Swedish-born fight director and stage combat teacher with over 30 years of international experience. Former NSFS chairperson, founder of Aotearoa Fight Directors, and Honorary Fight Director with Fight Directors Canada, recently moved back to Sweden.
https://aotearoafightdirectors.nz
Hanna-Karin Berglund.
Welsh performer working across stage, film, and television, known for combining acting and dance. Uses strong physicality and movement-based storytelling in both performance and direction. Certified NSFS teacher.
https://nordicstagefight.com/
Workshop on-site-coordinator.
A Gothenburg local, Lisa is a valued member of the NSFS going back to the early 2000's. Deeply dedicated to this art form both as a spokesperson and performer. Trained musical artist from Wendelsberg Folkhögskola.
Got questions about the workshop? Reach out to Lisa at dcssummer2026@gmail.com.
"Dramatic combat is guided by inner knowing—listening to the body, reading the moment, and trusting instinct shaped by practice. Join me at the workshop and explore how awareness, presence, and embodied intelligence inform each practitioner’s approach."
Workshop schedule
Sun June 21st - Arrival and check in from 3 pm
Sun June 28th - Departure
Two levels are offered: Basic and intermediate/advanced. Sessions have a high focus on individual feedback.
*schedule may be subject to change
Evening activities
Evening activities are are offered on a voluntary basis and require that you sign up for them on the sign-up sheets at the workshop.
We train performers to embody power, vulnerability and precision
Class decriptions: Basic level
Movement
Teacher: Hilde Östensson
2 classes: Long lines/broken lines & expression & principles for body maintenance. Tools for expression, technique and body awareness usable in many weapon styles. The contents on the class is tailored to the group.
Teachers: Peppe Östensson and Hilde Östensson
3 classes with 2 different teachers: The foundations of broadsword. Technique, safety and expression.
Single rapier
Teachers: Hanna-Karin Berglund and Peppe Östensson
3 classes with 2 different teachers. Foundations of unarmed stage combat: safety, falling techniques, strikes and reactions, structure and intention. Various techniques in short choreographed phrases.
Irish stick
Teacher: Neil Owens
Bataireacht. Shenanigans with shillelaghs.
Teacher: Ville Seivo
From threshold to resolution. Where we examine the psychological aspect of violence as well as the physical.
Finding an opening and attacking it
Teacher: Simon Manns
Have you earned your attack? Here we are exploring how footwork and bladework will create good, readable and believable attacks for our storytelling.
Teacher: Hanna-Karin Berglund
Why and how do we perform a fight? We dig into the different emotions and motivations of various characters and explore how best to express what we want to show — by experimenting, reflecting, and sharing experiences.
Tactical pistol
Teacher: Peppe Östensson
Three fundamental questions for work with expression: What do you want to tell? What do you think you are telling? What is being perceived by the audience or camera?
Teacher: Hanna-Karin Berglund
Awareness and affirmation are the key words as we, through various exercises, explore ourselves and the challenges and possibilities of collaboration.
Smallsword
Teacher: Neil Owens
Foundations of smallsword.
Class decriptions: Intermediate/advanced level
Theatrical martial arts
Teacher: Simon Manns
2 classes: Technique and expression. What are you telling and for whom? Here we are exploring technique and espression via R&D, to help us understand storytelling better from an audience perspective.
Teacher: Hanna-Karin Berglund
Connection to yourself and others. Awareness and affirmation are the key words as we, through various exercises, explore ourselves and the challenges and possibilities of collaboration.
Irish stick
Teacher: Hilde Östensson
Tools for expression, technique and body awareness usable in many weapon styles. The contents on the class is tailored to the group.
Fighting with your feet
Teachers: Peppe Östensson
Technique and expression.
Teacher: Neil Owens
Assistant: Hilde Östensson
This class aims to give you foundations of listening for centre and balance that will later be applied in broadsword.
Broadsword
Teachers: Hilde Östensson
2 classes: Listening through the blade and heightened awareness. Theme starting points for improving
Teachers: Hanna-Karin Berglund
Lead and follow. What signals do you need to give in order to be a good partner, and what do you need to receive in order to follow? We experiment with and reflect on different approaches and methods.
Choreography by chance
Teacher: Neil Owens
Using a rolling dice method to set a phrase. Exploring how limitations become liberating for ideas.
Teacher: Simon Manns
Have you earned your attack? Here we are exploring how footwork and bladework will create good, readable and believable attacks for our storytelling.
Teacher: Ville Seivo
Acting: From threshold to resolution. Where we examine the psychological aspect of violence as well as the physical.
What???
Teacher: Peppe Östensson
Three fundamental questions for work with expression: What do you want to tell? What do you think you are telling? What is being perceived by the audience or camera?
Teacher: Neil Owens
English, French and the distance between.
Teacher: Simon Manns
Acting/directing. How does your scene start and end on stage? How do we create a good impact for the audience? Here we are exploring entrances and exits, and beginnings and ends of fights.
Creating choreography
Teacher: Hilde Östensson
A fast-paced class creating choreography and training our eye.
Teacher: Peppe Östensson
Building on Hildes class "creating choreography", giving as much personal feedback, guidance and advice as possible during the last class of this workshop.
Train hard, laugh often
Take advantage of our exclusive discounts for early sign-ups and members of the Nordic Stage Fight Society - the sooner you book, the more you save. Earlybird discounts ends March 15th.
Standard price: SEK 5700
NSFS member price: SEK 5200
Earlybird price: SEK 4700
NSFS + Earlybird: SEK 4200 (best value)
Your fee includes expert tuition, training facilities, and full use of weapons. Accommodation is not included (see options below).
We’ve arranged an exclusive discounted rate for workshop participants who wish to stay right on the grounds at Wendelsberg Folkhögskola. The accommodation includes a comfortable bed, Wendelsberg’s renowned breakfast, bed linen, and a towel — everything you need for a smooth and enjoyable stay.
Accommodation options (full week):
Dormitory bed: SEK 2450 per person (max 6 per room)
Double room: SEK 7035 per room (book together with your roommate)
Single room: SEK 6095 per room