“It began with a… charming Chinese Pole act by Joey Heyworth. The dramaturgy was evident immediately, as Joey was not just showcasing his strength and tricks, but also being a bored janitor who fell in love with a mop and tried to impress her with his pole climbing prowess”
Joey the Pole Artist:
Like most of my circus training, I began climbing poles at the Spin Circus Academy in Australia. It seemed to fit perfectly into my brand: collecting strange skills that barely anyone does and few people can relate to. Since practicing with the roos I’ve trained at the Actors Gymnasium and Aloft Circus Arts in Chicago. Since moving to LA I’m beginning to suspect there’s only one Chinese pole in the whole city, at the remarkable Kinetic Theory (made with quality rubber and mobile if anyone is wondering).
No matter how inaccessible this apparatus is, I simply cannot get away. There’s something about assigning actor as sole independent variable in a performance, as opposed to other disciplines such as silks, trapeze and corde lisse, where there is additional movement made by the apparatus. The pole is static and therefore the entire story of the act rests in the movement of the artist. I find the pressure/worry/joy of sharing that story without the crutches of anything else is a challenge I revel in, whether its in movement, a monologue, or carrying a one man show.
