From staff reports

Cirque Italia is coming next week to The Empire Mall parking lot.

The European-style traveling circus will be under a blue and white big top along Louise Avenue near JCPenney and TJMaxx.

Shows will be Sept. 14-17, with evening performances Thursday and Friday, three shows on Saturday and two on Sunday.

Cirque Italia combines acrobatics, dance, contortion and even high-performance BMX and roller-skating. It does not use animals in its performances. The two-hour show incorporates water, lasers, bubbles, mermaids and dragons “to find a delicate balance between the poetic and expressive power of the human body and the versatility and fluidity of water as an artistic scenario,” according to information released about the performance.

Ticket prices range from $10 to $50, with free admission for one child for every full-priced adult ticket at certain price levels.

For information on show times and ticket prices, go to cirqueitalia.com. Tickets can be purchased on the website or by phone at 941-704-8572.

The box office will be open daily beginning Tuesday at the site. Hours are 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.