Pirate pigs, Gloria Estefan songs and disco balls combine to inspire children's imaginations this weekend at the Bryce Jordan Center.

The widely successful children's television show Dora the Explorer will be bringing its songs and lessons in an interactive live show at 3 and 6 p.m. tomorrow.

"Kids love the show, and the cartoon itself is such a success," said Valerie Santiago, the actress who plays the main part of Dora in the live performances. "I'm like The Beatles to the kids."

The show, titled "Dora's Pirate Adventure!," is based on the DVD and video released about Dora the Explorer, said Amy Quinn, senior director of marketing for the tour. Quinn also said the performance will not only feature the characters on the television show, but the kids will get pirate flags when they enter allowing them to become pirates.

"It is really interactive and also educational," Quinn said. "It teaches about animals and features the familiar songs from the TV show, like Dora's theme song, 'Come On Vamanos,' and the backpack song."

Dora the Explorer the television show is about a Latina girl named Dora. Quinn said the live show is in English but teaches simple Spanish words.

The performance follows Dora and her friend, Boots, through their adventures to put on a pirate show using a treasure chest that has costumes and props. However, pirate pigs take their chest to an island because they believe treasure is in it. The show follows Dora and Boots' adventures to retrieve the chest and finally to invite the pirate pigs to a pirate party.

"Forgiveness is the moral of the story," Santiago said. "It teaches that even bullies can be nice, if you just give them a chance."

Quinn said her family enjoys the show.

"My daughter has seen it, and she just loves it," Quinn said. "It's the popularity of the show combined with the high caliber of this live show."

The performance will be held at the Bryce Theatre, which is a smaller, more intimate theater that is scaled back from the 15,000-foot arena of the Bryce Jordan Center, said Bernie Punt, director of sales and marketing.

"The show is very well received in this area, and everyone is excited about Dora coming," Punt said. "Both the show times are doing quite well, and only balcony seats are left."

The tour began Jan. 24 in Portsmouth, Va., and will continue until July, with a total of about 80 shows, Quinn said.

"A lot of venues are already being sold out," Santiago said. "We have about 10 shows average per week."

Although this is a children's show, the sets, costumes, lighting and sounds are all from Broadway, Santiago said.

"My mom is a kindergarten teacher, so I've always loved kids," Santiago said. "I love just seeing the reaction on their faces and the energy of the crowd. It always feels like the first time performing."

Most of the children attending the shows are very smart and will already know the answers to any questions, Santiago said.

"The audience is always on top of their game," Santiago said. "It is their first theatrical experience."

The finale, which is the song "Get On Your Feet" by Gloria Estefan, is placed in a pirate theme park, featuring stream lights, disco balls, a treasure chest, a rollercoaster, a Ferris wheel and a pirate ship, Santiago said.

"The kids just go crazy and rush the stage," she said. "Once there was a little girl in the front row holding up a homemade poster that said 'We love Dora.' It was such a rush."

For children's shows such as this, there is always a matinee show, Punt said. He said the 3 p.m. show is very popular.

"Children, parents, grandparents, baby sitters -- they are all part of the show," Punt said. "For children, this is like a Rolling Stones concert."