History Main / Contortionist

* An early episode of ''WesternAnimation/BeavisAndButthead'' had the two visiting the circus, and seeing one of these in the show. They visit her in her tent, and she reveals to them that she's double jointed. She's also a prostitute on the side, so she asks the boys what they like. Not getting her meaning, Butt-Head asks if she can pick her butt with her nose.[[/folder]]

[[folder:Film]]

Contortionists are circus performers whose act mainly revolves around bending themselves like pretzels. Occasionally, they will incorporate other things into their act such as spinning Hula hoops on an up stretched leg or shooting bows with toes while bend over backward.

While not required, many acts involving rope climbing and or elevated dangling from aerial silk, tissue, The Spanish Web, aerial hoops and corde lisse frequently involve contortion as well. More mundane sets much just give the performer a chair or have a strong man hold them up.

Also see WorldsStrongestMan and {{Clown}}, other circus acts which sometimes go hand in hand with this one. {{Circus brat}}s are also natural companions. For more fantastic stretches not usually seen in this performance art, see AbnormalLimbRotationRange and RubberMan.

* The Elongated Man has full-on RubberMan powers, but originally was fascinated with "India Rubber Men", a type of contortionist common in circuses and sideshows of the time. He discovered that many of them favored a drink named Gingold, created a concentrated version of it, and gained powers.

* An episode of ''WesternAnimation/{{Rugrats}}'' had Phil and Lil's mom fix up a date between a friend of hers who was a contortionist and Chuckie's dad. The contortionist appears in the episode walking on her hands. The following episode, Chuckie's dad tells his son that he is going on another date and says that the lady "will not walk on her hands this time".[[/folder]]

* Heidie Lovelace's {{red baron}} is the "Punk Rock Rag Doll" for a reason. Don't ever make the assumption she's out of it.

* Wrestling/DaffneyUnger was described as one by commentator Don West, after seeing all the submission moves that failed to put her away. Amber O'Neal, who likes to show off by doing the splits, was taken aback by Daffney's displays of flexibility.

* As it grew out of carnivals, professional wrestling has always had contortionists amongst its ranks. Yes, even in the days it could have been considered a legit sport, and the rise of MixedMartialArts have only strengthened the notion that it is pretty hard to make a contortionist submit.

* Wrestling/DaffneyUnger was described as one by commentator Don West, after seeing all the submission moves that failed to put her away.

While not required, many acts involving rope climbing and or elevated dangling from Aerial silk, Tissu, The Spanish Web, Aerial Hoops and Corde lisse frequently involve contortion as well. More mundane sets much just give the performer a chair or have strong man hold them up.

* This is OVW wrestler Rebel's role in Wrestling/{{TNA}}'s [[CircusOfFear Menagerie]], which includes strong man The Freak and Crazy Steve the Clown. She often incorporates flaming objects into her routine but does not bring them into the Impact Zone, which has a history of fire trouble.[[/folder]]

* This is OVW wrestler Rebel's role in Wrestling/{{TNA}}'s Menagerie, which includes strong man The Freak and Crazy Steve the Clown. She often incorporates flaming objects into her routine but does not bring them into the Impact Zone, which has a history of fire trouble.[[/folder]]

* This is OVW wrestler Rebel's role in Wrestling/{{TNA}}'s Menagerie, which includes strong man The Freak and Crazy Steve the Clown. She often accompanies flaming objects into her routine but does not bring them into the Impact Zone, which has a history of fire trouble.[[/folder]]

* Back bender Wrestling/AJLee did a mild contortion demonstration for the NXT season three talent contest and commentator Matt Striker pointed out a lot of submissions probably were not as effective as they appeared to be on her.[[/folder]]

[[folder:Live acting TV]]

* Played supernaturally in two of ''Series/TheXFiles'' episodes featuring Eugene Victor Tooms: a serial killer with extreme contortionist ability, that allows him to squeeze through almost any opening to get to his victim.[[/folder]]

* Exaggerated in ''WesterAnimation/TheBatman'' where [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin Rag Doll]] is so good at this he can fit inside of a hat!

* Yun-seong from ''Videogame/SoulCaliburII'' is of the high kicking and over 180 degree split example. In fact, one of his victory poses is just him jumping into the air, doing the splits and landing in that position. There is an unlockable demonstration where he shows off (along with sword handling because it is a fighting game). Voldo is an even better example, who besides his own demonstration goes so far as to have a curled up {{rolling attack}} among his crazy multiple angled strikes.

* [[Wrestling/BlackRose La Rosa Negra]] put on a demonstration for a referee at Fighting Evolution Wrestling trying to check her person for concealed weapons.

!Examples.

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While not ''required'', many acts involving rope climbing and or elevated dangling from Aerial silk, Tissu, The Spanish Web, Aerial Hoops and Corde lisse frequently involve contortion as well. More mundane sets much just give the performer a chair or have strong man hold them up.

* A ''Dilbert'' strip involves a contortionist trying to make a car accident Dilbert caused look worse than it really was by attempting to make himself look mangled.
* ''Comicbook/{{Spider-man}}'' an oft overlooked part about Spider-man is that he used to be a performer and painful looking contortions are second nature to him. (This is overlooked because of his {{professional wrestling}} stint) He's predominately shown to be a front bender when people remember.
* Rag Doll was originally a foe of Jay Garrick, the Golden Age Flash, who used his contortionist abilities to imitate a lifeless dummy in his first crime...and just kept the disguise as his costume. His eventual children inherited varying levels of his contortionist abilities--the Rag Doll who was a member of the Secret Six "cheated" by having surgery done to increase his flexibility.