TL20071112-01 "www.thetowerlight.com Published by and for the students of Towson and Baltimore -- twice-weekly Monday Now on TheTowerlight.com: View video of the Pom Squad�s performance during Saturday�s football game halftime show... Kristofer Marsh/The Towerlight Freshman Shelly Guy, 19, performs regularly as a contortion artist in the region. She has traveled to the Bahamas for shows and will be performing in Hong Kong in December. Stretching, bending perceptions Contortion artist freshman Shelly Guy stretches and flexes into seemingly impossible positions Krysten Appelbaum Senior Editor It�s not every day that one person�s hobby will make others cringe. But for freshman Shelly Guy, bending, flexing and contorting her body into seemingly impossible positions is a passion. Guy, 19, began her journey to becoming a con-tortion artist at a young age, starting gymnastics at age 6. She switched to rhythmic gymnastics four years later, and worked her way through com-petitions, eventually being ranked 19th in the nation at age 15. �I started out not being able to even do a split, but after years and years of training and stretch-ing I became very flexible,� the elementary education major said. After breaking her foot twice in one summer, Guy had to stop competing, but she took the challenge in stride and looked for new ways to continue her calling. �I couldn�t rank anymore because I had been out of practice for a while. So I was like, alright, let�s see what else is out there,� she said. �I had seen Cirque Du Soleil and other shows similar to that, and I realized wow, I�m flexible enough to do those kinds of things. So I decided to go for it.� Now Guy has several shows under her belt, having performed at several corporate events, the Kennedy Center, the Verizon Center during a halftime show of a Washington Wizards game, and placed second at Towson�s Housing and Residence Life�s talent show Nov. 7. Doing the splits and bending her back so her feet rest under her chin garners Guy unusual looks, but she said she is used to it. �There are a lot of different reactions. There is totally amazed. People will be like �Oh my god, I can�t believe what she�s doing,�� she said. �There are others who are grossed out by it, who turn their heads away, but yet they can�t take their eyes off me. They keep looking back.� She also said she is no stranger to jokes and sexual innuendos from guys who watch her perform. �Boys will be boys, right? I don't think they can help themselves,� she said. �But I don't mind. I usually just joke back. I've worked up some pretty good comebacks.� Guy admitted that her moves are unique and isn�t surprised by the reactions she gets. �I guess my weirdest move is I can sit on my See ARTIST, page 15 The Towerlight Nov. 12, 2007 Men�s basketball tops Loyola, 83-69 Sports, page 24 Housing seeks names for West Village halls News, page 7 "
