LAURA LING: Cirque Du Soleil's show, Ka,

has been called the most lavish production

in the history of Western theater

and one of the most technologically

advanced shows in the world.

The show features stunts by performers

that seem to defy gravity and put everything at risk.

[APPLAUSE]

I mean, watching you, my jaw was on the floor.

I was holding my breath.

Is there a certain rush that you get being out there?

FRANCISCO ALEGRIA: We feel the adrenaline, you know?

When we come to the theater and when you hear the music

and you see the curtains open, and you're just ready.

You leave all your personal [? exploring ?] behind you.

NORIKO TAKAHASHI: People think my performance is not so hard,

but actually it's very hard.

It's like the bird on the water, like a swan.

It's very graceful.

But under the water, it's--

It is like that.

FRANCISCO ALEGRIA: It's just amazing.

There's nothing like it.

NORIKO TAKAHASHI: When the audience claps,

I feel I have done something great.

LAURA LING: Do you get nervous when you're up there?

NORIKO TAKAHASHI: Yes, I'm always nervous for 11 years.

People think you do the same thing every day,

but it's different.

GABRYEL NOGUEIRA DA SILVA: I get butterflies every time I

go through the curtain.

It's almost like I'm looking to myself from the audience.

It's risky, but I love what I do.

We love what we do.

LAURA LING: What are the risks?

What's the level of danger when you're up there?

FRANCISCO ALEGRIA: It's pretty high.

My brother and I, we are not attached to any safety

because you have to be free to be able to do your performance.

Anything could happen in the blink of an eye.

So you have to prepare physically, mentally

to do this kind of performance.

LAURA LING: Do people think you're

crazy that your job is performing in something

called "The Wheel of Death"?

FRANCISCO ALEGRIA: I think so, yeah,

because they scream sometimes when we're doing our routine.

LAURA LING: What you do on stage has to be so precise.

What is the preparation process like?

And what is your ritual to get ready?

GABRYEL NOGUEIRA DA SILVA: Well I have

many different little rituals.

One of the things I do is skipping rope.

I do also juggling balls.

I feel like that connects my brain to my body completely.

DAN HONG LI: I go to the training

room and doing warm up, my Tai Chi and then stretching.

And I started breathing, like at night, go like inhale

and then exhale.

Tai Chi gives me a clear mind and positive energy.

SABU ALEGRIA: We love playing football, all the time,

because we are running.

We sweat.

Every morning this is like in the Wheel.

You're running.

And sometime, you need to react quick.

GABRYEL NOGUEIRA DA SILVA: I also

do some of my capoeira moves.

And when there's other people warming up in the same room

as me, I try to play with them.

So I think that's the main goal of my ritual

is to be connected to the other people that are around me,

you know, so we can deliver the final results together.

LAURA LING: So it seems that for you, it's

preparation, preparation, preparation,

preparation every chance you get before you go up on stage.

You're going through your routine.

NORIKO TAKAHASHI: Yes, I knew that.

I can't just go.

If I can trust myself, I feel more free on the stage

and it makes my performance better.

DAN HONG LI: When I do my makeup, I

just totally, completely, like, relax and focus.

I think it's very important.

FRANCISCO ALEGRIA: When the curtains open

and you hear the music and you feel the people, you're ready.

You know, just automatically.

SABU ALEGRIA: You hear everything.

You go.

FRANCISCO ALEGRIA: You are just focusing

on what you are going to do.

LAURA LING: Isn't it hard to leave your stresses

at the door?

How do you do that?

DAN HONG LI: When you come on, then you

have to look forget everything.

LAURA LING: Because you've got spears thrown at you.

DAN HONG LI: Yes, spears--

[LAUGHTHER]

LAURA LING: What do you love most about what you do?

GABRYEL NOGUEIRA DA SILVA: Just the freedom

that you have on stage expressing yourself.

It's doing what you love most.

FRANCISCO ALEGRIA: We love the performance

because it makes you feel special when you're up there

and when you hear the people.

That's what is beautiful about it.

[INAUDIBLE] You love what you do.

GABRYEL NOGUEIRA DA SILVA: It's like challenging your body

to its max, you know, to see how far you can go with this.

SABU ALEGRIA: I'm from circus family.

I like the circus all my life.

Sometimes my wife says, you need to stop now.

I can't, I can't.

I think Cirque is my life.

LAURA LING: Be sure to watch this next episode, as President Obama's former speech writer talks about his rituals for writing under pressure.

DAVID LITT: We would write speeches knowing that there are people whose full-time job is to pick apart every single word the President says, and, sometimes, just to take things out of context.

And that can be incredibly intimidating.

LAURA LING: Thanks for watching, and please be sure to subscribe to Seeker Stories to see new videos every week.