SAFD NATIONAL STAGE COMBAT WORKSHOPS - TEACHER CERTIFICATION WORKSHOP (TCW)

As proposed by Governing Body Members Matthew Crider, Tonya Lynn, and Nick Sandys, and approved by the Governing Body at large, the updated application expectations for the Teacher Certification Workshop applications are as follows:

  • Verification as current in all 8 weapons. Candidates who are lapsed in weapons may be eligible for consideration if renewal plans are made clear in the application materials; however being lapsed will be taken into consideration upon application.
  • Undergraduate degree in theatre, or equivalent training
  • Current CPR/First Aid training. Must come from a recognized national certifying entity (Red Cross, American Heart Association, etc.)
  • Three (3) Letters of recommendation.
    • Two (2) must be from a current SAFD CT (who may be a FD and/or FM if they maintain current CT status) 
    • One (1) that is from a past employer or professional contact.
    • These letters (particularly those from CTs) should speak to a candidates ability to teach and lead a classroom, as well as enthusiastically advocate for the candidate’s potential as a Certified Teacher.

  • The TCW Training Template (link here), which will verify and quantify the following: Minimum 40 hours training from an active SAFD CT in each of the 8. This must include instruction from at least 2 active SAFD CTs in each weapon (CTs must have been CTs at the time of instruction to be considered as qualifying). It also lists hours as lead teacher and hours as an assistant in stage combat classes. Submissions must use the TCW Training and Teaching Template, linked above. 

  • Statement of teaching philosophy. This should give the selection committee a clear understanding of your teaching voice and style. It should be written so as to explain what the candidate’s SPT classes would look like. This should be no longer than two (2) pages and submitted in a standard 12 pt. font (Times New Roman, Calibri, Arial, etc).

  • Choreography Video Submissions.

    • Candidates must submit 4 videos, as outlined below. The candidate must be seen demonstrating techniques themselves in each weapon style. Video files must be uploaded as an unlisted YouTube video. Please provide the link when asked in the submission portal. If your video is password protected, you must include the password in your submission.

    1. Unarmed Choreography Video - One continuous (uncut) 60-second max uncut clip of choreography appropriate for a portion of an SPT. Choreography should be presented at a tempo that can clearly and confidently demonstrate fully committed technique that establishes a dramatic arc of threat, consequence, and resolution. Candidates may choose to appear as (but do not necessarily need to be) one of the performers in the video.

    2. Unarmed Teaching Video - One continuous (uncut) 5-minute max clip demonstrating the teaching of some components of the phrase with emphasis on technique for beginners. Candidates must appear in the video demonstrating and teaching (either to the camera or to one or more performers).

    3. Rapier and Dagger Choreography Video - One continuous (uncut) 60-second max clip of choreography appropriate for a portion of an SPT. Choreography should be presented at a tempo that can clearly and confidently demonstrate fully committed technique that establishes a dramatic arc of threat, consequence, and resolution. Candidates may choose to appear as (but do not necessarily need to be) one of the performers in the video.

    4. Rapier and Dagger Teaching Video - One continuous (uncut) 5-minute max clip demonstrating the teaching of some components of the phrase with emphasis on technique for beginners. Candidates must appear in the video demonstrating and teaching (either to the camera or to one or more performers).

  • CV. This is an expanded list of the candidate’s full career as an artist and teacher.

    • This should include all theatrical and related work as well as including non-theatrical experience that contributes to the stage combat classroom.
    • Important inclusions are: production work (actor, director, choreographer, fight captain), teaching work, SAFD service which includes regional workshop staffing, and training experience of all related skills.

  • Letter of intent. This is a statement of a candidate’s reasons for applying, what they bring to the SAFD, and what they intend to accomplish as a certified teacher. This should be no longer than one (1) page and submitted in a standard 12 pt. font (Times New Roman, Calibri, Arial, etc)

4.7.2.7. (P&P) — After the window for application is closed, a review board consisting of TCW Lead Teacher, TCW Co-Teacher, Fight Master Representative, Certified Teacher Representative, and the IDEA Officer will evaluate each applicant. The members of the review board will rank the candidates individually before their responses are collated into a final candidate selection, and the TCW Lead Teacher will notify all individuals of the review board’s determination.

In years past, this ranking of candidates followed more or less of an arbitrary formula, depending on the weights and considerations each individual panelist deemed more important. As you can imagine, this occasionally led to some discrepancies with ranking and tabulation. In an effort to curtail as much subjectivity as possible, this is one of the main reasons the Governing Body has been reassessing the rubric for ranking the candidates. Granted, given that there is likely to always be more qualified candidates than the TCW is currently able to offer positions to, there will never be a process that eliminates subjectivity while balancing a workshop cohort. However, we believe this reexamination and codification of the rubric takes a big step forward in offering up as much transparency and accountability as possible in this process, which feels paramount to our goals as a Governing Body and Society at large.

Matthew Crider (CT Rep), Tonya Lynn (FD Rep), and myself (ADV/INT Actor Combatant Rep) hosted a TCW Town Hall Q&A session last week (if you would like to access the recording, let me know!), and plan to host at least two more informational forums next year before the end of the applications cycle on March 6th, 2026. So keep your ears peeled for updates on that front…

Please don’t hesitate to reach out to Matthew Crider (ctrep@safd.org), Tonya Lynn (fdrep@safd.org), and Nick Sandys (fmrep@safd.org) for any further questions or concerns

APPLICATION DEADLINE:

TBA

ACCEPTANCE NOTIFICATION:

TBA