Britney Spears has begun her set of shows in Las Vegas with a performance that looks strikingly like the Cirque du Soleil productions found elsewhere on the Strip.

The debut of Spears's long-term casino gig on Friday kept an audience of about 4,500 on their feet for 90 minutes.

The spectacle included acrobatics, a ring of fire, confetti, a live band, frenetic costume changes and a frequently airborne Spears.

Spears, 32, has signed on to perform 50 shows each in 2014 and 2015 at the Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino.