When you think of contortionists, images of circus performers (perhaps a la Cirque du Soleil) likely come to mind. The bending, twisting, and stretching seem impossible — and never fail to mesmerize.

SEATTLE — Peter Amelia is a trapeze artist and contortionist with Seattle’s Versatile Arts and Arcadia circus schools. "Increasing flexibility has just changed my life so dramatically," Peter said.

In order to travel around the world, Jacki Ward had to bend over backward. Ward, a contortionist for the past five years, has turned her passion for the art form into a $25,000 fellowship that will ...

In this challenge, contortion moves test flexibility and creative control.

“A lot of people think that my pictures are actually Photoshopped,” said Montgomery resident Bella Kash. It’s easy to see why. Kash, who is from Bronx, New York, is a dancer, contortionist and ...