Britney Spears Begins 'Circus' Tour with First Concert in 5 Years

Dressed as a sexy ringmaster and directing a colorful cast that included jugglers, acrobats and martial arts dancers, Britney Spears delivered a tightly choreographed, if perfunctory performance Tuesday night (March 3) as she kicked off her first concert tour in five years.

The 27-year-old pop superstar's "Circus" tour kicked off in her home state of Louisiana at the New Orleans Arena before a nearly sold-out crowd that cheered on their idol as she gyrated and slithered across the stage while singing some of her biggest hits, from the recent "Womanizer" to her first and now classic song, "Baby One More Time."

The show delivered one glitzy punch after another. During Circus, Spears dangled from the ceiling, singing as she sat perched on a circular ring. During another song, she is cut in half in a faux magician's act. In yet another, she sits atop a giant umbrella.

The fantasy doesn't stop there. The show also included military men in pink underwear, oversize cages, and birds.

Fans at the concert could barely contain their enthusiasm and took to the web from the concert, blasting out Twitter posts heralding Spears' return.