PRESS FOR LANCE ORLANDO

Stage combat, stunt work, and immersive theatre are becoming household terms, and LANCE Orlando is there on the cutting edge (pun intended) of all three, blending styles and disciplines to create something entirely our own. As you can imagine, this unique combination of performance tends to attract some attention. After all, we're fighting with swords in a public park, or dressing up like fairies and battling it out in a geek pub, or playing living chess matches at Renaissance festivals. We are proud of the press we receive for our performances and grateful for the spotlight shone on our training process. LANCE grows within our community with the help of media coverage, and we appreciate every reporter and photographer who takes the time to come learn about what we do. We hope you enjoy this selection of clippings from our press coverage!  
COMBAT PERFORMANCE ACTORS SHARPEN THEIR
SWORD-FIGHTING ​SKILLS AT LOCAL PARK

​by Ryan Gillespie for the Orlando Sentinel
July 9th, 2017
The clanging of steel swords and the grunting of physical stress rings through the air each weekend at the waterfront of Cypress Grove Park.

Partners dip, roll and stab at each other rhythmically as if they’re ballet dancers perfecting a routine. Their fights often end in a simulated dramatic death and often laughter.

Members of Live Action Novelty Combat Entertainment, or LANCE, are actors improving their craft for shows at venues such as dinner theaters, bars and Renaissance fairs.
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“I tell people to imagine what you see in things like ‘Lord of the Rings,’ King Arthur or Robin Hood,” said A.J. Harrett, the troop’s training committee chair. “In a dance, you choreograph the steps and the movements… that’s the same thing we’re doing.”

Sunday, about 20 participants wrote scripts for fights and worked to perfect each move. Some were armed with swords with arm-length blades, while others preferred daggers or wooden staffs.

The blades, although steel, are purposely dull. In a perfect fight, the strikes are dramatic and swing close to their partner’s body, with attacks parried away by a sword. They focus on eye contact, sound effects and dialogue to create a more authentic scene.

​“A lot of what we do is acting. All of our training is geared toward performance,” said Charles Hale, who helped found the group. “A lot of people don’t understand what we do.”