Hope Evans, Gleaner Writer

When Omar 'Lasketman' Harriet performs, jaws drop. Applause also breaks out and flashing lights from camera clicks capture his mind-boggling body magic.

Journeyman Omar Harriet can twist and turn his body in ways that seemingly defy the laws of human biomechanics.

Born and raised in Spanish Town, St Catherine, he has been travelling around the island with his one-man act for 20 years, displaying his gymnastic and body-bending skills since he was a teenager.

Most contortionists either perform front-bending or back-bending skills, depending on the direction of their spine. However, Harriet, an anomaly in his own right, can do both. He can also do the splits and oversplits, a split of more than 180 degrees.

However, his most popular tricks are what he calls the human knot (pretzel body formation), the African strategy (lifting body off of the ground with arms while resting legs over shoulders), and the chukka chukka belly (an extreme body/belly roll). Harriet appreciates his limber style.

"My flexibility is a gift from God," he said. "I enjoy making people smile."

His friends and family are supportive of his act. He said they tell him what he is doing is good entertainment. Sometimes that hard work pays off but a career as a contortionist is unpredictable and during those slow times it is discouraging to press on, Harriet said. At times, the income he makes is plentiful; other times, donations are next to nothing. Such uncertainty forces Harriet to ply his other skills as a woodwork furniture designer and construction worker.

His father, now living in the United States, was once a musician and a dancer. Harriet believes his gymnastic and contortionistic skills are hereditary, although his siblings were not blessed with the "double-jointed gene". He is the only child who can twist his body into unbelievable positions like his father.

Harriet said he intended to continue making people joyful with his flexibility performances.

"I love making people happy in the name of the Father, and in the land of the red, green and gold," he said.

Though he is enamoured with his birthplace and equally excited to bring a smile to native faces, Harriet would like to go regional with his act. The Cayman Islands and Barbados are within his line of sight. He also wishes to conduct his one-man carnival in England and other overseas destinations.

hope.evans@gleanerjm.com