Cirque Phenix has brought together award-winning circus acts from festivals around the globe under an enormous big top arena on the outskirts of Paris for a modern variation on a traditional theme. Extra: Les Etoiles du Monde offers everything you would expect from a circus, plus 3D tech to avoid using live animals, and one very much alive blond hunk that makes everybody’s heart race with his acrobatic stunts.

23-year-old Dima Shine puts on a stunning show of strength in a graceful pole balancing routine during which he appears at one point to defy gravity by striding effortlessly around a pole at 90 degrees, held up only by his arms. Last Friday, the Russian World champion and multiple gold-medalist in acrobatics appeared on French TV for a quick demo. Hit the gallery for the screenies. And below is the video of his famous pole routine.

One more thing: his real name is Dmitry Bulkin — sounds much better than his scene name, wethinks.

Cirque Phenix