12 June 2019

A twist on the tale 'The Wizard of Oz'

Submitted by: Tammy Gerber
A twist on the tale 'The Wizard of Oz'

A Feast of Flight’s third annual pole dance production presents a twist on the classic “The Wizard of Oz”, as we follow Doug on a journey to complete transformation after running for number one spot in the Emerald City Drag Race. This July join Doug on a trip down the yellow brick road and meet all the weird and wonderful characters he runs into along the way.

From his encounters with the Scarecrow, the Tinman and the Cowardly Lion, to Glinda the Diva of Oz, the Wicked Witch and the Wizard; Doug experiences a new lease on life when he realises his true self, Doris. A Feast of Flight is a one of a kind extravaganza created and produced by The Pole Project (in Woodstock), presented in collaboration with instructors and students from numerous studios around the city: AIR Fitness Studio (in Bellville), Pole Dance Cape Town (in the CBD), Vertical Secrets (in Table View) and Wild Pole Flow Movement (in Bergvliet).

The first of its kind, A Feast of Flight 2017 was a contemporary play on Lewis Caroll’s Alice in Wonderland, where we followed Alistair down a rabbit hole of dubious choices and bad influences until he eventually slayed his "jabberwocky" demons. In 2018, we met the peculiar confectionary maven, Willy Wonka and his famous Oompa Loompas as we followed five competitors battling it out to be the new “face” of the brand.

This year’s show is set to be just as fabulous as years past and the storyline just as quirky. Director of A Feast of Flight and owner of The Pole Project, Kathy Lee, says; There’s no shortage of familiar classic stories and fairy tales to choose from when we start conceptualising a theme.

The trick is to choose a storyline that can be updated to be made more accessible and relevant to a modern-day audience, but that’s also fun and creative to keep the audience enthralled. This year, ‘The Wizard of Oz’ came to mind”. “Of course, every production has its challenges. Trying to bring a story to life through dance and costumes alone is not an easy task.

Then it’s trying to coordinate routines and intense practice sessions between five different studios and performers who are just everyday individuals with full-time jobs. I believe that it is our extreme passion and determination that allows us to produce such a professional production year after year”, Lee continues.

Of the growing contribution of studios from across the city Lee says, “A Feast of Flight was essentially created in order to promote and showcase the artistic and athletic side of pole dance, because not many people regard the art form as such. And it was an opportunity for our students to show off their strength and abilities in front of a captivated audience. However, the event has grown to such an extent that we now have a number of studios on board that share the same vision. The fact that we have other studios expressing an interest in taking part each year is a real testament to the ever-expanding pole dance community and to what we’ve created”.

A Feast of Flight: Doris and the Wizard of Oz will take place on Friday, 26 and Saturday, 27 July from 7pm at the Joseph Stone Auditorium, corner of Protea and Klipfontein Roads in Athlone. Tickets for the event cost R255 per person and can be bought via Quicket (https://qkt.io/doris). Drinks and snacks will be on sale at the event. There will be secure parking provided around the Stadium. The show contains adult themes and parental guidance is advised.

Follow the event on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/events/2231347646955118/ or follow The Pole Project on Facebook @The Pole Project, Twitter @thepoleproject and Instagram @thepoleproject.

For more information contact The Pole Project on 021 461 0215, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or visit www.thepoleproject.co.za.