Rola bola artist Axel Perez, who was on season 11 of “America's Got Talent” balances on a board that's on top of a cylinder during a performance with Cirque Italia Water Circus. The show is scheduled for shows in Grove City.

SPRINGFIELD TWP, Mercer County — A unique, European-style circus with a water theme is coming to Grove City this weekend.

Cirque Italia Water Circus will perform under its signature blue-and-white big top at the Grove City Premium Outlets beginning at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, with matinee and evening shows continuing through 7:30 p.m. Sunday for a total of seven shows.

Tim Orris, spokesman for the Sarasota-based Cirque Italia, said the show features a multimillion-dollar system of water fountains and sprinklers surrounding the stage that can only be seen in one other venue in the United States: Celine Dion's Las Vegas show.

He explained although the performers are from all over the globe and some do not speak English, water is a common denominator among people.

“Water is something everyone identifies with,” Orris said, “and it can be beautiful, especially with lights.”

He said “rain” falling around the performers can spell out words or form images in a dramatic fashion.

Acts in the show include a rotating wheel, slack wire, contortionists, strength and balancing acts, an aerial net act, jugglers and clowns, a trampoline comedy and an aerial hula hoop act, among others.

Orris said the performers are also the workers who put up and take down the tent.

“The guys who direct your parking will probably be jugglers,” Orris said. “The girl that paints your child's face might do acrobatics in the show.”

Three seating sections in a 130-foot circle surround a round stage, with no seat being more than 12 feet from the ground or 40 feet from the stage, Orris said.

Comfortable theater seats under the climate-controlled big top make for a pleasant atmosphere in which to watch the death- defying or athletic demonstrations put on by the 46 performers, Orris said.

Orris said to get performers for the traveling show, he scours episodes of TV talent shows from dozens of countries.

One performer in Grove City this weekend is Axel Perez, who appeared on season 11 of “America's Got Talent.”

Perez is an expert in rola bola, in which the performer stands on a board that is on top of one or more cylinders and tipping back and forth.

Rola bola artists add more and more cylinders and boards when they perform tricks to add suspense and danger to the act.

“You have to see it,” Perez said. “It's hard to explain.”

The Las Vegas resident signed a one-year contract with Cirque Italia.

“I've gotten a lot of exposure,” said Perez, who is very confident in his skills.

“I've definitely helped make a name for the circus,” Perez said. “I'm one of the best rola bola artists out there, especially nowadays, because I'm young.”

Perez said while it's odd traveling with 40-plus strangers who have suddenly become your roommates, he has enjoyed traveling with Cirque Italia.

“It's the best of both worlds,” he said. “You get to travel for work and experience the country.”

Perez said he enjoys watching the faces of those who come to Cirque Italia for the first time.

“It's a beautiful circus, and it does feel like a really finely honed show when you walk in,” he said. “You are automatically intrigued by how beautiful it is.”

He said he and other performers have fun during the show until it's time for their performance.

“We do a lot of juggling and just messing around,” Perez said.

He said the Cirque Italia must be experienced to be understood.

“It's not something a lot of people will understand until they get a glimpse of it themselves,” he said.

More information on Cirque Italia as well as tickets are available at cirqueitalia.com.