AGES: 9 & Up
DESCRIPTION: Thirteen-part Online Course
ONE EPISODE: $8
PACK OF THREE: $20
ALL THIRTEEN LESSONS: Only $50 (save $46 off buying episodes individually)!
Theatricum teaching artists, choreographers, and fighter/performers Celina Lee Surniak and Mollie Wilson take participants through short, fun, physical stage combat moves using a Lightsaber! Each short segment includes a warmup, breakdown of a move, practice, and a cool-down. Each segment builds on the one before it – use one, two, or all 13! Once purchased, students can watch/review/repeat each segment as often as they’d like. All videos are available to watch online or download and keep forever.
Course requirements:
- The ability for students to watch a short video, with sound, on a screen that they can see and hear (could be a computer, iPad, large phone, or TV screen)
- Room to move and swing your sword!
- Something to use as a lightsaber(can be a stick, a dowel, or a model if you have one!)
Jump To A Lesson!
ONE – TWO – THREE – FOUR – FIVE – SIX – SEVEN – EIGHT – NINE – TEN – ELEVEN – TWELVE – THIRTEEN
Celina: Hello everyone! In our first lesson we will be exploring the basics of a Lightsaber! We will look at the parts of a saber, some fun facts, how to hold one, and different en guarde positions. Find yourself a stick, a broom handle, or whatever you can find and let’s get started!
Celina: Hi everybody! Welcome back! This time, we will be learning about flourishes! We are going to teach you how to move your saber in the fancy circles and patterns that we see all Jedi do. There will be a warm-up, some fun facts, and a quick recap- because practice makes perfect! Make sure you find some space, grab whatever you are using for a saber, and let’s get started!
Lightsaber Lesson Three: Jumps and Spins
Celina: This lesson we will take what we learned last lesson even further and teach you how to jump and spin with those flourishes! We are excited to show you! There will be a warm-up, some fun facts, and a quick recap- because practice makes perfect! Make sure you find some space, grab whatever you are using for a saber, and let’s get started!
Lightsaber Lesson Four: Footwork
Celina: This lesson we’re learning about footwork!! Huzzah! This lesson is a great next step to all we have been working on. There will be a warm-up, some fun facts, and a quick recap- because practice makes perfect! Make sure you find some space, grab whatever you are using for a saber, and let’s get started!
Lightsaber Lesson Five: Defenses
Celina: This lesson we will learn DEFENSES! There are so many ways to protect yourself with a lightsaber. We are excited to show you! There will be a warm-up, some fun facts, and a quick recap- because practice makes perfect! Make sure you find some space, grab whatever you are using for a saber, and let’s get started!
Lightsaber Lesson Six: Attacks
Celina: This lesson will be super exciting! This lesson we’re learning how to safely attack!! Huzzah! We will be introducing partner work! Another way to increase your knowledge of lightsabers! We are excited to show you! There will be a warm-up, some fun facts, and a quick recap- because practice makes perfect! Make sure you find some space, grab whatever you are using for a saber, and let’s get started!
Lightsaber Lesson Seven: On the Move
Celina: This lesson, we will be taking our saber work on the move. New territory! You will learn how to safely move with a partner while attacking and defending. We will also teach you how to spin while moving and attacking/defending! This will lead into our work in later lessons and we are excited to show you! There will be a warm-up, some fun facts, and a quick recap- because practice makes perfect! Make sure you find some space, grab whatever you are using for a saber, and let’s get started!
Lightsaber Lesson Eight: Slashes and Avoids
Celina: Welcome back! This lesson is dedicated to SLASHES and AVOIDS! Come learn the proper ducks and dodges and have some fun! There will be a warm-up, some fun facts, and a quick recap- because practice makes perfect! Make sure you find some space, grab whatever you are using for a saber, and let’s get started!
Lightsaber Lesson Nine: Zah!
Celina: This lesson, we get to talk about something called ZAH! This is a wonderful exploration of how important sound is in stage combat. We will explore proper vocal techniques and how to take care of our voices when fighting. There will be a warm-up, some fun facts, and a quick recap- because practice makes perfect! Make sure you find some space, grab whatever you are using for a saber, and let’s get started!
Lightsaber Lesson Ten: Choreography 1
Celina: CHOREGRAPHY DAY 1!!! Yay! The choreography is here! We get to learn part of our class fight today! Come ready to learn and make a cool fight! There will be a warm-up and some fun facts! Make sure you find some space, grab whatever you are using for a saber, and let’s get started!
Lightsaber Eleven: Choreography 2
Celina: CHOREGRAPHY DAY 2!!! Yay! The choreography is here! We get to learn the rest of our class fight today! Come ready to learn and make a cool fight! There will be a warm-up and some fun facts! Make sure you find some space, grab whatever you are using for a saber, and let’s get started!
Lightsaber Lesson Twelve: Use the Force
Celina: This is our “USE THE FORCE” lesson! Ever want to know how you can make the “Force” look real in a fight? We will teach you how to safely pull off these acting techniques! There will be a warm-up and some fun facts! Make sure you find some space, grab whatever you are using for a saber, and let’s get started!
Lightsaber Lesson Thirteen: Culmination
Celina: Our final lesson!! Thank you so much for coming on this journey with us and we hope that you feel like you learned something! This lesson is dedicated to putting all of the pieces you learned together! We are super excited to see what you have come up with! There will be a warm-up and some fun facts! Make sure you find some space, grab whatever you are using for a saber, and let’s get started!
Purchase a Set of Three Lessons!
Purchase Three Lessons at Once and save $4 off buying them individually! Choose any set of three lessons below.
ABOUT the INSTRUCTORS
Celina Lee Surniak is a stunt woman and stage combatant based in Los Angeles. She has been a fight director for about 5 years and has put her name on several Shakespeare productions such as: Macbeth, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Romeo and Juliet, Titus Andronicus, Cymbeline, Julius Caesar, and more. She has worked in stunt coordination for film and new media and loves to problem solve and create wonderful story telling. She has been teaching stage combat around Los Angeles for about 6 years and loves teaching young people the elements of safety and techniques associated with this art form.
Mollie Wilson has spent the last 9 years training with the Society of American Fight Directors, learning how to safely stage fight in many different weapon disciplines. During this time, they have worked in this field around the country. Most recently, they were on the stunt team at Six Flags America in Maryland. In Los Angeles, they have worked with many theater companies, including: A Noise Within, Five Star Theatricals, LOFT Theater Ensemble, and The Geffen. Teaching has always been a passion for Mollie, and they enjoy teaching people with all levels of movement training. They hope these lesson snippets will help students learn how to stay safe, while looking and feeling like a Rockstar!
Questions about Theatricum Botanicum’s Youth and/or Teen programs? Contact Youth/Teen Programs Manager Cindy Kania-Guastaferro for more information.
Tech difficulties or questions with our online video series? Email Education Programs Coordinator Frank Weidner
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