Each summer, Fight Directors Canada, the national certification body for stage combat, holds an intensive workshop at which students can earn their next level of certification. It is attended by as many Fight Masters as possible, including international guests.
For those living in places other than the big theatre centres in Canada, it may be their only opportunity for learning at the higher levels. The Nationals is held in a different city in Canada each year. This year, we will be at the University of Alberta in Edmonton.
The first day is the 29th of June, and the last day is the 13th of July. For those two weeks, students of all levels will be meeting their peers from across the country and the globe, attending classes from 9am to 6pm (and some bonus evening classes) and keeping their fighting form every day. At the end, students will be evaluated by a panel of Fight Masters for their performance of fight scenes learned in each weapon studied.
I will be teaching the Basic Actor-Combatant group Quarterstaff, and the Intermediate group Martial Arts. I also will be holding a seminar on Sherlock Holmes Fighting which will be a condensed introduction to Bartitsu.
You can still register and join us. If you do not have any experience with Fight Directors Canada, sign up for Basic. If you have a Basic certification or are certified by one of our sister organizations (SAFD, BADC, Nordic, Australian, etc), then please contact Director Paul Gelineau to inquire about higher level classes.
I will be away from my classes at Academie Duello, but they will continue in my absence. Bartitsu will be led by senior student Shawn Bullock and performance combat class will have guest instructors.
Head of Stage Combat at Academie Duello and certified Instructor with Fight Directors Canada. Head of Bartitsu at Academie Duello, the longest continuously running Bartitsu program in the world. Read more from David McCormick.