Kovgar Troupe

Teeterboard

By Dominique Jando

Born in Russia, Andrey Kovgar is a former gymnastics champion who, like many of his Russian counterparts, transitioned to the circus when his competition days were over. He learned his trade with the famous Russian teeterboardA seesaw made of wood, or fiberglass poles tied together, which is used to propel acrobats in the air. troupe of Viacheslav Chernevsky. It was as a member of the Chernevsky Troupe that he became the first acrobat ever to achieve, while standing on a single stilt, a triple somersault on the teeterboardA seesaw made of wood, or fiberglass poles tied together, which is used to propel acrobats in the air..

In 2000, at the Circus Nikulin Studio in Moscow, Kovgar created his own teeterboardA seesaw made of wood, or fiberglass poles tied together, which is used to propel acrobats in the air. troupe, bringing together various other former competition gymnasts, some of whom were Olympic medalists. The act, choreographed by Irina Voevodina, was originally called "Freilix." It immediately won a Golden Lion at the International Circus Festival of Wuqiao, China, in 2001.

When Dominique Mauclair selected the Kovgar Troupe to participate in the Festival Mondial du Cirque de Demain in Paris, he noted the Jewish musical atmosphere of the act and suggested they incorporate this theme into the act's visual elements. As a result, the costumes were redesigned in the style of Marc Chagall's paintings of old Russia's Jewish heritage, and the choreography was redone to add a distinctly Jewish tone.

The Kovgar Troupe's revamped teeterboardA seesaw made of wood, or fiberglass poles tied together, which is used to propel acrobats in the air. act was the revelation of the 2002 Festival Mondial du Cirque de Demain, where it won the Gold Medal. Two years later, it won a Silver Clown at the International Circus Festival of Monte-Carlo. Today, the Kovgar Troupe is considered to be among the greatest teeterboardA seesaw made of wood, or fiberglass poles tied together, which is used to propel acrobats in the air. acts of all time. It has appeared in some of the world's leading circuses, including Circus Knie in Switzerland, Circus Carré in Amsterdam, the Big Apple Circus in the United States, and of course, Circus Nikulin in Moscow.

As a "second act," the Kovgar Troupe also presents a high-energy jump-rope act.

See Also

• Video: The Kovgar Troupe, Teeterboard Act, in the Big Apple Circus production of Picturesque (2004)
• Video: The Kovgar Troupe, Jump Rope Act, in the Big Apple Circus production of Celebrate (2007)
• Video: The Kovgar Troupe, Teeterboard Act, in the Big Apple Circus production of Celebrate (2007)

Photo Gallery

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  The Kovgar Troupe at the Cirque d'Hiver, Paris (2002)

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  The Kovgar Troupe at the Big Apple Circus (2004)