Bette Cassatt is a professional actor and has been fight director for many shows in the Washington DC area, performed stunts for TV and film, and has taught stage combat to all age levels – from children’s classes to the MFA program at Catholic University of America. She began her stage combat training at age 13 at a summer theatre workshop. Since then, she has trained with many teachers and fight masters from all over the world, including legend Patrick “Paddy” Crean (Errol Flynn’s stunt double and fight choreographer), who is known as “the father of modern fight directing.” In 2010, she was awarded “Best Female Actor-Combatant,” by the Society of American Fight Directors at the National Stage Combat Workshop. She has performed fights all over the area including: The Kennedy Center, The Shakespeare Theatre, The Folger Shakespeare Library, and The Women in the Arts Museum. She has done fights and stuntwork for America’s Most Wanted and several films. Bette is also featured as the Sith warrior in videos for international promotion of the Hasbro lightsabers as well as for the Saber Practice Bokkens for ThinkGeek.com.
“Bette was terrific! My daughter loved her class and learned new skills that she used on stage later that spring. Bette was encouraging, clear and resourceful. I highly recommend her class.” -B.P. (Herndon, VA)
“My daughter says that she is a great teacher and manages her classes well. The classes are fun, educational and hands on. As a parent, I never had any issues with Ms. Cassatt. She was always very charming and kind.” -N.G. (Annandale, VA)
“As a homeschooling parent for twelve years and a former teacher outside the home, I have extremely high standards regarding who I will entrust my child to for any purposes be they social, sports-related or academic. I read Ms. Cassatt’s bio, and inquired about her background with the director who gave glowing recommendations about her. My son has been continuously enrolled in her Stage Combat class. He has had the opportunity to grow and develop in his skills, as well as to learn important values of accountability and professionalism in general under Ms. Cassatt’s tutelage. I hold her in the highest regard and have found her to be the consummate professional with an impeccable sense of what is appropriate.” -A.R. (Gaithersburg, MD)
This was my son’s absolute favorite class! He really enjoyed what he was learning and loved having Ms. Cassatt as a teacher. I observed Ms. Cassatt’s class a few times and she was always very kind and patient with the kids. -A.F. (Woodbridge, VA)
