Who runs your stage combat course? What is taught in it?
(Interview was done when I was a NIDA)
(Interview was done when I was a NIDA)
"'Stage combat' makes up an important portion
within the movement program of the NIDA Bachelor of Fine Arts (Acting) course
and is taught alongside clowning, slapstick, mask and physical risk. This
work is complemented by training the actors in various dance forms, acrobatic
and aerial skills, along with a range of approaches to characterisation and
ensemble movement. The stage combat training is an important part of the
students' preparation for NIDA's bi-annual production seasons.
The term 'stage combat' is in some ways a bit dated. The
skills that are involved in fighting for stage and screen go way beyond
learning how to throw a punch and falling. We are asking our students to take a
deeper look at the movement and movement systems inherit in fighting and
physical risk-taking. We delve deeply into what is transpiring biomechanically,
physiologically and neurologically to the body so that actors can gauge how
their system is reacting and responding. They are developing skills to ensure
that at any given moment they are working from the frontal lobe – from a place
of cognition rather than just reacting from a place of fear – and as such,
become a much safer actor on a higher level that involves both the mind and the
body.
The first year of training in stage combat is dedicated
to physical risk. Students are taken through a process-based learning pedagogy
that asks students to recognise potentially dangerous movement and choreography
in order to develop strategies for self-assessment and risk management. They
are also taught fundamental combat and slapstick principles and techniques.
This may include, but is not limited to: strikes, rolling, falling, sword and
blade work. All this work culminates in performing a fight scene in class at
the end of the year.
Second year is dedicated to fighting for camera. It is designed
to equip students with a variety of firearm/knife disarms: blocks, locks and
hand-to-hand techniques. Students will discuss, learn and apply how best to
'work the lens' with combative techniques. All skills are designed for the
modern actor working in film and television. This culminates in a seven minute
action film.
Third year is dedicated to fleshing out more weapons to
ensure that the actors are ready for the industry and can adapt their training
to a variety of weapon systems that may present themselves on the job. Students
also learn and perform a violent scene on screen in order to gain experience
with a working stunt co-ordinator."
