A native of Bulgaria, Andrey Mantchev started gymnastics at age six. A career in the circus seemed far-fetched, but in 1997, when he was fourteen, Andrey was spotted by the head of the Boichanovi Teeterboard Troupe who was looking for a lightweight acrobat to be catapulted to the top of their human pyramids. He joined the troupe and traveled to the United States, where he made his first appearance at the Big Apple Circus in Bello and Friends in 1999. While the rest of his troupe returned home, Andrey stayed behind and became a resident company member of the Big Apple Circus. He continues to wow the crowd with his acrobatic,balancing and high-flying acts!