Cirque du Soleil returns to the New York area April 4 with Dralion, the avant-garde circus company's newest show. The Cirque, last in New York three years ago with Quidam, brings a spectacle which combines ancient Chinese acrobatic arts with the Cirque's typical style to Liberty State Park in Jersey City. Opening night is set for April 12.

Tickets go on sale Jan. 21 for the general public, Jan. 7 for American Express card holders. Prices range from $85-$43.75 with a special VIP package available for $190-$130. For reservations, call (800) 678-5440 or online at http://www.cirquedusoleil.com.

Dralion is a celebration of the four elements - earth, air, fire and water. The theme permeates the costumes (entirely composed of blue, green, red and ochre) and the acts, performed by 56 artists from around the world, including 37 from China. Among the feats of daring-do are acrobatics involving ballet on lights, hoop diving, bamboo poles, juggling, teeterboard, double trapeze and skipping ropes.

Guy Charon, founder of the National Circus School in Montreal and first artistic director of the Cirque, directed Dralion with help from Francois Barbeau (costume designer), Stephane Roy (set designer), Luc Lafortune (lighting designer), Violaine Corradi (composer), Julie Lachance (choreographer), Guy Desrochers (sound designer) and Michel Dallaire (clown act co-designer). As Director of Creation at the Cirque, Gilles Ste-Croix is billed as the show's creator.

Dralion has been traveling the United States and Canada for the past three years. Stops have included Montreal, Toronto, San Francisco, San Jose, Denver, Minneapolis/St-Paul and Atlanta with Chicago, Houston and Boston to follow after New York/New Jersey. Other Cirque du Soleil shows are the touring Algeria, Mystere, and Saltimbanco and the two permanently settled pieces - "O" in Las Vegas and La Nouba at Walt Disney World.

— By Christine Ehren