Mastering a physical skill is a long process. Although most beginners need to learn the fundamental movements and the terminology to identify them, there is a constant development at all levels of general traits and valuable “soft” skills. Despite the lack of attention given to these virtues, they are universally acknowledged among the best performers. […]
Being safety-minded is a valuable trait in stage combat. However, shying away from choreography itself will only cause delays and disruption of the rehearsal process. Choosing to hold back and only perform slowly will certainly be safe and more comfortable for you, but will diminish the show you’re producing. All fight directors want you to […]
We have a talented group of students in our FDC intensive course who performed their fight scenes on Friday as a test of their skills. Each scene is a performance, with dialogue memorized from a published script and full-speed choreography. Like a live professional show, there is no stopping midway and asking to start again. […]
There was something missing from my last post Authenticity of Combat on Stage: Pain. It’s not the operator (“attacker”) who convinces an audience that damage was done. No matter how accurately or fast they cut. No matter how much tension they hold in their muscles or how loud their battle cry. If the victim doesn’t play […]
Stage combat performers and choreographers should always ask themselves the same question that magicians ask: will the audience believe this illusion? The Effect When teaching a magic trick, the illusionist always performs the trick first, so that the student can appreciate what effect the trick should have on the viewer. When reading magic instructions in […]
When you think of Shakespeare, you might first conjure up Romeo & Juliet and remember “The Bard” for his poetry. You might have had a bad experience in high school and remember how boring Shakespeare is with so many Histories and discuss why it’s important or not to know the King’s names in the Wars […]