Looking for a place for Rennaisance fencing

[benign-cremator.livejournal.com]

Greetings, all;

I am looking to start teaching a friend of mine historic or Renaissance fencing (think Three Musketeers or rapier and dagger fencing), but need a location within which to fence.  So I am searching for indoor spaces that can be used for this.  Our needs are:

1:  Indoor, on account of the weather
2:  High-ish ceilings, since our blades are up to 4' long and there are attacks that swing over the head
3:  Large, empty floor space (at least 14' x 15') with a smooth, rigid floor surface. 
      Wooden floors are ideal, since they have a bit of flex to them, rugs are not so good, but it depends more upon what is under them.  Concrete floors are bad, as in, makes it more likely to injure ones knees.
4:  Venue owner understands that we will be pursuing an athletic activity that is a martial art.
5:  The space is reasonably inexpensive.  Right now, there are only 2 of us.  It may grow to be as many as 4 or 5 in the future, but that is still a narrow base over which to share costs.
6:  Rooms to change into and out of athletic clothing.  Restrooms are ok.
7:  Both of us are local to Davis Square, and something close by would be nice.

I am already asking amongst the local fencing sallets, but have found their schedules to be very full already.  Also, we know about fencing in the SCA (we are refugees from their politics) and the Higgins Armory (too long of a drive for a week night, and their schedules on weekends is busy).  However, if anyone knows of any other solution, please let me know.  Thanks in advance.

Comments

[rmd.livejournal.com]

It's over in Central Square, but the Dance Complex building has certainly hosted martial artists with weapons before and fit your criteria well.

[mamabunny72.livejournal.com]

Maybe too big of a space for 2 people, but I know that Arlington Recreation offers fencing classes at the former Gibbs Jr High building in East Arlington and Winchester Rec has fencing in the gym their building (but WR gym floor is not wood... I want to say ... tile? I took a Zumba class there.) It's is about 20 min drive from Davis... Maybe either organization would rent out?

Cambridge Center for Adult Education has a room they use for dance and fitness- the Roberts Room in the Brattle House (42 Brattle); their schedule could be pretty full though and the ceiling might be a bit too low. (Going by memory; it's been awhile since I was in there.)

I initially mis-read "Higgins Armory" as "Highland Armory" (as in Arts in the Armory building on Highland Ave) and was puzzled as to how could it be that long a drive.

[jblack73.livejournal.com]

What you are looking for is www.baystatefencers.com
They are over near inman - have a huge facility and have taught theatrical fencing classes in the past.
World class athletes and the owner has done theater work in the past (lighting, stage design)

[fredrickegerman.livejournal.com]

You might inquire with Kunstbruder about their space arrangements (they rent time with a gym in Medford). https://sites.google.com/site/kunstbruder/

Similarly, Schola Saint George Boston now runs its classes over in Huron Village behind the Harvard Observatory:
http://www.scholasaintgeorge.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=66&Itemid=120

Both of these are primarily Medieval European Martial Arts groups, but might at the very least be able to provide advice / assistance with space close in to Somerville, and a lot of the folks are also interested in historical fencing. I'm part of another longsword group, Forte Swordplay, that uses dojo space in Burlington and occasionally does rapier play on Fridays:
http://www.forteswordplay.com/