American circuses have changed tremendously since the days when the famed Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus was the “Greatest Show on Earth,” but the breathtaking performances of acrobats, jugglers and contortionists and dramatic antics of professional clowns are as entertaining as ever.

Honolulu gets a rare chance to experience live circus entertainment this weekend when the Super American Circus comes to town for eight shows in the Blaisdell Arena.

Star of the show is “comic daredevil” Bello Nock, a seventh-­generation circus performer whose career accomplishments include hanging from a helicopter over the Statue of Liberty, rappelling down Madison Square Garden, making a high-wire walk over the Rose Bowl Stadium in Pasadena and conducting eight hours of media interviews while balancing on a high wire over Times Square.

Nock will be joined by a colorful assortment of daredevil acrobats, motorcycle trick riders, jugglers and illusionists.

Among the colorful and impressive performers: a man who simultaneously runs and skips rope while blindfolded; an acrobat who performs with a trampoline; and a man who juggles and does handstands while simultaneously balancing on a flat board that is balanced on a cylinder.

CIRCUS VETERAN Cornell “Tuffy” Nicholas is the ringmaster. Nicholas was born into a circus family at the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus headquarters camp in Florida; his father was the lead ringmaster, and his mother was a bear trainer.

Hawaii knows Nicholas as the producer of the Cirque Hawaii show that ran in the old IMAX Theatre on Lewers Street from 2005 through 2008, and for his open air “Aloha Live” circus/Polynesian show that ran on the Queen Kapiolani lanai for several months in 2013.

Nicholas says he’s looking forward to once again entertaining Hawaii “children of all ages” with his latest collection of top-class performers this weekend.

“The satisfaction knowing that you have created something that is not only successful but also brings happiness to people from all around the world is very rewarding,” he stated in a circus press release.

Pre-show and intermission activities include bounce houses, face painting, a giant slide, an obstacle course and photo ops with circus performers and actors portraying the Disney characters Maui and Moana.

AT A GLANCE

>> What it’s about: A modern “one-ring circus”

>> Kid-pleaser aspects: Clowns, acrobats, jugglers and assorted daredevils

>> Age recommendation: All ages