Editing Contortion (section)

{{Short description|Performance art using skills of extreme physical flexibility}}
{{About|the performance art}}
{{redirect|Contortionist|the band|The Contortionist}}
{{more citations needed|date=December 2012}}
[[File:Contorsionist.jpg|thumb|150px|Contortionist performing]]
[[File:001 Contortion MARIA EFREMKINA.JPG|alt=Purple contortionist|thumb|150px|Contortionist Maria Efremkina performing in 2010.]]
'''Contortion''' (sometimes '''contortionism''') is a performance art in which performers called '''contortionists''' showcase their skills of extreme physical flexibility. Contortion acts often accompany [[acrobatics]], [[Circus (performing art)|circus]] acts, street performers and other live performing arts. Contortion acts are typically performed in front of a live audience. An act will showcase one or more artists performing a choreographed set of moves or poses, often to music, which require extreme [[flexibility (anatomy)|flexibility]]. The physical flexibility required to perform such acts greatly exceeds that of the general population. It is the dramatic feats of seemingly inhuman flexibility that captivate audiences.