"INFERNO: A Fire Circus" at the Crucible this weekend is hard to describe without using hyphens.

Performing with ballet-precision, 15 members of the 26-member L.A. circus troupe, Lucent Dossier, will fill the West Oakland stage with aerialists, dancers, contortionists and fire-artists. To tally, they are known for vaudeville-style, avant-garde, electro-dub, burlesque-flavored circus shows. 

Among the feats, 14 fire canons will surround the stage as sirens and fallen angels move about hypnotically.

In its second year at the The Crucible, the fire spectacular plans to give Oaklanders their fire fix by increasing the amount of fire used over last years show and by adding "four to five full bars" said Jennifer Harrity, Marketing Coordinator. Last year’s show followed a 1920’s cabaret, art deco theme.

As part of the Crucible’s annual Fire Arts Festival in July, "INFERNO: A Fire Circus" follows the Sixth annual Fire & Light Soirée and Art Auction, which is nearly sold out according to Harrity. Both events raise funds for industrial art classes and educational programs at The Crucible.

Should mature audiences find that the three-act show loosely based on Dante’s inferno has not fully taken them to fiery depths, or for those guests with ADD, sideshows featuring glass blowing, sword making and fire dancing will roam the 30,000 square foot event space.

And to ensure a "Yes, please touch the art component," there will be fiery circus games including Flaming Skee Ball, Pyro Putt, High Strike or the Incinerator. Capping the night, the Crucible has set up various demos including a sword making demonstration by the site blacksmith and glass blowing demonstrations.

Dream Rockwell, artistic director, has said of their previous shows, "We will stretch the boundaries of what is possible for a rock concert or a circus or a sacred ritual, for the show melts the three elements into one.”

Advanced tickets for "INFERNO: A Fire Circus" are on sale at www.thecrucible.org. The price is $50 for Friday night and $55 for Saturday night. Tickets purchased at the event are $60. Discounts are available for Crucible members. For more information about these events, call (510) 250-3687 or visit thecrucible.org.

The Crucible is a San Francisco Bay Area industrial arts educational facility that specializes in instruction in the fine and industrial arts to people at all skill levels. 

If You Go

INFERNO: A Fire Circus

When: 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday, July 15-16

Where:  The Crucible, 1260 Seventh St. in Oakland

Details: (510) 250-3687 or visit thecrucible.org