Contortion Wiki

Also: Chinese Barrel, Racket routine

An act involving frontbends through a cylinder (sometimes externally styled as an open-ended barrel) sized to accommodate the performer.

This act usually does not involve backbending, but may involve splits.

A western variant uses an unstrung Tennis Racket - the racket's shorter length (as opposed to it's diameter) usually means the performer has to include more variations to supplement the length of the act. Emphasis may be placed on the diameter instead of frontbending.