December 02, 2008

By By Jonathan Cohen, N.Y.

As first tipped here in October, Britney Spears will embark on her first arena tour in five years next spring. The "Circus Starring Britney Spears" jaunt begins March 3 in New Orleans, with support from the Pussycat Dolls.

Spears will start rehearsals next month with longtime choreographer Wade Robson. In addition to the North American dates, which run through April 28 in Chicago, Spears will play London's O2 Arena on June 3-4.

The artist's new album, "Circus," is out today (Dec. 2) via Jive. First single "Womanizer" has already set a record for biggest jump to No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 after rocketing 96-1.

Here are Britney Spears' tour dates:

Mar. 3: New Orleans (New Orleans Arena)
Mar. 5: Atlanta (Philips Arena)
Mar. 7: Miami (American Airlines Arena)
Mar. 8: Tampa, Fla. (St. Pete Times Forum)
Mar. 11: Uniondale, N.Y. (Nassau Coliseum)
Mar. 13: Newark, N.J. (Prudential Center)
Mar. 16: Boston (TD Banknorth Garden)
Mar. 18: Toronto (Air Canada Centre)
Mar. 20: Montreal (Bell Centre)
Mar. 24: Washington D.C. (Verizon Center)
Mar. 26: Uncasville, Conn. (Mohegan Sun)
Mar. 27: Pittsburgh (Mellon Arena)
Mar. 30: Houston (Toyota Center)
Mar. 31: Dallas (American Airlines Center)
Apr. 2: Kansas City, Mo. (Sprint Center)
Apr. 3: Minneapolis (Target Center)
Apr. 6: Edmonton (Rexall Place)
Apr. 8: Vancouver (GM Place)
Apr. 9: Tacoma, Wash. (Tacomadome)
Apr. 11: Sacramento, Calif. (Arco Arena)
Apr. 12: San Jose, Calif. (HP Pavilion)
Apr. 14: Salt Lake City (Energy Solutions Arena)
Apr. 16: Los Angeles (Staples Center)
Apr. 19: Anaheim, Calif. (Honda Center)
Apr. 24: Glendale, Ariz. (Jobing.com Arena)
Apr. 25: Las Vegas (MGM Grand Garden)
Apr. 28: Chicago (Allstate Arena)

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