The New Shanghai Circus will be performing a free show for the Shoals and UNA community Feb. 24 at 2 p.m. in Norton Auditorium, courtesy of Gurtman and Murtha Public Relations.

“(Students can expect) acrobats, contortionists, juggling and athletic feats,” said BJ Wilson, coordinator of distance learning at UNA. “It’s kind of like Cirque du Soleil with the stacking chairs, etc. as opposed to the lions and clowns of what we think of as a traditional circus.”

The performance is being brought to UNA as part of the Distinguished Events Series put together by Wilson and Director of Educational Technology Services Debbie Chaffin.

“We picked it out of a list of possible programs from GM Artist,” Chaffin said. “We saw this program and took it to the president because we thought it would be an interest of students as well as the community.”

The Distinguished Events Series has been a part of the university’s performance calendar since 2005 and holds four events per academic year — two in the fall and two in the spring. The event has already drawn interest within the community and as such Chaffin and Wilson expect a promising turnout.

“We expect to be filled to capacity, and we’ve already received calls with buses of 100 students coming,” Chaffin said. “We aren’t selling tickets because it is a free event, but after the 1,759 tickets are gone, the doors will close.”

The program is free to the community for a few reasons.

“My son asked me why we were doing this for free,” Wilson said. “It’s because of the generous donations from those in the community who want to continue to see Distinguished Events bring something new to the community.”

Most of their working year the troupe is located in Branson, Mo., where they continue to win awards such as the Golden Key from the mayor and the Peace Award for their contribution through the arts.

The New Shanghai Circus is limited to two months of a travel time a year.

They will be in Decatur three days prior to their visit in Florence.

“This is really a unique opportunity to see the Asian aspect of art that many are not able to see again,” Chaffin said. “This is truly a gift from the university to the community for family and friends to enjoy a cultural experience.”