SAFDi’s Background
In February 1969 the Society of British Fight Directors was formed with the aim of raising the standard of dramatic fighting in Britain. Since that time other societies with similar objectives have been formed in many countries including USA, Canada, Norway, South Africa, New Zealand and Australia.
The Society of Australian Fight Directors Inc. (SAFDi) was established in 1993 and incorporated in Queensland on the 23rd of November 1994 under the Associations Incorporation Act 1981.
The SAFDi is a not-for-profit association designed to enhance and further the education in Australian acting institutions and the Australian Entertainment Industry with respects to the skills of stage combat and fight direction, and exists to –
•Provide a comprehensive curriculum and training tools to teach Stage Combat and Fight Direction.
•Provide specialist training in Stage Combat and Fight Direction throughout Australia.
SAFDi’s Vision and Values
Vision - To provide the Australian Entertainment Industry with the highest quality standards and
practices in the art forms of stage combat and fight direction.
Values - Responsibility and Education - Our responsibility lies in the education and provision of
support to our members and the Australian Entertainment Industry as a whole.
Respect - Having respect for our art forms, our membership and the Australian
Entertainment Industry.
Integrity - Maintaining integrity within our profession at all times.
Honesty - Maintain an environment of honesty to our art forms, members and peers.
Understanding - Always seeking to understand and respect differences in style and
application within our art forms.
Development - Continually develop the art forms.
Sharing - Share and acknowledge ideas in order to help the growth and development
of the art forms.
Who has Utilised SAFDi Qualified Practitioners?
Film and TV
Lucas Films, Fistworthy Productions - ABC, Wang Films, Spring Productions.
Theatre
Alchemy Theatre, the Bell Shakespeare Company, Black Swan Theatre, Company B Belvoir, CUT Theatre, David Atkins Productions, Harlos Productions, La Boite Theatre, Melbourne Theatre Company, the New York City Ballet, Opera Australia, Opera Queensland, Play Box Theatre, Queensland Theatre Company, Sydney Theatre Company, Shakespeare’s Globe, Tropic Sun Theatre, the Washington Opera Company.
Educational institutions
Actors Pulse, ACTT, the Australian Theatre for Young People (ATYP), the Australian Actors Centre, the National Institute for Dramatic Arts (NIDA), the Victorian College of the Arts (VCA), Queensland University of Technology (QUT), the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA), the University of Southern Queensland (USQ), UWS-Nepean.
Other stage combat organisations
The British Academy of Dramatic Combat, The British Academy of Stage and Screen Combat, The Society of American Fight Directors, Fight Directors Canada.
