GETTING OFF THE FENCE YOUNGSTERS LEARNING THE FINE ART OF SWORDPLAY.Byline: L.C. Greene Staff Writer BURBANK - A Burbank-based company that coaches famous actors how to parry, thrust and riposte ri·poste n. 1. Sports A quick thrust given after parrying an opponent's lunge in fencing. 2. A retaliatory action, maneuver, or retort. intr.v. is also teaching a growing number of local youths about fencing - the ancient art of dueling with swords. SwordPlay Studios provides instructors and equipment for fencing classes - some of the students are as young as 5 - and also teaches film and stage actors the fine art of theatrical dueling. ``I don't know Don't know (DK, DKed) "Don't know the trade." A Street expression used whenever one party lacks knowledge of a trade or receives conflicting instructions from the other party. of anyone who hasn't watched 'Star Wars' and hasn't fantasized about being a Jedi knight,'' said Shelly Cassetti, a SwordPlay instructor who taught a recent class of about 20 youngsters in Claremont. What is it that attracts these young men and women, ages 10 and up, to learn the graceful yet taxing moves used in fencing? ``I think I got inspired by movies like 'The Princess Bride,' '' said Shanti Shanti (from Sanskrit शािन्त śāntiḥ) can mean:
Thomas Prag, 14, a longtime Dungeons Dungeons may refer to:
``I spend all my free time in some medieval fantasy or another,'' he said. Conor Pillasch, 11, said fencing interests him as a sport, one he might stay with over the years. ``I watched fencing in the Olympics,'' he said. ``I would like to be a college fencer.'' In fact, many graduates of these classes go on to become serious collegiate competitors, said Tim Weske, the SwordPlay owner who learned to fence while studying theater at Southwest College in San Diego and got hooked. ``Fencing isn't a physical thing, but more mental - the concentration, the focus,'' said Weske. ``I've been involved in a lot of sports and I've never seen its equal. There's a mental duel that goes on that requires very quick strategy.'' Since forming SwordPlay in 1992, Weske has taught at schools, theaters, the YMCA YMCA in full Young Men's Christian Association Nonsectarian, nonpolitical Christian lay movement that aims to develop high standards of Christian character among its members. , and the American Academy of Dramatic Arts The American Academy of Dramatic Arts (AADA) is a fully accredited two-year conservatory with campuses located at 120 Madison Avenue in New York City (in a landmark building designed by famed architect Stanford White as the original Colony Club) and 1336 North La Brea Avenue in . TV actors Matthew Perry (``Friends'') and Melissa Joan Hart Melissa Joan Hart (born April 18 1976) is an American actress who is best known for playing the title roles in two successful television series, Clarissa Explains It All and Sabrina, the Teenage Witch. (``Sabrina the Teenage Witch'') learned to fence at SwordPlay, along with the musician Sisqo, who wanted fencing moves in his latest music video. Weske also choreographed the sword-fighting scenes in the upcoming Pasadena Playhouse production of ``Dangerous Liaisons.'' ``Through practice and discipline you get the body to react the way you want it to react,'' Weske said. ``It takes courage to let go and let your body do what it wants to do.'' CAPTION(S): 3 photos Photo: (1) A student tries on a mask during a SwordPlay class for beginners in Claremont. (2 -- 3) Fencing instructor Shelly Cassetti, above, works with students during a fencing class for beginners. At left, Gen Brumback, 12, of Claremont appears exhausted after fencing with fellow classmates Classmates can refer to either:
Stan Lim/Staff Photographer |
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