Madonna Practices Tightroping in Tour Rehearsals

We're just a week away from the release of Madonna's new 'MDNA' album, but Her Madgeness isn't sitting around waiting for the record to hit shelves -- as always, she's on to the next thing, and that means preparing for her 2012 world tour by sharpening her tightroping skills.

As you no doubt recall, Madonna's Super Bowl halftime show featured some memorable tightrope routines, and it looks like she'll be carrying at least some of that vibe over to her tour. Thanks to some behind-the-scenes photos posted at her Facebook page, we know Madonna's been working with choreographers to perfect some sort of highwire act (and she has the bruises to prove it).

Madonna's tour kicks off May 29 in Tel Aviv before running through a packed itinerary that will see her visiting Canada, South America, and more than 25 cities in Europe -- as well as performing in Australia for the first time in 20 years. And that's all just the opening act -- Madonna's U.S. dates begin August 28, when she visits Philadelphia.

'MDNA,' Madonna's 12th studio album, marks the first release under her deal with Live Nation and Interscope after nearly 30 years with Warner Bros. Records. The first single, 'Give Me All Your Luvin',' reached the Billboard Top 10, while the second single, 'Girl Gone Wild,' is already a Top 20 dance hit.