Cirque Du Soleil has been mesmerising audiences young and old all around the world and as a long time fan, I was keen to check out one of their seven permanent shows in Las Vegas. I knew I wasn’t likely to be disappointed by any of them but given one should walk on the wicked side while in Vegas, I chose Zumanity, Cirque Du Soleil’s only adult-oriented show (showing at New York – New York Hotel & Casino).

Zumanity, described as “the Sensual Side of Cirque du Soleil,” combines the usual amazing range of acrobatics with seduction, and a good pinch of adults-only fun. It opened in 2003 but as any fan of Cirque Du Soleil would attest, their shows are timeless and the dynamic energy of the troupe keeps them fresh and exciting. Zumanity is certainly no exception and especially given its naughty theme, it’s probably never going to date unlike some Andrew Lloyd Webber musicals.

As you take your seat, you become familiar with the Cirque Du Soleil stage layout; a huge performance area with seats all around, affording everyone a very good view of the action. There are comedic actors keeping the earlybird audience amused with their antics as per other Cirque shows, but instead of clowns you get Dick and Izzy, the in-show sex therapists. This over-the-top duo are quite liberal with brandishing sex toys, much to the embarrassment of some audience members who probably didn’t think Cirque Du Soleil could get so bawdy.

Once the actual show begins, you are introduced to hostess Edie, Mistress of Seduction who is a tour-de-force drag show all on her own. She promises a night of open-minded and sensual entertainment and I can attest that you are not disappointed. Stunning African dancing gets your pulses racing before leading you into the first acrobatic act; two very flexible nude ladies in a huge glass bowl of water. It was a very visually captivating performance.

I’d rather not be a spoiler and give a blow-by-blow account of the entire show but you can certainly expect a lot of mid-air acrobatics, silk rope work, and a very healthy amount of nudity. The performers aren’t shy about stripping down but given how amazing their bodies are they certainly don’t need to be. Ladies will be happy to know that there is an act involving the resident beefcake to get them hot and bothered.

Towards the end of the show there is an act called ‘Gentle Orgy’ where all the performers of Zumanity come out to simulate a bit of group loving on a rotating platform, which is an absolutely gorgeous feast for the eyes and senses. You start feeling like a bit of a voyeur but before you get too fixated, Mistress Edie breaks the trance with some audience participation fun.

Zumanity is best described as part cabaret and part burlesque with a whole lot of sexy giggles in between. It’s also an exploration of human sexuality/sensuality in its many forms and you’re left with a feeling of being uninhibited. Zumanity is definitely a hot show to enjoy with your partner in deviousness so if you find yourself in Vegas one day, do check it out.

Polyamory is often misconstrued as a form of swinging but true polyamorists would certainly argue that this is not the case at all. Whereas the focus of swinging is recreational sex between couples who are otherwise in committed, monogamous relationships, the focus of polyamory is developing a deep and committed relationship with more than one person. Also, unlike in an open relationship, a polyamorist does not generally have a primary partner and treats each significant other equally. Polyamory requires an environment of trust and honesty where all parties are fully aware of the existence of the others. For example, if a person cannot attend a social function with both partners, then that person is not in a polyamorous relationship.

So what is the advantage of being in a polyamory relationship over being a swinger or being in an open relationship? Firstly, as mentioned previously, polyamory is not just about sex. For people who have felt that they could have a strong emotional attachment to more than one person, this form of human connection can provide an avenue to spread the love further. In turn, you would have more than one significant other that loves and cares for you which may satisfy the sort of personality that thrives on affection. Whereas swinging and open relationships highlight the physical need for people to play outside the boundary of their otherwise monogamous relationship, polyamory caters to the emotional need, or desire, to accept multiple partners. In a polyamorous relationship, whether sex is had by all parties is immaterial.On the other hand, even the most seasoned swinger would probably balk at the idea of allowing an emotional connection to transpire between his or her partner and another person.

In the world of swinging, anything goes sexually but the slightest hint of misguided intimacy can cause major rifts between couples. Polyamorous couples experience no such problems with intimacy provided all parties are honest with one another. Therefore, perhaps polyamory is the ultimate level of sharing, giving love freely and existing without jealousy.Is polyamory for you though? If you’re currently in a traditional, monogamous relationship and cannot imagine forming an intimate relationship with another person, and allow your partner to do the same, then probably not. While most people can grasp the concept of separating love and sex, and many can happily engage in the swinging lifestyle, polyamory does require a completely different mindset.

Our society does still view monogamy, at least on the emotional level, as being the norm, and indeed some people may perceive polyamory as being too radical or ’hippy’ to contemplate as a mainstream lifestyle choice. In fact though, polyamory is practiced by people from all walks of life. Some may view polyamory as irresponsible and merely an attempt at having your cake and eating it. In fact, being polyamorous requires an extraordinary ability to be selfless, which is probably the main reason why our increasingly ’me’ oriented society can’t readily grasp this concept. It’s certainly food for thought.