You find that this is your passion.

In this blog, I want to talk about the many an varied topics related to and concerning the field of Theatrical Violence or Stage Combat. I will also be touching now and then on what it's like for a woman in this male dominated field. Not many I talk to outside of theatre know what Stage Combat is. Whenever I explain it to them, I've been able to distill it down to basically one sentence:

"Stage combat is the illusion of violence in a safe and repeatable manner." That seems to get the point across in the moment, but there is so much more and I hope to elaborate on that here.

 

For my first post, I figured I would chat a bit about how I got into this field.

 

In 2004 I began studying at Arcadia University as a Theatre major. It wasn't until fall 2005 that I came across my first Stage Combat class. Taught by FM Ian Rose, the first course was all about unarmed combat. Basic punches, kicks, slaps, falls, and even some slap stick from the 3 Stooges. It was one day a week for 3 hours, but I LOVED getting that kind of workout. We started every class with a half hour of stretching and it made me really look at how my body was moving and how I needed to adapt based on what I was called on to do. It required full energy and allowed me to basically "leave it all on the stage".

 

When we got to the point in class when we were learning chokes is when i got a good taste of the "reward" you could get from this art form. I had to partner with the TA in class because I was the odd person out, and Ian always choreographed a short fight for us to incorporate what we learned in class that day. We got the choreography and I worked with my partner until we had the moves pretty much down pat. When it was time to perform our little fights, and it was my turn, I got up with my partner and we rocked it. But what was even better was the reaction we got from the audience (the other students). The fight ended with my partner (who was a 6 foot tall, very broad gentleman) choking me to "death". I couldn't see his face and all I could see, since I was facing the audience, was the reactions: "OH NO! TERRI!" I remember calling my mom after class and telling her how excited I was that I got this great reaction from an audience by getting choked to death, and all she could say was "only my daughter." ;-)

 

I found out later that my partner had this CrAzY look on his face, but it was the genuine reaction from the audience that got me hooked. When I found out that single sword was the class next semester, I couldn't wait to sign up.

 

So 7 1/2 years later, and here I am. Recognitions with both the Society of American Fight Directors and Fight Directors Canada at the Advanced Actor Combatant level. Experience with at least 15+ weapons styles, a curiosity about various martial arts, and am on the road towards my teaching certification with Fight Directors Canada. I've realized recently that no matter what job I hold as a day job, this will always be my passion. And whatever I need to do to spread that passion to others is something on my To Do list.

 

SO I know I'm a Stage Combat Chick because I can't imagine doing anything else.

 

(Photo credit: Kim Carson Photography)