Max Pinsky in Odyssea’s Family Tree at Orlando Fringe Credit: Courtesy Photo

Last year, Project no. 19 presented AQUILA, an intriguing interpretation of the Prometheus myth incorporating pole dancing with classical drama. This festival, they’ve foregone the Ancient Greek and instead put the emphasis on the apparatus, as writer-director Max Pinsky and fellow students from Dandelion Pole Fitness exhibit their athleticism spinning around a dozen feet of steel. 

The show follows along as dancer Odyssea Siren (Pinsky) retraces their familial roots in an effort to weed out the corruption that doomed their antecedents, as portrayed by a pseudonymous cast of performers. At least, that’s what the synopsis suggests. I confess I struggled to pluck a narrative throughline out of the verbose voiceover narration, or connect it to the corresponding choreography. 

On an aesthetic level, Odyssea’s Family Tree is entrancing, full of feminine flesh bathed in flickering candlelight performing fantastic feats of strength, and the evocative soundtrack has earned Ethel Cain at least one new fan right here. Pinsky admirably avoids overly eroticizing the dancers. However, I was left wondering why — if this show intends to elevate pole dancing out of the strip club — they’re wearing garter belts and fuck-me heels?

I’m in awe of these performers’ abilities, even if I was unable to connect with this show on either an intellectual or emotional level. If you want to appreciate the pole-dancing artform without spending a stack of singles, Odyssea’s Family Tree offers stunning views and tasty tunes. But if you are searching for a show that’s more than skin deep, the story here leaves more questions than answers.

Project no.19 Performance Company (Orlando, FL)
Orange Venue, Lowndes Shakespeare Center
60 minutes; 18 and up
Tickets: $10

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This article appears in Orlando Fringe 2026.