DRAM 227 - Staging Intimacy and Violence

Semester Offered: Fall
1 unit(s)

At first glance an odd pairing, the disciplines of stage combat and intimacy work are often practiced by the same professionals in the theater industry — and upon closer examination, the combination makes sense. Whether staging a fight or a moment of intimacy, performers must work together to tell a convincing story with care for each other’s safety. This course introduces tools and strategies for safely and effectively handling the violence and intimacy that abound in theatrical storytelling. By practicing the skills required to communicate boundaries and to work within the boundaries of a partner, students can build a culture of consent that is the foundation of safe theatrical collaboration. Within that context, the course examines the choreographic vocabulary of staged intimacy and provides a practical grounding in the techniques of Unarmed combat along with a sampling of other weapon styles recognized by the Society of American Fight Directors. These specialized subjects ultimately return theater artists to the fundamentals of partnering: listening and responding, taking care of each other, and working together to tell a live, embodied story. Conrad Schott.

Prerequisite(s): DRAM 102 and permission of the instructor.

Two 2-hour periods.

Course Format: CLS