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Contortionism has been a tradition in Mongolia for
hundreds of years, and is a common act in Mongolian and Chinese
circuses. It was first performed as part of the traditional
Buddhist Tsam dances and has been incorporated into
many Mongolian plays. It has come to be considered as an art
rather than an acrobatic act, and famous contortionists become
national celebrities. |
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Pushy mothers and bendy daughters
The practitioners, usually young girls, are trained between
the ages of 7 and 14, and are considered as reaching their
peak between 14 and 25. Boys are also trained, and tend to
become trapeze artists, or the base figures of pyramids in
group gymnastic displays. Demand for girls is far higher.
Parents are often very encouraging of their daughters in this
profession, even pushy, as there is far more money to be made
in contortionism than almost any other career for a young
girl in Mongolia. American Idol contestants have nothing on
wannabe contortionists way out East!
To develop this kind of flexibility the girls follow a gruelling
regime of practice, several hours a day, six days a week,
to keep joints and ligament in good working condition, and
have to abide by a strict diet, to prevent them putting on
weight. The hardest challenge for these girls is to keep a
smile on their face - a sign of a skilled contortionist -
whilst twisting their bodies into amazing and unnatural positions,
which are a long way from comfortable. Contortionism is often
a family occupation, the skills being passed down from mother
to daughter, and with families travelling together as part
of the same circus.
National variations
This unusual gymnastic feat is popular throughout Mongolia
and China, but the two countries are said to differ in style.
In China the purpose is more to amaze the audience, to form
unusual shapes which often put high pressure on joints and
ligaments, whereas the Mongolian approach is more concerned
with smoothness of movements, femininity and a more balletic
style.
Where to see contortionists
Contortionists can be seen in travelling circuses around the
world, and at frequent shows all over Mongolia's capital Ulaan
Baatar. They are often part of the festivities at the
Nadaam Festival every July. If you want to see it in
its original form, traditional Tsam dances, religious
dances originally created to exorcise evil spirits, and banned
under Communism, are now performed outside the Manzushiri
Monastery In Undor Dov in the autumn. |
