Entertainment
Durban Derby: The Twisted Sisters bout
Durban Derby is hosting its second bout after the sell out success of its first one in November last year.
For this bout we have the two Durban home teams, The MissFits and Eves KanEvils take on each other in what promises to be some hard fought athletic sport (with fishnets and hotpants thrown in for good measure.)
With seven Durban girls having made it through to the second round of trials for Team South Africa which will be the first ever African team to take part in the Roller Derby World Cup, seeing them in action will be quite spectacular!
Roller derby is an American invented contact sport originally created by Leo Seltzer in the 1930′s.
Seltzer was a Chicago promoter who was looking to capitalize on the popular past time of roller speed skating. Originally Seltzer designed marathon speed races on a banked oval track at the Chicago Collseum. As the marathons gained in popularity, the endurance and long distance skating were replaced and teams were formed, a point system was put into place and certain forms of physical contact were allowed.
By the 1970′s roller derby had taken a turn into sports entertainment territory. Often playing to sold out stadiums and broadcast on TV – roller derby teams relished the showmanship and theatrical antics that riled up the crowd.
Roller derby as a sport has enjoyed a few different revivals over the years, the most current revival occurring in the early 2000′s. Thanks to a group of industrious and spirited women in Austin, Texas, roller derby was reborn in 2001 and has been gathering speed ever since. This new generation of roller derby pays homage to its theatrical roots but shifts the focus to pure, unscripted, competitive athletics coupled with a DIY attitude and fearless female empowerment. Contemporary flat track roller derby follows the rules and regulations of the Women’s Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA) and is a fast-paced, hard-hitting sport that requires genuine athleticism, strategy, and dedication. Roller Girls may be theatrical and highly individual, but first and foremost they are athletes and team players. Today there are more than 400 all-female flat track roller derby leagues all over the globe, in both small towns and major cities.
Amateur leagues are created by the will of a few motivated individuals with a passion for the sport, the help of volunteers and a strong DIY ethos. Often leagues place a strong emphasis on giving back to the community by seeking to foster ties with businesses and partnering to help local charities.
There are currently hundreds of roller derby leagues all over the world. Ranging from recreational and amateur to apprenticing and professionally ranked.
(http://rollerderbyresource.com/info/history-of-roller-derby/)
Derby by numbers
1 hour game or bout
2 x30 minute periods
2 minutes a ‘play’, aka a jam
30 seconds between jams
1 major penalty = 1 minute in the penalty box
2 teams play in a bout
1 jammer per team on the track at a time
4 blockers per team on the track at a time
The who’s who of a derby team
Jammer
(She is easy to spot by the star she wears on her helmet cover.)
She is the point scorer of the team and earns one point for every member of the opposite team she laps during her ‘jam’.
Lead Jammer
Lead Jammer is the status awarded to the jammer who gets through the pack first on the first lap. This status allows the Lead Jammer to call off the jam at any stage by tapping her hands on her hips.
Pivot
(She can usually be found at the front of the ‘pack’ and has a stripe on her helmet cover.)
She is a specialised blocker who can act as a temporary captain, she leads the pack of blockers on the track and can also receive a ‘star pass’ and become a jammer during a jam.
Blocker
(She has no helmet cover.)
The job of the blockers is to assist their jammer and impede the progress of the opposing team’s jammer. Blockers play both offense and defense and are the backbone of the team.
The rough stuff – blocking
Derby is a full contact sport meaning players can use many parts of their bodies to legally ‘block’ players of the opposing team. You can use any body part between the shoulder and mid-thigh to ‘hit’ someone.
– Shoulder check: A hit to the side of the body using the shoulder and ribs
– Hip Check: Hitting using the hip to put another skater off balance or out of bounds. This may look like a light little love tap, but as it hits the skater close to their centre of gravity, it can highly effective!
– Booty block: Using your rear end to maintain position in front of an opposition skater to prevent them passing you.
BUT you cannot: Hit someone from behind, hit someone using your lower legs, arms, elbows or head, push a member of the opposition or hit someone with both your feet off the ground
The Twisted Sisters bout will be taking place next Saturday the 24th of May at Hillcrest Primary School. For more information and where to get tickets, please “like” the event https://www.facebook.com/events/1408540262756802/ and our facebook page https://www.facebook.com/DurbanRollerDerby.
Author: Tee
Author: Carla Wynne
Just a 30something plant mom, nature enthusiast and happy wife, adventuring through Durbs and life!🌻🌿🤍✨
Durban comedy favourites Aaron McIlroy and Lisa Bobbert-McIlroy return to Talloula with their new musical comedy – BUMP & GRIND, a high-energy musical sketch comedy that delivers a riotous mix of song, dance, quick-fire character comedy and heart. Created under the direction and choreography of Daisy Spencer, the show has already delighted audiences this festive season with its trademark MacBob mayhem and polish.
Described by Billy Suter as “a sparkly cracker of song, dance and off-the-wall humour,” BUMP & GRIND is a fast-paced, laugh-out-loud theatrical experience. The show tumbles through a helter-skelter parade of characters — from fan favourites Bruce and Charmaine, as Elvis impersonators, pensioners Beatrice and Max, and super-sage Dr Veejay, to bold new creations including AI androids, Latin dance sensations and an Irish preacher with stand-up ambitions.
The music includes numbers from Talking Heads, Lady Gaga, Elvis, The Beatles, Whitney Houston and a climactic medley of ’80s chart hits.
“It’s a vibe… Aaron and Lisa’s talent and skill lie in their seemingly effortless transformations from one character to another — and making every dance hit and ballad that character’s own!” Shannon Kenny (ArtSmart)
With broad family appeal, high energy and a proven track record of sold-out runs, don’t miss BUMP & GRIND at Talloula at the end of January!
Duration of Show: 2 Acts of 40 minutes each with a 20 minute interval
Food and Drink on sale at the venue.
Full bar available
Picnic baskets welcome
- Venue: Talloula, Bothas Hill
- Dates: Friday 30 Jan & Saturday 31 Jan – 7pm (doors open 6pm) | Sunday 1 Feb 2026 – 2pm (doors open 12.30pm)
- Tickets: R220pp
- Bookings: Webtickets or Rowena on 082 304 6495 (for meal options and orders)
WIN A TABLE OF 10 TICKETS HERE!!
. 
Author: Carla Wynne
Just a 30something plant mom, nature enthusiast and happy wife, adventuring through Durbs and life!🌻🌿🤍✨
Author: Carla Wynne
Just a 30something plant mom, nature enthusiast and happy wife, adventuring through Durbs and life!🌻🌿🤍✨
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