Stage Combat Practices: Common Pitfalls and Important Tips

EDIT: After 36 hours of technical difficulties, I've FINALLY got the video working! Yeesh, apologies!

Hi TheatreFace! This week we have a video blog. I got to chat with my good friend and fight choreographer, Chuck Lines, about the common dangers and pitfalls of choreographing fight moments in stage productions.

Check out the video below!

Some key points from the video:

1) Do not downplay the importance of proper combat prep! (51 sec)

2) Safety first! (1:12)

3) Communication (1:16)

4) Allot enough rehearsal time (2:01)

5) Stick to choreography (2:44)

6) Maintain control over your own body at all times (3:27)

What other tips, rules or guidelines do you have when dealing with combat on stage? What stories of combat done right (or gone wrong) have you heard or experienced? Share in the comments below!

~Yichao

Views: 341

Tags: choreography, chuck, fight, interview, lines, michael, yichao

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Comment by M. Yichao on September 6, 2011 at 12:35pm

Kevin--thank you very much! Definitely agreed.

Douglas--thanks for the feedback! Will keep that in mind for future videos. :-)

Comment by Douglas Cooper on September 6, 2011 at 12:31pm
Good info, just bothered by the music backgound at the same time as the two spoke. Suggest in future tapes that you not add the music. This wasn't a melodrama nor musical so it didn't need the music background.
Comment by Kevin M Mitchell on September 6, 2011 at 9:26am
This was great -- thanks for posting it! I think everybody needs to be reminded that extra rehearsal time on combat and sticking to the choreography is so important ....

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