UniverSoul!

We went to the tent raising and meet and greet to celebrate the UniverSoul Circus at the National Harbor's Plateau. Leading the charge this year as Ringmaster for UniverSoul Circus is the multi-talented Lucky Malatsi of Johannesburg, South Africa, who has previously performed as a hip-hop dancer, acrobat, contortionist, trapeze artist, teeterboard flyer and trampoline artist. Here, SiriusXM host and producer Maggie Linton with Lucky.

UniverSoul is a highly interactive combination of circus arts, theater and music that spans genres, including pop, classic R&B, latin, hip-hop, jazz and gospel. It celebrates the unique and familiar aspects of pop culture with a cast of international performers. Here, some of the featured acts of the circus include an Ethiopian pole act, aerial duet from Colombia, bicycle tricks from China, airborne motorcycles from California, motorcycle Globe of Death from Colombia, Caribbean dance and limbo from Trinidad and Tobago, Russian Bar from Cuba and dancing elephants from the United States.

The UniverSoul Circus is playing at the National Harbor Plateau now through July 31. Here, Caribbean dancers flank McDonald’s owner/operator Ashley Welburn with WUSA TV 9 Great Day Washington host Markette Sheppard.

Guests got a chance to pull the ropes that raised the tent to mark the official start of the circus, with the final pull of the rope coming from one of the circus elephants. Here, Washington Capitals mascot Slapshot helping the kids pull the rope.

Alfredo Flores contributed to this issue.