Anna Beard
About Anna Beard
Anna Beard first started dancing somewhere about age four in her Wonder Woman underoos and that, as they say, was that. She began pursuing dance in earnest at age seven, training intensely in studios before earning her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance from the University of Michigan in 2003. Along the way, she has danced and trained with a number of different groups, including the Kyrgyz National Ballet in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan as well as her own incarnation, AuxWerks.
Over her twenty years of teaching, a deep love of technique has allowed her to aid artists in refining movement in everything from aerial circus to flowarts, giving her students a strong foundation in a way that is both fun and rewarding. In recent history, her focus has been on instructing adults exclusively as she wants to change perceptions about learning dance at any age, plus they find swearing much more acceptable and entertaining. Digging into the whys and wherefores of teaching methods have driven her to share with those around her (bore to tears?) with her enthusiastic talks about the pedagogy of movement more often than not with wild arm gestures to accompany.
Anna’s recent interest (read as obsession) with sword fighting has inspired her to draw comparisons between the teaching of dance and the teaching of swords. Her workshops have been facilitated at events such as Purpleheart Open, Swordsquatch, and SoCal Swordfight as well as teaching regularly at Austin Historical Weapons Guild where she is a co-owner. She has also been featured on the Modern Rogue YouTube series for Renaissance dance, messer technique, and Dance Assassins (aka Ballet) as well as Guy Windsor’s HEMA Podcast. Anna resides in Austin with her husband, two kids, and a trio of pets where she will talk about dance history or the glory of Meyer to anyone who will listen.
Classes Being Taught by Anna at SoCal Swordfight 2022
Ballet for Swordfighters
The connection between ballet and sword fighting is strong considering that even in Renaissance dance manuals, we are instructed on how to dance with a sword at our hip. That relationship only deepens as swordplay moved into more minute motions of the body. While taking a ballet class to improve sword training is a wonderful concept, the idea of stepping into a ballet class as a novice can be, to say the least, intimidating. This class is here to help!
Ballet for Swordfighters is the brainchild of Anna Beard who is an avid ballet technique nerd, teaching methods nerd, history nerd and also sword nerd. Let’s just say she’s a nerd. What she wants to share in this unique class is an approach to movement that’s tailored to the needs of the swordfighter.
Students will be guided through basic ballet technique (no experience necessary) as well as smatterings of modern dance to bring a higher awareness to weight shifting, body awareness, and footwork to enhance their sword training. Come with an open mind and leave with an increased French verb vocabulary along with some spiffy new techniques that are sure to impress your friends. And maybe even your enemies.
Required Gear
Clothes you can move in, socks, & water bottle
Class Length
90 Minutes
Class Level
Open to All Levels
Yay! You’re A Teacher, but Now What?: An Exploration of Teaching Methods
So you’re a teacher! You have skills and an understanding that set you apart as well as a drive to share your knowledge with those around you. This is a noble pursuit and while enthusiasm goes a long ways, it doesn’t always answer the questions of “What do I teach this week?” or “Why can’t understand what I am presenting?” It can be daunting to structure a sword program, present material in teachable chunks as well as distill all that down to a set of teaching goals.
This workshop aims to demystify, enlighten, and offer all the sweet hacks years of teaching experience can bring. Culture crafting, beginner experience, lesson goals, movement initiation, and how it applies to swinging swords will all be touched upon in this workshop. The concepts presented are designed to spark conversation, new ideas, and refresh one’s practice.
Required Gear
This class is a lecture format
Class Length
90 Minutes
Class Level
Open to All Levels
Yay! You’re A Teacher, but Now What?:
An Exploration of Teaching Methods.
So you’re a teacher! You have skills and an understanding that set you apart as well as a drive to share your knowledge with those around you. This is a noble pursuit and while enthusiasm goes a long ways, it doesn’t always answer the questions of “What do I teach this week?” or “Why can’t understand what I am presenting?” It can be daunting to structure a sword program, present material in teachable chunks as well as distill all that down to a set of teaching goals. This workshop aims to demystify, enlighten, and offer all the sweet hacks years of teaching experience can bring.
Culture crafting, beginner experience, lesson goals, movement initiation, and how it applies to swinging swords will all be touched upon in this workshop. The concepts presented are designed to spark conversation, new ideas, and refresh one’s practice.
Required Gear
None
Class Length
2 Hours
Class Level
All skill fields.
Renaissance Dance
Dance and swordfighting go hand in hand and foot in shoe! This class looks at the contemporary dances that were performed at court or on village greens by anyone and everyone. You will get smatterings of historical context as you learn how to strut, bounce, and flaunt your moves that are sure to turn heads. We will pull from dance masters Fabritio Caroso and Thoinot Arbeau to recreate standards like the Pavane, Galliard, and the Volta.
Not only will be fun a jaunt down history lane, but connections to modern dance and footwork that applies to swordfighting will become clear as you show off your great gams.
Required Gear
Clothes you can move in, socks, & water bottle
Class Length
90 Minutes
Class Level
Beginners and Brand New
Register for SoCal Swordfight Today to be a part of her class
All classes and schedules are subject to change without notice.