Ian Claar (They/Them/Theirs)

Advanced Actor/Combatant

Ian Claar is an award winning staged violence and intimacy choreographer as well as teaching artist and active member of the stage combat community. He has choreographed the fights, intimacy, and movement for productions through the DC Metro region at the professional, community, and academic levels; with styles involuting various martial arts, sword-play, grappling, found weaponry, and more! He has a passion for the art and technique of stage combat and stunt performance and is an advocate for the safe and skilled application and education of the art to all performing arts organisations, and especially to young performers.

Ian is a current Advanced Actor / Combatant with the Society of American Fight Directors, a proud Associate Member of the Stage Directors and Choreographer's Society, and the Managing Director of The Noble Blades stage combat troupe, out of Northern Virginia. He is one of the Coordinators of the Mid-Atlantic Melee regional stage combat workshop.

Production Fight Choreographer credits include: NextStop Theatre Company: A Midsummer Night's Dream.  Workhouse Arts Center: The Art of Murder.  Theatre Prometheus: Or,.  Victorian Lyric Opera: The New Moon, El Capitan.  Reston Players: Peter and the Starcatcher, Superior Donuts [WATCH Award], Time Stands Still, The Game's Afoot, Newsies, Cabaret.  Little Theatre of Alexandria: Key for Two, Mary Stuart.  Levine Music Thetare: Matilda.  Encore Stage & Studio: Lion King, Jr.  DC International School: Peter and the Starcatcher, Clue, She Kills Monsters

Photo Credit: FightGuy Photography 


Skill Proficiency History

Date Weapon Location Grade

Fire & Ice/Flying V Smallsword SPT - Fall 2023

Dec 12, 2023 Small Sword Bethesda, Maryland Recommended Pass

The Stage Combat Workshop at LA Tech 2023

Apr 8, 2023 Quarterstaff Ruston, Louisiana Basic Pass

Fire & Ice Winter 2023 SPRs

Feb 1, 2023 Unarmed Silver Spring, Maryland Recommended Pass

A-Town Throw Down Staff 2022

May 29, 2022 Broadsword Atlanta, Georgia Recommended Pass

The Stage Combat Workshop at LA Tech 2022

Apr 16, 2022 Single Sword Ruston, Louisiana Recommended Pass

Silver Spring SPRs

Mar 13, 2022 Broadsword and Shield Silver Spring, Maryland Recommended Pass
Mar 13, 2022 Rapier and Dagger Silver Spring, Maryland Basic Pass

Round House Theatre

Feb 14, 2022 Broadsword and Shield Silver Spring, Maryland Basic Pass
Aug 13, 2018 Small Sword Washington, District of Columbia Recommended Pass

The Noble Blades Unarmed SPT

Nov 20, 2021 Unarmed Herndon, Virginia Basic Pass

2021 National Stage Combat Workshop

Aug 6, 2021 Broadsword and Shield Ruston, Louisiana Basic Pass
Aug 6, 2021 Quarterstaff Ruston, Louisiana Basic Pass
Aug 6, 2021 Rapier and Dagger Ruston, Louisiana Basic Pass
Aug 6, 2021 Unarmed Ruston, Louisiana Basic Pass
Aug 6, 2021 Broadsword Ruston, Louisiana Basic Pass
Aug 6, 2021 Small Sword Ruston, Louisiana Recommended Pass
Aug 6, 2021 Knife Ruston, Louisiana Recommended Pass

NSCW 2021 Firearms Certification

Jul 24, 2021 Firearm Ruston, Louisiana Recommended Pass

Tourist Trap 2019

Feb 17, 2019 Single Sword Orlando, Florida Basic Pass
Feb 17, 2019 Broadsword Orlando, Florida Basic Pass

SAFD Theatrical Firearms Safety Course

Jan 6, 2019 Firearm Silver Spring, Maryland Recommended Pass

Tourist Trap 2018

Feb 25, 2018 Rapier and Dagger Orlando, Florida Basic Pass
Feb 25, 2018 Unarmed Orlando, Florida Basic Pass

SPT at Christopher Newport University

Apr 24, 2016 Single Sword Newport News, Virginia Basic Pass
Apr 24, 2016 Unarmed Newport News, Virginia Basic Pass
Apr 24, 2016 Broadsword Newport News, Virginia Basic Pass

Christopher Newport University

Apr 26, 2015 Rapier and Dagger Newport News, Virginia Basic Pass
Apr 26, 2015 Unarmed Newport News, Virginia Basic Pass