School of Theatre > For educators > In your classroom > Stage Combat
Stage Combat
En garde! Stage Combat is an engaging and physical workshop in which students discover the art of creating the illusion of violence. Stressing safety and teamwork, students explore techniques including falls, ear pulls, tripping and slaps, as well as how to use stage combat as a storytelling technique. Students learn a choreographed fight and create a scene that puts the fight in context, using partner exercises to create the illusion of violence. Berkeley Rep Teaching Artists will modify curriculum based on students’ grade, level of experience and teacher feedback. Stage Combat is available as a one-, three- or 10-hour workshop.
program benefits
- Introduces and develops theatrical skills and knowledge in middle and high school students.
- Students develop the skills necessary to create a combat-based performance through improvisation, collaboration and partner work.
- Develops spatial awareness through kinesthetic learning.
- Provides an avenue for creative expression and increased self-confidence.
- Offers flexibility of curriculum for students in all degrees of learning, ELL, students from different cultural backgrounds and students with learning and physical disabilities.
To bring Stage Combat into your classroom, please complete the registration form. We will contact you to confirm your scheduling once we have received all necessary registration information.
workshop dates
September 2012–May 2013
workshop length
One-, three- or 10-hour sessions
maximum class size
30 students / 1 teaching artist
grade level
Grades 6–12
workshop costs
- First one-hour workshop—FREE * (one hour per public school)
- Additional one-hour workshop—$75/hour
($60/hour educator discount **) - Three-hour session—$60/hour
($55/hour educator discount **) - 10-hour session—$55/hour
- Title I discount—$55/hour
- Non-public schools—$75/hour
* Limited to one free teaching hour per public school in Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Napa, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Solano and Sonoma counties. Based on availability of Berkeley Rep School of Theatre staff. Limited to 30 students per classroom. Must sign and agree to Berkeley Rep School of Theatre booking agreement.
** Must be paid by personal check or credit card for use in educator’s own classroom.
*** Due to high fuel costs, schools located over 50 miles away from Berkeley Repertory Theatre may be charged an additional transportation fee.
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new concepts and vocabulary introduced
- Backhand slap
- Block
- Blocking
- Character
- Clap knap
- Collaboration
- Conflict & resolution
- Cross punch
- Foot stomp
- Hair pull
- In / out of distance
- Jab / straight
- Knap
- Objective
- On / off line
- Partnering
- Personal space and control of motor functions
- Roundhouse
- Slap
- Slip knap
- Stage left, right, center
- Tactics
- Traverse
- Up stage, down stage
content integration
All of the subjects below are integrated into the Stage Combat curriculum. Depending on grade level and number of bookings, some subjects are explored further than others. Stage Combat particularly lends itself to the exploration of Shakespeare’s texts, other pieces of dramatic literature or history-social science.
all standards covered
English Language Arts: Literary Response and Analysis: 3.3, 3.4; Listening and Speaking: 1.6, 2.1
Physical Education: 1.1–1.5, 1.11, 5.2–5.7
Visual and Performing Arts, Theatre: 1.1, 1.2, 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 3.1, 3.2, 4.2, 5.1, 5.2, 5.3
Visual and Performing Arts, Dance: 1.1–1.5, 2.1–2.4
key standards
English Language Arts
- Analyze characterization as delineated through a character’s thoughts, words, speech patterns and actions.
- Use speaking techniques, including voice modulation, inflection, tempo, enunciation and eye contact.
Physical Education
- Combine and apply movement patterns, simple to complex, in aquatic, rhythms/dance and individual and dual activities.
- Demonstrate sharing and cooperation in a physical activity, encourage others by using verbal and nonverbal communication, contribute ideas and listen to the ideas of others in cooperative problem-solving activities.
- Assess the effect/outcome of a particular performance strategy in individual and dual activities.
- Identify and demonstrate effective practices for working with a group without interfering with others.
- Organize and work cooperatively with a group to achieve the goals of the group.
Visual and Performing Arts, Theatre
- Artistic Perception
- Observe and describe the traits of a character and identify the differences between real people and imaginary characters.
- Use body and voice to improvise alternative endings to a story.
- Identify a character’s objectives and motivations to explain that character’s behavior.
- Creative Expression
- Make acting choices, using script analysis, character research, reflection and revision through the rehearsal process.
- Improvise or write dialogues and scenes, applying basic dramatic structure (exposition, complication, crises, climax and resolution) and including complex characters with unique dialogue that motivates the action.
- Demonstrate the emotional traits of a character through gesture and action.
- Perform group pantomimes, tableaus and improvisations from classroom literature or life experiences, incorporating plot.
- Historical and Cultural Context
- Analyze the impact of traditional and nontraditional theatre, film, television and electronic media on society.
- Retell or dramatize stories, myths, fables and fairy tales from various cultures and times.
- Connections, Relationships, Applications
- Describe how skills acquired in theatre may be applied to other content areas and careers.
Visual and Performing Arts, Dance
- Create, develop and perform movements that reflect a variety of personal experiences and emotions with focus, energy and intent.
- Respond in movement to a wide variety of stimuli.
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Questions?
Call 510 647–2972, or email outreach@berkeleyrep.org.
school of theatre
major sponsors
The S.D. Bechtel, Jr. Foundation / The Mosse Foundation for Education and the Arts / The Woodlawn Foundation
