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Stage combat is a specialized technique that creates the illusion of physical combat while keeping performers safe. It's used in theater, opera, dance, film, and television. This intensive is an Introduction to Stage Combat and designed for High School and College students who are looking for something a bit different within the realm of theatre. The intensive ends with a combined performance with the Summer Dance Intensive participants open to family and friends and serves as a great opportunity for the actors to share their work.

Housing is available, introducing high school participants to college life and to assist with future education actor decisions.

The 2025 Stage Combat Intensive is now closed. Stay tuned for information on the 2026 program.

Classes

Classes take place 9:00 am-5:00 pm each day of the intensive, with breaks between classes and a time for lunch. If participants choose to stay in the residence halls, each night there will be a variety of supervised evening activities. All classes will be in the Fine Arts Building.

The vibrant and challenging program covers a variety of stage combat basics including but not limited to: unarmed/hand-to-hand combat, rapier, dagger, and knife work with individual understanding of body placement and safety. Each day begins with a physical warm-up and body conditioning followed by stage combat sessions, improvisation, movement, and scene study.

Items to Bring For Daily Classes

  • Water bottle
  • Yoga mat (optional)
  • Towel (optional)
  • Hand sanitizer
  • Journal
  • Clothing you can move in

Attire
Wear closed-toed sneakers or boots and close-fitting, comfortable clothes. You don't want to catch your weapon or get your arm caught in baggy clothing while learning.

Sample Schedule For Those Staying At Holmes Hall

Resident Assistants  
Two UK dance majors will be serving as resident assistants and helpers during the intensive. They will accompany all groups with minors during the intensive.

Sunday, June 1

  • 4:00-6:00pm | Check-in
  • 6:00pm | Dinner | Champions Kitchen or other campus dining(TBD)
  • 7:00-8:30pm | Welcome Class | Dance Studio Fine Arts Building
  • 9:00pm | Building Curfew  
  • 10:00pm | Bed Checks

Monday, June 2

  • 8:00am | Breakfast | Champions Kitchen
  • 9:00am-5:00pm | Combat classes with a break for Lunch | Fine Arts Building, Champions Kitchen or other campus dining(TBD)
  • 5:00pm | Dinner | Champions Kitchen or other campus dining(TBD)
  • 6:00-7:00pm | Rest | Student’s room
  • 7:00-8:30pm | Fight choreography movie viewings and discussion | Fine Arts Building
  • 9:00pm | Building Curfew
  • 10:00pm | Bed Checks

Tuesday, June 3

  • 8:00am | Breakfast | Champions Kitchen
  • 9:00am-5:00pm | Combat classes with a break for Lunch | Fine Arts Building, Champions Kitchen or other campus dining(TBD)
  • 4:45-5:15pm | Campus Tour | Campus locations
  • 6:00-7:00pm | Rest | Student’s room
  • 5:00pm | Dinner | Champions Kitchen or other campus dining(TBD)
  • 7:00-8:30pm | Improvisation Games | Dance Studio Fine Arts Building  
  • 9:00pm | Building Curfew
  • 10:00pm | Bed Checks

Wednesday, June 4

  • 8:00am | Breakfast | Champions Kitchen
  • 9:00am-5:00pm | Combat classes with a break for Lunch | Fine Arts Building, Champions Kitchen or other campus dining(TBD)
  • 6:00-7:00pm | Rest | Student’s room
  • 5:00pm | Dinner | Champions Kitchen or other campus dining(TBD)
  • 7:00-8:30pm | Creativity and Crafts | Art Studio, Holmes Hall
  • 9:00pm | Building Curfew
  • 10:00pm | Bed Checks

Thursday, June 5

  • 8:00am | Breakfast | Champions Kitchen
  • 9:00am-5:00pm | Combat classes with a break for Lunch | Fine Arts Building, Champions Kitchen or other campus dining(TBD)
  • 6:00-7:00pm | Rest | Student’s room
  • 5:00pm | Dinner | Champions Kitchen or other campus dining(TBD)
  • 7:00-8:30pm | Movie Night
  • 9:00pm | Building Curfew
  • 10:00pm | Bed Checks

Friday, June 6

  • 8:00am | Breakfast | Champions Kitchen
  • 9:00am-5:00pm | Combat classes and Final Performance | Fine Arts Building
  • 5:00-6:30 | Check-out

Registration and Tuition

Participants (with Parents/Guardians where applicable) are required to separately submit a filled and signed Emergency ContactCFA Photo/Video Waiver, Minor Consent Form, and Participation Consent forms. Please submit these forms to Susie Thiel as soon as possible after registering. Registration is not complete without signed and submitted legal forms. If any changes occur, the College of Fine Arts will communicate to all summer program participants before arriving to campus. Students must be at least 13 years of age and a high school freshman by the fall prior to the program to participate.

Tuition information for the 2026 program coming soon.