Cirque du Soleil is delivering a jolt of energy to the Bay Area this season as its newest big-top production, ECHO, opens in San Francisco's Mission Bay, near Oracle Park.

Performers say the excitement begins long before the audience enters the tent. Teeterboard artist Jerome Hugo said the preparation behind the show comes with its share of risk.

"We have a lot of practice to arrive there, (teeterboarding), but yeah, sometimes it's really risky, so sometimes it's scary to do stuff," Hugo said.

That edge is part of what keeps him devoted to the craft. Diagnosed with ADHD as a child, Hugo said the circus became the ideal outlet for his energy.

"When I was a kid, I was really hyperactive, and I ran everywhere. I needed to move," he said. "A circus school had just opened near my house in Switzerland. And I went there and I just really loved it. It has helped me to stay focused on something."

Cirque du Soleil's return brings more than spectacle to San Francisco; it continues to fuel the local economy. Nightly performances draw thousands into the 2,500-seat Big Top near Oracle Park, boosting foot traffic and business in the Mission Bay neighborhood.

Kevin Albert, a spokesperson for Cirque du Soleil, said ECHO stands apart from the company's past productions.

"Cirque du Soleil ECHO is the newest show of Cirque du Soleil. It's the newest big top production, so it's very modern," Albert said. "We really wanted to go to a simplistic way of telling a story. There's a lot less props. It's very streamlined, very modern, very contemporary, and the focus is on the artists themselves."

For artists like Hugo, performing before full Bay Area crowds makes every nerve-wracking moment worth it.

"The adrenaline, the audience, when you land the tricks, and you have a good reaction from the audience, it's really good for the feeling," he said.

ECHO is scheduled to run in San Francisco through Jan. 18.