In their native Bulgaria, “Icarus” is the fabled Greek who tempted fate by flying perilously close to the sun. The “Ikar” is also the name of a prestigious prize for circus excellence in Bulgaria, which the troupe won. In either case, it seems an apt image for these ten superb athletes who soar as high as 25 feet before double and triple somersaulting onto the shoulders of their stacked-up colleagues.

Teeterboard maneuvers demand a variety of skills, and it’s no surprise the Ikar team is a blend of backgrounds. Some are gymnasts and acrobats; others were gathered from the worlds of classical ballet, swimming, wrestling and weightlifting. “It takes a long time to shape up an act like this,” says Encho Enev. “Every one of us, no matter what our role, simply must be operating at one hundred percent.” As for their flamboyant exhibition of jump roping, “We wanted to include a note of sheer fun, to capture the feeling of kids having a great time just playing,” adds Encho.