Two Crystal Ladies emerge from the fiery bowels of the earth to evoke the creation of the world and the beauty of minerals. Wearing sparkling costumes that mirror the Crystal Man, the artists spin squares of glittering material on their hands and feet before coming together to create a dazzling display of coordinated high-speed motion.

Two Crystal Ladies emerge from the fiery bowels of the earth to evoke the creation of the world and the beauty of minerals. Wearing sparkling costumes that mirror the Crystal Man (each is adorned with 3,500 crystals and the two headdresses are each encrusted with a further 1,000), the artists spin squares of glittering material on their hands and feet before coming together to create a dazzling display of coordinated high-speed motion.

Foot juggling, like the unicyclists that came before, takes its cue from the Chinese circus. The discipline has been presented in past Cirque du Soleil creations, most notably in Nouvelle Expérience and Dralion, to great success; however, the presentation here is one of the most unique I have experienced by Cirque. A high-powered blue laser beam accompanies the performance, bouncing off the over 4,000 reflective surfaces of "The Crystal Man" (who hangs expectantly over the two ladies throughout their routine) and the ladies themselves as they juggle and toss their carpets from one to the other.

We get our real first good glimpse of the "Scorpion Bridge" during their routine. The "Scorpion Bridge," which serves as a mobile platform connecting the marsh to the scenes features variable geometry allowing it to adapt to each tableau. Built of steel and weighing 10,000 pounds, its eight powerful mineral oil hydraulic motors allow it to rise, descend, extend, retract and curl in on itself like a scorpion's tail (hence its name). Its reflective surfaces, which shine line mirrors, are made of stainless steel plates. It's truly an impressive piece of stage equipment.