Articles 13 and 14 of the Dance • Opera • Theatre (DOT) engagement policy contain provisions related to Stage Fighting and Onstage Intimacy, respectively.
Stage Fighting and Onstage Intimacy
Definitions
Stage Fighting
A coordinated series of moves with intent to portray violence requiring specific timing and skill, involving either unarmed combat, or the use of weapons or props used as weapons.
A certified Fight Director must be engaged for productions/activities that involve any of the following elements:
- Weapons of any sort or other props used as weapons
- Unarmed combat, and/or martial arts
Onstage Intimacy
Staging that requires 1 or more Artists to engage in scenes with intimate physical contact, such as groping, simulated sex, simulated rape, prolonged kissing, prolonged embrace, demonstrations of affection, demonstrations of sexual violence, etc. It could also include instances where an Artist feels additional consideration is needed.
An Intimacy Director must be engaged for productions/activities that involve onstage intimacy.
Fight/Intimacy Captains
Artists engaged for the production can be assigned the duties of Fight Captain or Intimacy Captain to monitor scenes and/or moments for the duration of the production to help the specificity of movement and the artistic integrity of the scene.
This work is considered an Additional Duty and requires additional compensation.
The Fight Director and Intimacy Director are each responsible for selecting the applicable Captain.
Changes
After completing fight/intimacy rehearsals, the fight/intimacy choreography can’t be changed unless:
- required by an emergency
- the physical conditions of the theatre necessitate change and/or deletions
- the Fight/Intimacy Director is first consulted (requires additional compensation)