We had the good fortune of connecting with The La Slay Llc and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi The LA Slay LLC, can you talk to us a bit about the social impact of your business?
The LA Slay is first and foremost a safe place for everyone to come and learn. We have heard a number of female presenting and queer people tell us that they want to train, but it can often be intimidating to go to workshops that are primarily attended by male combatants. By openly announcing that we are a safe place for anyone to come train, we hope that we have given an opportunity for everyone to learn without feeling nervous or that they don’t belong. We announce this with our name, our logo, and our marketing, and the hope is that we present ourselves as a safe alternative for those who might be intimidated by other organizations.

One of the biggest impacts that this artform and community can teach us is how to be more empathetic and how to be a better communicator. Working with a partner to create a moment of dynamic violence while keeping each other safe is very difficult to do, and it requires constant communication. We are constantly asking each other questions like “How was that?” “Was that too much?” “What do you need from me?” We ask these questions so often that it becomes ingrained in our muscle memory, much like our ability to throw a punch or a kick. Stage combat can be one of the most effective tools for social emotional learning because it requires the practical application of skills like empathy, collaboration, and teamwork.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
The LA Slay is a partnership that was born out of a desire to do two main things: provide a safe space for everyone to train including queer and female presenting people, and to bring a workshop in the style of the S.A.F.D. to the west coast. We get a lot of feedback saying that our workshops feel like a safe and supportive place to learn, and it’s nice having a workshop close to home that doesn’t require a flight to the east coast or the south.

This workshop has been a dream for a number of people in the stage community for years. Challenges and difficulties involving access to space, funds, and time have always been limiting factors for anyone attempting to start the process. It took hundreds of hours of planning, dozens of early morning zoom calls, and a team willing to make some sacrifices to make it all happen. There were many times where each one of us were individually burnt out. When that happened, the other two were able to take up the slack. Then, when the time came to put it all together, our team was able to do the same for each other. Then, when our students were in class, they did the same for each other.

If we take away nothing else, it is that community has been essential to the current success of The LA Slay. That community requires empathy, communication, and collaboration from each individual student to the organizers. Without that community, we would not be able to hold these classes.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
As performers who train in a physical art form like stage combat, there is no better place to go than JAM (Joining All Movement). But that’s probably not what you’re looking for.

We are huge fans of Italian food. There is a delicious chain called Uovo with locations in Pasadena, Mid Wilshire, and Santa Monica. If you’re willing to make the drive to the coast, you can enjoy your food with a great view of the ocean.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
First and foremost, we are standing on the shoulders of the giants who created the Society of American Fight Directors, also known as the S.A.F.D. This organization has fought rights for Equity actors across America, codified stage combat language to ease communication in rehearsals, and provides workshops across the nation so there is more equal access to this training for everyone. The S.A.F.D. has a 4o year history of progress and we would not be holding our workshops without them.

We also want to thank California State University Los Angeles for providing us with a home for the last two years. It has meant the world to have the support of their Theatre and Dance Department, and more specifically Meredith Greenburg who is the Department Chair of Theatre and Dance for supporting our team by providing space and resources to make our workshops happen.

Finally, we want to thank the students, staff, and faculty that are helping grow our community on the west coast. The S.A.F.D. has done a tremendous job of expanding opportunities, but The LA Slay is currently one of very few workshops on the west coast. While we built the workshop, we would not be where we are without the trust of our community to help continue its growth.

Website: https://laslay.com

Instagram: @thelaslayllc

Facebook: LA Slay

Image Credits
Images by Collin Bressie

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