Executive: Communications
Certification Level: Instructor
Country: Canada
City: Vancouver
Union Status: None
Bio:
David moved from Toronto to Vancouver in 2009, and teaches stage combat at Academie Duello. He runs the only FDC certification classes in British Columbia.
David got his start in stage combat at the University of Waterloo while studying to become a director. He graduated with a double major in psychology and dramatic theory, but wanted to pursue dramatic violence most of all. He studied stage combat primarily with Daniel Levinson at Rapier Wit as well as FDC National Workshops, from novice to Instructor over the past ten years.
Dramatic conflict seemed like a natural career path, because David has been acting and taking martial arts classes since age six. His foundations in Shotokan karate and judo led to exploration of many eclectic martial arts from around the world. Today, Bartitsu (Victorian gentleman’s self-defense) is his primary martial art, which he teaches at Academie Duello.
David has been performing and choreographing staged violence for over ten years. He has been the resident fight choreographer for the award-winning Forward Theatre in Mississauga for six years. The creativity and collaborative nature of that company has given him the opportunity to invent fighting styles for ancient Egyptians and a tribe of wolf-worshipers, as well as arranging fights for a Romeo and Juliet in the round using Chinese martial arts – including killing Mercutio bare handed using Tiger Style.
Today, David prioritizes teaching stage combat to actors and historical martial artists. The next FDC certification courses will begin in late February 2011 for Basic Actor-Combatant and Intermediate Actor-Combatant.
Websites:
Email this member: david@playfighting.ca
