What happens when the fantastical world of James Cameron's sci-fi epic "Avatar" collides with the avant-garde spectacle of Cirque du Soleil? You get "Toruk - The First Flight," a splashy arena show that's coming to Portland this December.

"Toruk," which is based on Cameron's 2009 Oscar-winning film, will be presented in seven performances Dec. 7-11 at the Moda Center. Advance tickets are currently on sale for members of the Cirque Club. Regular tickets, which run from $34 to $110, go on sale at 10 a.m. Friday, Aug. 12, and can be purchased at https://www.cirquedusoleil.com/toruk.

To get access to the pre-sale, ticket buyers need to sign up online for free Cirque Club membership, which also guarantees first crack at tickets to future company engagements here.

"Toruk" was created in 2015 by Michel Lemieux and Victor Pilon, and transports theatergoers to the world of Pandora, populated by the Na'vi. The action takes place 3,000 years before the events in "Avatar," and is focused on the other-worldly creatures and natives depicted in the film, and the connection between all living things.

The production features elaborate costumes, projections, puppets and flying kites designed to create an immersive experience for the audience, sort of like if you could jump from your 3D glasses directly into the world of "Avatar."

Here's a taste of what the show is like:

-- Grant Butler

503-221-8566; @grantbutler