With dreamlike sequences interspersed with high-powered athleticism, “O” Cirque du Soleil at Bellagio has been mesmerizing Las Vegas show audiences since 1998. There are several Cirque du Soleil shows in Las Vegas, each offering a different theme and mood.  The centerpiece of the “O” Cirque du Soleil Bellagio show is the 1.5 million gallon pool. The pool is an engineering marvel that blends seamlessly with the stage floor and sets the show apart from other Las Vegas shows. The Franco Dragone written and directed Las Vegas show begins with two clowns winding their way through the audience to the stage. These aren’t your normal slapstick or scary circus clowns, however. These clowns seem a bit melancholy and in a bit of a predicament because they are surrounded by water. They offer a bit of light relief throughout the show. Even though there are clowns in this Las Vegas show, it’s apparent that this is no ordinary circus; there’s not an animal to be seen in the entire show. As the house lights dim and the curtain raises, synchronized swimmers plunge from dizzying heights above the stage into the enormous pool. It’s easy enough to forget there’s a pool in the Las Vegas show, as the show engineers have managed to eliminate the chlorine smell and pool drainage sounds from the production. It’s hard to tell when the moving floor gives way to the pool and vice versa. Throughout the show, show ticket holders find themselves breathless as the performers dive in the water with incredible force and grace. A giant ghost ship hovers in the air as divers perform incredible stunts mid-air. Carousel horses high in the air are slowly submerged in water with riders astride. As the red-cassock clad performers are submerged in the water, their faces don’t change expression and their bodies remain completely still. The effect is dazzling and audience members are left wondering:   “Am I in a dream, or have I fallen into a work of art?” The show is made up of 85 performers including acrobats, synchronized swimmers, divers, actors, singers, musicians, dancers, and clowns who perform on stage and above it. Even though this Las Vegas show takes place twice nightly five nights a week, it’s still mind boggling how the show performers manage to maintain such precision in their performances. Down to the smallest detail, this Las Vegas show amazes from beginning to end. The costumes are not only engineering marvels that act and look like a second skin and dry quickly, but the average Las Vegas audience members finds it hard to determine where the costume ends and the dazzling makeup begins. The opulent theater, cast in rich reds, golds, and blue tones, was created specifically for the “O” Cirque du Soleil Las Vegas show.  It is proscenium style, which basically means that just about every seat is a good seat. Where did the name of this Las Vegas show originate? Here’s a hint: The French word for water is eau. Give up? It’s pronounced “oh.”