Fire On The Pole

In recent years the art of pole dancing has undergone quite a transformation as it’s emerged from seedy bars and gentlemen’s clubs. Pole dancing is now appreciated for its health and fitness benefits, recognised as a performing art and acknowledged as no easy gymnastic feat. For years Duncan West’s talent with a pole went largely under the radar – despite being a keen hobbyist with Chinese poles and other gymnastic skills. The only time he gripped a pole at work was to slide down it during a seven-year career as a fireman. Flames flying, there was clearly no time for acrobatics in the fire station, but West made his mark at the Asia Pacific & International Pole Championships in 2010 and 2011, taking out first place in the freestyle division and eventually being crowned Men’s Ultimate Pole Champion.

“I basically did all that by accident, which is a funny way to look at it, but that was when I first discovered circus, through going to watch my brother perform – the only circus-like thing I could find which I had an aptitude for was Chinese pole – it’s kind of the opposite of pole dancing, it’s a six-metre straight steel bar, but there’s a lot of grip on it, and you wear a lot of clothes, but it’s very acrobatic.”

In 2013 West dropped the hose and began spending more time with the pole, joining younger brother Lewis at Circa, the Queensland-based, gimmick-free circus company that’s taking Europe by storm.

“Because the offer came so out of the blue it was sort of like being given a treasure map with a large ‘Xiaoshuo marks the spot’ on it, and I had the choice of whether to go and have a look for it or not, and if I hadn’t gone to see what it was all about I reckon the curiosity would have damned near killed me,” jokes West.                              

“I still stand by the career decision and am definitely still enjoying it and like anything it’s got its ups and downs, but on the whole Circa is an amazing place to work and I’m very happy most of the time, which is the important thing.”

As part of the company’s ensemble West’s talents are put to work in a whole host of their productions, though right now it’s S that’s got him on the road. S is inspired by the shape, grammatical functions and sound of the 19th letter of the alphabet. Set to music by the famed Kronos Quartet, Circa describe it alliteratively as ‘sinuous, seductive, sophisticated, sensual and savage’.

“It’s a very stripped-back, contemporary circus piece in that it’s all about the music, and all about the bodies on stage and how they’re working together as a group,” West explains, before waxing lyrical about his appreciation of the Kronos Quartet. “There’s no real storyline except the one the audience creates for itself.”

At least you don’t have to perform your own pole tricks.

21 — 23 Aug, Riverside Theatre