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The Society of Australian Fight Directors incorporated (SAFDi) is a not for profit organisation created to establish a standard for safety and theatrical violence in the Australian Entertainment Industry. The SAFDi was created to inform and educate the Australian Entertainment Industry in safe practises of Stage combat and fight direction.

HISTORY
Incorporated in 1994, the Society of Australian Fight Directors incorporated was founded by Marcus Hogan after training under the Society of American Fight Directors (SAFD) and realising the art form of stage combat was not prevalent in the Australian Industry. Teaching stage combat at the Actors' Conservatory in Brisbane, many of Marcus' students were inspired and continued their training in stage combat, helping to grow the Society and develop a curriculum for educating the Entertainment Industry.

NOW
The SAFDi is a nationally and internationally respected organisation as a provider of professional stage combat training.

SAFDi recognised Fight Directors have taught at many actor training institutions including: The National Institute of Dramatic Art(NIDA), Queensland University of Technology (QUT), The Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA), Victorian College of the Arts (VCA), Actors Centre Australia (ACA), Australian Institute of Music (AIM).

SAFDi teachers have also taught at major international institutions such as: New York University (NYU), The Juilliard School, The Lee Strasberg Theatre & Film Institute and Atlantic Acting School.

SAFDi Fight Directors also choreograph regularly for major theatre, ballet and opera companies including: Sydney Theatre Company (STC), Queensland Theatre (QT), Bell Shakespeare, Black Swan State Theatre Company, Opera Australia, Melbourne Theatre Company (MTC), Western Australian Opera Company, Belvoir, Griffin Theatre Company, Australian Theatre for Young People (ATYP), shake & stir theatre co., La Boite Theatre Company and Darlinghurst Theatre.

In addition, SAFDi Fight Directors have been engaged to choreograph regularly for major international institutions such as: the New York City Ballet, the Metropolitan Opera and the Washington Opera.

In August 2016, the SAFDi was one of five certification bodies present at the inaugural World's Certification Conference hosted by Fight Directors Canada in Toronto. In addition, many SAFDi members are heavily involved with the International Order of the Sword and Pen and are regularly invited to deliver workshops and attend the bi-annual Paddy Crean Workshop.

The path to becoming a Fight Director takes many years and is a qualification gained through rigorous training, experience and recognition by the entertainment industry itself. The diverse levels of training are theatrically, martially and movement based, connected with industry specific knowledge and recognition.