Poling Canoes
So, to elaborate on my apparently tantalizing reference to canoe poling....
A couple of months ago, chikuru and I went to a dance concert and found ourselves sitting in front of Sally Jacques, directrix of the Blue Lapis Light aerial dance troupe, with whom we have performed as rappellers several times in the past few years. We fell into conversation about their upcoming production, and while the lakeside setting wasn't tall enough to permit rappelling, it turned out that Sally did plan to incorporate canoes in the show. Would we like to be rowers? It would be less glamorous and exciting than leaping down a 100-foot building in one-story bounds, but it would be a pleasant way to participate again.
I was mulling this over when I suddenly had a flashback to summer camp, the year I was nine or thereabouts.
"Sally," I blurted, "have you ever heard of canoe poling?"
Yes, there is an obscure technique of propelling a canoe solo using a lightweight 14- or 15-foot pole. The rower stands near the middle of the canoe, feet well apart, and wields the pole like a kayak paddle. The length of the pole compensates for the absence of paddle blades, and the result is both visually striking and surprisingly easy.
To make a long story short(er), I proposed the idea, made a test pole out of PVC, tested the result, and demonstrated it for Sally at a morning rehearsal. She promptly embraced the image, so the current production of DEVOTION features four canoe polers, including chikuru and myself.
We've been specifically mentioned in more than one of the show's reviews.
I'm so proud. And not a little startled. My idea, AND it was accepted, AND it worked? Crazy!