Circus is full of them. In fact, Jon Weiss, assisted by Michu, the smallest

man on Earth, will perform the first "Clown N'Ball" ever. He

will travel 100 feet across the arena at speeds of over 65 miles per hour.

He will be the first clown ever to be catapulted across three rings. There

will also be the wonder and merriment of "Clown Alley."

Tickets to

"The Greatest Show on Earth" are $12.75-$75 and can be ordered

from the Phillips Arena Box Office or any Ticketmaster outlet. Performance

times are at 7:30 p.m. Thursdays, Feb. 15 and 22; 10:30 a.m. and 7:30

p.m. Fridays, Feb. 16 and 23; 11:30 a.m., 3:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Saturdays,

Feb. 17 and 24; 1:30 and 5:30 p.m. Sundays, Feb. 18 and 25; 1:30 and 7:30

p.m. Monday, Feb. 19, and 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 21.

For information

visit www.ringling.com .

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