Dear Contortion Fans

Well a little about me.  My name is Clifton Gerry, III. I was Born and raised in Biddeford Maine, USA. When I was young my parents discovered me watching TV with my feet behind my head.  I went on to do acrobatics and tap dancing at a local dance school.  I was featured in numerous local newspapers and had segments on Evening Magazine and Fuji TV from Japan.  My father was my trainer. 

Unfortunately, what was depicted in all the newspapers and television was glossed over.  No one knew what happened behind the scenes.  I wanted to be the best acrobat and contortionist in the world.  My parents shared that dream also.  But that was where the similarities in our dream ended. Where my dream was to be the world's best, my parents' dream was for the money.  I had numerous performances throughout the span of when i was doing my contortions.  I saw nothing of the money.  I practiced before and after school about 6 hours a day total.  I didnt have days off or have any life.  The more I did, the more my dad demanded that I push myself more and more. 

I loved my contortions.  I never wanted to stop.  My father would force me to go beyond my limits on a daily basis.  It was publically said that I was naturally flexible...well that may be, but the pain that I went through on a daily basis was not natural.  Every picture everyone sees...I was in terrible pain.  Because of the constant pushing and grueling sessions I had every day, I developed a very high threshold for pain. 

My dream turned into a nightmare of epic proportions.  It got to the point that I said enough was enough.  My father has barely spoken to me as a son since I made my decision to leave the contortion world.  I actually began to despise contortions.  I realize it was wrong of me to hate the artform.  I admire contortions and I miss it greatly, but it sadly is a part of me that will never be again.

And I did not go to college as many of the stories on the contortion websites say.  That was another of my dreams that never happened.  That is another story entirely...same cast just different story line...

I want to thank all the people who have admired my legacy as a contortionist.  Even though That is a part of my life I have left behind, It is very flattering that I was admired by so many. I I was going to request that the pictures and videos be removed from all the websites I can find.  I have decided, after much soul searching, the let the photos stay.  My entire purpose when I was young was to leave a legacy of making people happy and to entertain people.

If I were to ask for the pictures to be removed...Id be destroying my own childhood dream.  Even though I can no longer do the contortions, my legacy is still intact.  And for that, I thank all of the fans that have seen my pictures over the years.

Thank You,

Clifton Gerry, III