Cirque du Soleil always piques the imagination. The 22 extravaganzas currently presented by the Montreal-based organization around the world are filled with music, eye-popping acrobatics, exquisite costumes and curious characters conveying bewitching stories. “Quidam” boasts all of those qualities in abundance. Unlike the others, it takes place in an arena, not the customary tent. Arriving in Washington this week, it tells the story of a bored young girl and the imaginary characters who guide her to a dream world.

Cory Sylvester is one of the few Americans in the cast. While attending a touring performance of “Quidam” in 1996, he was so impressed by the German Wheel that he made up his mind to master it.