Franklin Square Library hosts interactive Star Wars Day lightsaber workshop

The Franklin Square Library celebrated Star Wars Day with an interactive adult workshop led by Saber Guild Endor Temple, a Long Island–based, Lucasfilm-recognized nonprofit performance group that specializes in lightsaber choreography and costumed stage combat.

Saber Guild blends theatrical performance with martial-arts-inspired movement while raising money for charitable causes, including Cohen Children’s Medical Center. The group operates as a volunteer organization, with members creating and maintaining their own costumes and equipment out of pocket. The organization emphasized that all donations collected through performances and events go directly to charity.

“We’re not for profit, and everything we use is paid for ourselves,” said Ben Prichep, assistant local director. He added that the group’s mission is rooted in community service rather than commercial production.

During the Franklin Square session, instructors guided participants through the basics of lightsaber choreography, introducing structured movement patterns, timing drills and coordinated sequences inspired by stage combat techniques. The workshop focused on building fundamentals before advancing into partnered movement and group coordination.

Michael James, costume director for Saber Guild Endor Temple, explained that the group’s rehearsals follow a consistent structure designed to build skill over time. “We devote the first half hour to basics,” he said. “Then we teach one drill or one technique, and the final portion of rehearsal is open choreography so members can constantly work on fights for upcoming shows.” James, 54, has been participating in martial arts for the past 40 years.

“The choreography system that we use works. It's proven,” James said. We've been using it for years.

James noted that rehearsals are held weekly and split between official members and those working toward membership. He said the structure helps ensure both safety and consistency while allowing performers to continuously refine their routines. “The first hour is for approved members only, and the remaining time is open for training and development,” he added.

At the Franklin Square Library workshop, participants practiced introductory combinations in pairs, learning how simple movements can be developed into synchronized fight sequences. Instructors emphasized safety as the top priority, followed closely by enjoyment and creative expression.

As part of the program, Saber Guild members also demonstrated an in-progress choreography they have been developing for an upcoming performance. The brief showcase gave attendees a behind-the-scenes look at how routines evolve through repetition, refinement and teamwork.

Saber Guild Endor Temple operates as part of a global network of chapters that host performances, workshops and charity events. Each chapter selects a local nonprofit to support.

Participants left the session with a better grasp of basic choreography and a new appreciation for the skill, focus, and teamwork that go into staged lightsaber combat.