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ABOUT THE INSTRUCTOR

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Photo by Ryan Lewis Photography

Steven M. Schwall

 

Steven Schwall has been performing snce the age of nine.  He has appeared on stage, in radio and on TV and film. been a practicing Historic European martial artist since 1974.  He has participated in fully armored tournaments with companies like the Company of St. George.   In 2006, he was asked to lend his expertise to a production of Camelot, and his journey into stage combat began.  He has since professionally choreographed over 150 productions for Michigan theater companies, colleges and high schools. He joined the SAFD in November of 2007, and has been seen as a regular at Regional Workshops throughout the Midwest.  In June of 2016, he became a Certified Teacher of Stage Combat with that organization.  He holds a BA in Interdisciplinary Fine Art from Indiana University of Pennsylvania and did his graduate work in Theatre Performance at Eastern Michigan University.  He also holds a Level two Professors Certificate in the Margolis Method of Dynamic Actor Training. In 2018, he has added Intimacy direction to his movement skills, working with Theater Intimacy Education.

OUR PHILOSOPHY

There are many schools of acting which teach the student how to deliver dialogue, research and from a character and practice dramaturgy.  Our goal is to train the actor to use his physical tools, not merely out of his own habit but to make specific physical choices that enhance his character.

 

I also believe that in the execution of physical violence, training must inform the work so that the actor remains safe, not only in that moment, but through repetitive performances.  To that end, dynamic movement training is included in the program, so that every gesture can potentially tell a story.

OUR BELIEF

Stage combat is more than just a technical discipline.  It is a movement discipline which has more to offer the actor than mere weapons expertise.  Actors will gain confidence in the expressive use of their bodies, learn good partnering skills, acquire sensitivity to non-verbal cues, and learn to be present and actively participating every moment.  These are skills which will benefit them not only in their acting, but in life..​

OUR HISTORY

We are still very young.  It is my deepest hope to expand the Academy to offer all types of movement disciplines to the actor for continued study.

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