We had met members of the cast, chatted with the backstage staff, eaten in the Cirque du Soleil canteen and watched the rehearsals - now was the moment of truth as we took our seats in the big top. Even as the audience was settling, clowns wearing fanciful costumes and dramatic masks were racing through the seats looking for possible victims. Unsuspecting people were pulled from the crowd and carried between the rows, others were made to stand and perform and one poor guy even had his shirt removed in seconds. All of this tomfoolery ensured latecomers could settle before the action began, then the lights lowered, the stage was lit and we were invited into the world of Cirque du Soleil. An international phenomenon, this is circus for the modern world. The first act, Adagio, was amazing in its apparent simplicity as a man, woman and child carried out a series of balances. They made it look so easy but this takes years of practice as every move-ment is in perfect symmetry. Adagio was also heavy in symbolism as the small child who was lifted aloft will go on to become Salt-imbanco the clown, whose tale will weave through the performance. Those who were waiting for spectacle could not fail to be impressed by the next act - the Chinese Poles. Here a troop of acrobats had us literally holding our breaths as they leapt between poles and balanced above our heads. Fast paced and colourful, each artist showed incredible strength and agility alongside perfectly synchronised jumps. We had been warned that the next act, the double wire, could face the chop as high winds were making it dangerous. It is very rare that the entire show has been abandoned due to bad weather but it can affect the programme. Bearing in mind the gusts we could hear outside, it was not a surprise to see that instead of the high wire we had a single figure dressed in white with the diablo. While Cirque du Soleil is perhaps best known for its dramatic trapeze and acrobatic acts, the show also features a good number of more traditional circus skills such as diablos and juggling. But in each case the act was enhanced by dramatic music, colourful costumes and synchronisation with those around. The first half closed with the Boleadores, two women combining a rhythmic stamping with the spinning of bolas - a weight attached to a rope. As the tempo increased, so too did the speed until you could hardly see the performers for the whirling boleadores. After the interval came one of the show's heart-stopping displays with the Russian Swing. As performers hurled themselves from the swing, high into air and onto a human pyramid, we watched in trepidation as one of the acrobats twice missed the mark. This is when the safety measures really come into play. But on the third attempt he was spot on and the audience erupted in applause. In between acts we were constantly reminded of the circus stalwart - the clowns. Compared to the high-flying acrobatic feats, the clowning around was pretty rudimentary - fall guys from the audience provided the laughs, people slipped on bananas and we all felt very relieved that we had been left alone. The company has two sets of identical twins working as artists. The two girls took to the heights for a breathtaking display of dexterity and precision on the double trapeze, while the guys offered a slower show with the Hand-to-Hand, depending on perfect balance and strength. And while we are talking breathtaking - what a finale. In the Bungee, four characters swung from the heights, literally flying between trapezes in a perfectly timed performance. This was certainly the best of circus but Cirque du Soleil is much more than the individual parts. The entire show runs together as a glorious spectacle. CIRQUE du Soleil will be at StarCity, Birmingham from Feb 24. Performances: Tues, Wed & Thurs 7.30pm; Fri 4.30pm* & 8.30pm; Sat 3.30pm & 7.30pm; Sun 2pm & 6pm. (*performances on selected dates) Tickets are priced from £17-£39 for adults. Discounts available for children, students, seniors and groups. Prices exclude all booking fees. Call the Cirque du Soleil Ticket line on 0870 010 9026 or book in person at The National Indoor Arena Box Office, NEC Arena Box Office and Symphony Hall Box Office. For more info, visit www.cirquedusoleil.com | 
