Introducing the remarkable contortionists of Cirque du Soleil's legendary Las Vegas Stage show, called "O."
Ladies in red —
Introducing the remarkable contortionists of Cirque du Soleil's legendary Las Vegas Stage show, called "O."
Courtesy Tomasz Rossa
The show has been running at the Bellagio Hotel and Casino for the last 15 years, featuring clowns, trapeze artists and contortionists.
Head over heels —
The show has been running at the Bellagio Hotel and Casino for the last 15 years, featuring clowns, trapeze artists and contortionists.
Courtesy Tomasz Rossa
The Cirque du Soleil contortionists train for up to three hours-a-day in preparation for their spectacular show.
Bending over backwards —
The Cirque du Soleil contortionists train for up to three hours-a-day in preparation for their spectacular show.
CNN
Of the show's 20 contortionists, almost all are women, and almost all hail from one country: Mongolia.
Behind the scenes —
Of the show's 20 contortionists, almost all are women, and almost all hail from one country: Mongolia.
CNN
"Mongolian contortion is globally competitive -- today many performers are working for Cirque du Soleil and other international circus companies," said Nomintuya Baasankhuu, Arts Program Director at the Arts Council of Mongolia.
World stage —
"Mongolian contortion is globally competitive -- today many performers are working for Cirque du Soleil and other international circus companies," said Nomintuya Baasankhuu, Arts Program Director at the Arts Council of Mongolia.
CNN
The road to circus stardom starts early in Mongolia, with children as young as five training up to three hours a day with organizations such as the Mongolian State Circus (pictured).
Child's play —
The road to circus stardom starts early in Mongolia, with children as young as five training up to three hours a day with organizations such as the Mongolian State Circus (pictured).
Natalie Behring-Chisholm/Getty Images/file
"In order to learn how to balance your body on your hands and on other people, you need to gain upper body strength. My homework used to be 300 push ups a day," said former contortionist Baasankhuu.
Strength, flexibility, balance —
"In order to learn how to balance your body on your hands and on other people, you need to gain upper body strength. My homework used to be 300 push ups a day," said former contortionist Baasankhuu.
Natalie Behring-Chisholm/Getty Images/file
While Mongolian contortion has some similarities with ancient folk dances and yoga poses, it really took off as a professional art form with the launch of the State Circus in the 1940s.
Magic Mongolians —
While Mongolian contortion has some similarities with ancient folk dances and yoga poses, it really took off as a professional art form with the launch of the State Circus in the 1940s.
Natalie Behring-Chisholm/Getty Images/file
"Training from an early age is a huge factor in their success. Nobody is naturally a contortionist in adulthood. This level of flexibility requires a regimented and focused long term training program, lasting years," said Tim Allardyce of the British Osteopathic Association.
No pain, no gain —
"Training from an early age is a huge factor in their success. Nobody is naturally a contortionist in adulthood. This level of flexibility requires a regimented and focused long term training program, lasting years," said Tim Allardyce of the British Osteopathic Association.
Natalie Behring-Chisholm/Getty Images/file
"It is so fluid and almost magical the way they can move their bodies. I think it is breathtaking," said Ria Martens, Cirque du Soleil artistic director.
Suspend belief —
"It is so fluid and almost magical the way they can move their bodies. I think it is breathtaking," said Ria Martens, Cirque du Soleil artistic director.
PETER PARKS/AFP/Getty Images/FILE