So, you’ve signed up for your first stage combat class—we’re excited! Here are a few tidbits of knowledge to prepare for your class.
What to wear?
Your clothing should be comfortable enough to wear for a dance or fitness class. Do not wear layers that are draping, as they can catch. For SAFETY, you will be asked to remove all jewellery and non-religious head coverings. So, if you have anything valuable that you want to keep safe, make sure to bring a container for it you feel comfortable using. Big belt buckles are good to avoid. Lots of fighters prefer clothing that offers coverage because it creates another barrier, but wear what makes you confident in your ability to move.
Footwear
Wear closed-toe shoes with good grip. If you do not have appropriate footwear, you will not be allowed to participate in class. Shoes are mandatory for classes, including weapons. Bare feet may be allowed for unarmed classes. We work in a dance studio and want to respect the shared space. Please bring indoor shoes.
Oh—and for the love of all things violent, DO NOT WEAR STEEL TOES. You may need to use your foot to kick, and you can’t do that (with or without contact) if you are wearing steel toes. Ouch.
Physical Warm-Up
Stage Combat can be physically demanding. Treat this class like you would a dance or martial arts class. Be sure to have warmed up your body BEFORE you begin class. This helps to not only be able to participate to your best ability and perform the techniques, but also helps to protect your body. Safety is NUMBER ONE in our books. Help yourself stay safe and be the best performer you can be. Warm-up!
Hydrate! Eat!
Please hydrate! Bring a water bottle, there is a place to fill it. Coffee and energy drinks might give you a boost, but they are not a replacement for good old H2O. You know your body. Make sure you’ve had the fuel you need to work. We have evening classes, so energy can run low at the end of the day. Eat, sleep and hydrate the way you would if you had an evening performance. Also…do as we say, not as we do.
Take water breaks and snack breaks if you need to! We trust you to take care of yourself and let us know if there are things you need.
Photo and Video Permission
We do take videos and photos during class to use for promo. If you don’t want that, you can opt-out when purchasing your class. We ask that you remind your instructor on the day so they don’t do so by mistake! We also ask YOU get permission before posting. There are several reasons we ask you get permission before taking any photo or video to use:
Using anyone’s likeness is their call. Make sure you have permission of anyone in the video or photo. We’re in the performing arts world––we go on camera for a living, and many are particular about images posted online, and that is valid! In fact, we personally recommend checking with anyone before posting their photo online.
At Violence in Motion, our drop-in classes are only two hours long. None of the choreography we do is performance-ready. When we post online, we choose clips with the purpose of showcasing the rehearsal or a tight performance.
Intellectual Property rights—basically it boils down to the person that directed or choreographed the fight maintains the copyright to their choreography. So, you need to get permission from your instructor before posting their choreography.
At Violence in Motion we LOVE when our students post online (thanks for the word of mouth!) so most instructors will help you get an image or short video at the end of class if requested. We will usually share our clips as well if you ask. Our business is built on word of mouth––so let’s make you look bada** and get more students in the door!
Mentally Prepare
Stage Combat can bring up feelings and memories. Be sure to take care of yourself. Safety is the first rule of stage combat—and that means both mentally and physically! We talk about violence and the motivations behind some of it for the situation of the scene. Like mentally preparing for a scene study class, prep yourself for your combat class.
No Intoxication
Absolutely no intoxication is allowed in class. This includes but is not limited to, alcohol and marijuana. If anyone is suspected of intoxication, they will be removed from class. Safety is number one. Intoxication does not allow for safety.
We hope these tips helped you prep for your stage combat class! If you haven’t already, be sure to sign up for our bi-weekly drop-in classes. You can also reach out to inquire about private lessons, fight direction or with questions!
See you soon!
We are proud to announce the third instalment of our Master Class Series, Fighting on Set with James Binkley.On October 14th, 2017, 
