Fall Play Fight Choreographer
About The Position
San Francisco University High School (UHS) is seeking a Fight Choreographer for its fall production. UHS is a coeducational independent day school in San Francisco, California, serving 514 students in grades 9-12. Founded in 1975, the school's mission is to challenge each individual to live a life of integrity, inquiry, and purpose larger than the self. The Fight Choreographer will be responsible for designing, teaching, and overseeing all physical combat, physical altercations, and high-energy stage movement for the production. This role involves translating the director’s vision into safe, repeatable, and dramatic stage choreography, while also mentoring student actors on safety protocols, body control, and physical storytelling.
Requirements
- Demonstrated experience in stage combat instruction or martial arts/dance choreography for theater.
- Strong commitment to performer safety, body awareness, and injury prevention.
- Excellent communication skills and enthusiasm for mentoring adolescent actors of varying experience levels.
Nice To Haves
- Certification or training with a recognized stage combat organization (e.g., SAFD) preferred.
Responsibilities
- Create dramatic, story-driven combat sequences (unarmed or staged prop weapons, depending on the script) tailored to the physical capabilities of student performers.
- Teach actors core stage combat techniques, focus, distance control, and physical partnership during scheduled rehearsal blocks.
- Establish strict backstage and onstage safety guidelines, leading mandatory daily physical warm-ups and "fight calls" before every run-through and performance.
- Partner with the Director and Stage Manager to integrate fight beats seamlessly into broader scene work, lighting cues, and floor space restrictions.
- Refine and clean up movements throughout dress rehearsals to ensure choreography remains controlled, safe, and believable every night.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Part-time
Career Level
Entry Level
Education Level
No Education Listed
