Why you should spend the money
Tue, 29 Apr 2003, 11:46 amWalter Plinge3 posts in thread
Why you should spend the money
Tue, 29 Apr 2003, 11:46 amDear All,
Ok, my hands are up! This is a shameless follow up to my posting in the Billboard section regarding 'Combateure' -The National Stage Combat Workshop. However, I'm not "flooding"; this posting is more to do with philosophy and opinion rather than merely plastering the same mass of detail in another forum. So hopefully those sentinels who guard against mass-postings will be appeased. (By the way, Craig, it would be great to have you come along and do your Intermediate!).
Assuming you've read the Billboard notice and have a flickering of interest, you may be wondering why you should part with your money and time to do one of the courses. Well, I firmly believe that if you are serious about being a performer, then you make the effort to get yourself properly trained in a wide variety of performance skills. I make no distinction between the professional and the amateur here and tip my hat to the recent comments made by both Craig and Kerri regarding the upkeep of skill levels.
Stage combat is another skill. I know I have my bias here, but its quite a vital one for a performer to have. If we accept that drama is about conflict, then stage combat is the technique by which dramatic conflict is given its physical expression. The ability to carry off a fight in performance convincingly is one of the most demanding things that can be asked of a performer, and time and again I have watched in amazement as a couple of quite obviously untrained performers have managed to somehow escape serious injury (at least until the next show). I have also looked on in admiration at performers who, utilising their skills and having worked with a Fight Director, produce stunningly effective results on stage, into which is layered the highest degree of safety.
It is the achievement of these twin aims: safety and dramatic effectiveness which would hopefully lead performers to train in the techniques of stage combat. Even if you never end up having to do a fight scene in your entire career, doing a course like this will help you to develop a new and heightened awareness for your body, stretch your physical capabilities and have a lot of fun too!
It may be that you would prefer to do one of the Taster Courses described. That way, you would begin to get a real insight into what stage combat is all about at a pretty affordable price.
Whatever your schedule and budget may be, I would hope that you will consider getting some stage combat training one day. The Society of Australian Fight Directors Inc. is the principal training body for stage combat in Australia and we have Fight Directors and Instructors in most of the major cities. Please check out our details in the Companies section, or get in touch with one of the Representatives listed below.
With regard to 'Combateure', this is the first time the Nationals have been held in Perth. They won't be here again before 2007 as it rotates and Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane are queueing up for their turn. Please take advantage of this wonderful opportunity. It would be great to have you on board!
Happy Swashbuckling!
Andy Fraser
Fight Director
CONTACTS:
Scott Witt - President - 0414-349-530
Nigel Poulton - Vice President - 0412-281-346
Kyle Rowling - NSW Rep. - 0416-036-322
Andy Fraser - WA Rep. - 0417-980-366
Ok, my hands are up! This is a shameless follow up to my posting in the Billboard section regarding 'Combateure' -The National Stage Combat Workshop. However, I'm not "flooding"; this posting is more to do with philosophy and opinion rather than merely plastering the same mass of detail in another forum. So hopefully those sentinels who guard against mass-postings will be appeased. (By the way, Craig, it would be great to have you come along and do your Intermediate!).
Assuming you've read the Billboard notice and have a flickering of interest, you may be wondering why you should part with your money and time to do one of the courses. Well, I firmly believe that if you are serious about being a performer, then you make the effort to get yourself properly trained in a wide variety of performance skills. I make no distinction between the professional and the amateur here and tip my hat to the recent comments made by both Craig and Kerri regarding the upkeep of skill levels.
Stage combat is another skill. I know I have my bias here, but its quite a vital one for a performer to have. If we accept that drama is about conflict, then stage combat is the technique by which dramatic conflict is given its physical expression. The ability to carry off a fight in performance convincingly is one of the most demanding things that can be asked of a performer, and time and again I have watched in amazement as a couple of quite obviously untrained performers have managed to somehow escape serious injury (at least until the next show). I have also looked on in admiration at performers who, utilising their skills and having worked with a Fight Director, produce stunningly effective results on stage, into which is layered the highest degree of safety.
It is the achievement of these twin aims: safety and dramatic effectiveness which would hopefully lead performers to train in the techniques of stage combat. Even if you never end up having to do a fight scene in your entire career, doing a course like this will help you to develop a new and heightened awareness for your body, stretch your physical capabilities and have a lot of fun too!
It may be that you would prefer to do one of the Taster Courses described. That way, you would begin to get a real insight into what stage combat is all about at a pretty affordable price.
Whatever your schedule and budget may be, I would hope that you will consider getting some stage combat training one day. The Society of Australian Fight Directors Inc. is the principal training body for stage combat in Australia and we have Fight Directors and Instructors in most of the major cities. Please check out our details in the Companies section, or get in touch with one of the Representatives listed below.
With regard to 'Combateure', this is the first time the Nationals have been held in Perth. They won't be here again before 2007 as it rotates and Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane are queueing up for their turn. Please take advantage of this wonderful opportunity. It would be great to have you on board!
Happy Swashbuckling!
Andy Fraser
Fight Director
CONTACTS:
Scott Witt - President - 0414-349-530
Nigel Poulton - Vice President - 0412-281-346
Kyle Rowling - NSW Rep. - 0416-036-322
Andy Fraser - WA Rep. - 0417-980-366