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My first, and definitely not my last, book contribution combining my work in intimacy direction and dance is now available.
Check out “The Intimacy Coordinator’s Guidebook”, edited by Brooke M. Haney, with contributions from professionals in various specialties. My contributions can be found in chapter 16, specifically on academic dance and touch in dance. My contributions are alongside those of Intimacy Direction in Dance co-founder, Sarah Lozoff.
Florida Intimacy Professionals (FLIP) is pleased to announce their launch of an online database for qualified Intimacy Directors and Coordinators in Florida. The organization was created by professionals in live (theatre, opera, and dance) and recorded (film and TV) entertainment to promote the use of Intimacy Professionals, and also to demonstrate best practices in the entertainment industry. These professionals, specially trained in movement for story-telling and creating moments of contact, uphold performer boundaries while fulfilling the creative vision of the director.
Read More2023 was a really creatively fulfilling year. I got to do so much in dance, intimacy, and movement direction, and I am so grateful to have had these opportunities.
TL;DR:
I did a lot of fun stuff with awesome people.
I work with students, who then become professional colleagues.
I work with director colleagues who value me, not just as box to check, but as movement artist who makes story better/more interesting/clearer.
Theatre improves your Spanish!
I interact with incredible artists, at the top of their craft. But my 2023 award for star collaborator goes to Morgan Parker.
Photos of all of these moments are on my Dance and Intimacy Choreography works sample pages.
January: I actually performed again, as well as choreographed for the 2nd "KINesphere", funded by the Broward County Cultural Division. I was also back at Theatre Lab ID'ing "Last Night in Inwood" by Alix Sobler, directed by Matt Stabile, featuring Aubrey Elson and Javon Jacobs.
February: I ID'd 3 shows: "Good People" at The Maltz Jupiter Theatre, "Chicken and Biscuits" with the incredible Bianca LaVerne Jones at Asolo Rep, and "Company" at NWSA.
March: I got to movement direct and choreograph as part of TheatreLab's New Play Festival. I also ID'd a Miami story, "Defacing Michael Jackson" at Miami New Drama.
I was also honored to be a speaker at the 40th annual Miami Film Festival, on Intimacy Coordination. I got to be with a wonderful creative and conversation partner, Chris Molina.
April: I had the honor of working on the Rolling World Premier of the incredible Spanish/English play-with-music, "Refuge" with friends and colleagues.
I also ventured into violence, as well as intimacy, for “Marisol” at NWSA.
May was a rest, which was great, because I needed to plan for my VAP position at FAU Department of Theatre & Dance, before jumping into rehearsals.
June: I had a blast with my second Summer Shorts at City Theatre. Extra bonus was working with Melissa Almaguer, Alex Alvarez, and Maha McCain on these.
A film I worked on the year before, "Jagged Mind" premiered in Miami at the American Black Film Festival, and then dropped on Hulu. It later makes Decidr's Top 10 List of Movie Sex Scenes for 2023! Masie Richardson-Sellars stars, with direction by Kelley Kali.
July: I met one of my new favorite humans and collaborators, Christopher Michaels! I did intimacy and violence for "Thrill Me", which he directed, starring Dylan Goike and Kevin Veloz. They were accompanied by Eric Alsford, and honestly, he and the 2 actors did NOT get enough love and notice this theatre season. They were perfection.
August: I got to work with Miami's hottest new theatre company, Lakehouseranchdotpng, on the world premier of "XOXO, Lola" starring Noelle Nichols and Samuel Krogh. Lauren Witte captured some of our rehearsals for the Miami Herald.
September: Was all about "Love! Valour! Compassion!". I worked my tail off on this one. Re-staging the "Little Swans" variation from "Swan Lake", creating a modern dance solo for Robert Koutras (who was flipping amazing at it), and collaborating with the legendary Michael Leeds on the intimate and violent moments. All of these actors were amazing and they ripped my heart out.
October: I FINALLY got to ID "Spring Awakening". It and "Romeo and Juliet" are like THE shows for IDs, and I've done R&J twice, so, it was time. This was for the BUTC at FAU. My favorite moment was actually the fantasy about the piano teacher. I am appreciative of the students' clear communication, bravery, and joy in the process.
A film I worked on the year before, "Pain Hustlers", also came to Netflix. I was the Miami unit IC.
November: At the end of October, I got to rejoin Bianca LaVerne Jones, this time in Philadelphia at the Lantern. I was so excited to come "home" to create the dance and intimacy for the powerful, beautiful "Crumbs from the Table of Joy".
I also did dance and intimacy for fun musical "9 to 5", at FAU. The dance captains, Sarah Sun Park and Marissa Spurr were invaluable, and working with Ted deChatelet and Caryl Ginsburg Fantel was a dream.
I also got to go back to the Lab, this time as the movement director for "The Berlin Diaries" as the forces that are Niki Fridh and Avi Hoffman tackled 14 characters in 85 minutes.
December: Was a month of joy as I watched Ballet 2 of FAU be more beautiful than I hoped in the fall dance concert. And right before the holidays, we closed "La Gringa" at City Theatre. This play exemplified the magic of theatre, for me. But also, the magic of the work I get to do.
Jagged Mind, now streaming on Hulu, has one of Decider’s “10 Hottest Movie Sex Scenes in 2023”! Read what they said here.
While I am super excited to have my work noticed and celebrated (not to mention the work of the director and actors), I was really disappointed to see that not only did this piece not mention a single intimacy coordinator to credit their work, but, it didn’t even mention the fact that the role of intimacy coordinator exists. We still have a long ways to go…..
Check out some photos of me at work with LakeHouseRanchdotPNG in this online story from the Miami Herald.
Photos and story by Lauren Witte.
Actors: Noelle Nichols and Samuel Krogh
There’s always going to be good and bad reviews. And I feel like with magical/sci-fi/horror blends, you are really going to get strong opinions on what worked and didn’t.
But here’s the link to two reviews of Jagged Mind, now available on Hulu, that let you know- the simulated sex worked!
Lesbian Thriller “Jagged Mind” Is a Haunting Portrayal of Abuse- by KAYLA KUMARI UPADHYAYA for Autostraddle.
Jagged Mind Review: Putting the Eroticism Back in Erotic Thrillers - by David Reddish for MovieWeb
Every year the Miami New Times gives out “Best of Miami” awards. Last year when these were announced, I was actually on the set of God Forbid, with Bill Corben and the Rakontur team when they won, in this category, for Cocaine Cowboys.
This year, God Forbid is taking home Best Miami Documentary! Were there lots of contenders? No idea. But, without a doubt, I know this one is the best.
I am very proud to have been the Intimacy Coordinator for the reenactments for this doc. Haven’t seen it yet? It’s on Hulu (and is still their most-watched doc!).
Excited to share that Jagged Mind, a film I worked on most of last summer (when I wasn’t on the set of God Forbid) is making its world premiere a feature at the American Black Film Festival here in Miami in June! A few days later, it will hit Hulu, as a Pride feature. Hulu actually kept me very busy last summer!
Woodward and Richardson-Sellers in a moment created by Kelley Kali and Nicole Perry for Jagged Mind, coming to the American Black Film Festival in Miami June 2023.
The 20th Digital horror feature from director Kelley Kali and writer Allyson Morgan stars Maisie Richardson-Sellers and Shannon Woodward.
Intimacy Coordinator: Nicole Perry
Over on the “Why Hire an Intimacy Choreographer” page, I’ve created 3 new, free, downloads that I think might be useful for theatre or dance companies or production companies or studios considering whether an Intimacy Choreographer is the right fit for the project, and what they can expect that to look like:
5 Questions to ask when Hiring an Intimacy Choreographer
Intimacy Coordination Overview
Intimacy Direction Overview
As this is my website, the views expressed on this page, that page, and in those documents are solely my own.
I had the honor of being on South Florida radio staple Sundial today to talk about the intimacy profession and give a teaser of my conversation as part of the Miami Film Festival.
Hear the episode here. Get tickets to the conversation here.
Right now, my Twitter timeline is full of conversation about sex scenes in film and tv. You might think this is because I am an Intimacy Coordinator. You would be wrong. This is because I follow a lot of other exvangelicals, many who are more engaged than I in debates with current evangelicals.
There are apparently many folks who feel like current entertainment options have TOO MUCH SEX! Never mind that it’s really not the case. They don’t like it!
I think it is really interesting that this conversation is so hot (haha, get it?) around sex, and not around violence.
Read MoreMoney is a challenge for every artist. Despite the buzz around Intimacy work for theatre, film, dance, tv, and opera, payment remains a sticky subject for any Intimacy Director or Intimacy Coordinator.
Read More2022 was a big year of work for me. Here’s my year in review!
Read MoreConsent cannot exist if someone is under manipulation, influence, or coercion. Therefore, consent cannot exist when power dynamics are at play. Because power dynamics, whether social-structural or embodied, influence how we chose, behave, and speak.
Which is why consent does not exist for performers or students.
Read MoreWe know, somewhere in our brains, when we see social media posts that we aren’t always getting the whole story. So, this post is my attempt to be transparent. To share the whole story, or at least another side of it. CW: depression, anxiety, negative self-talk, ED
Read MoreI got to see a preview version of “God Forbid: The Sex Scandal that Brought Down a Dynasty “ in Miami last week, about 5 days before it dropped on Hulu (it’s there right now! Go watch!). Afterwards, I shared some thoughts on Twitter. This post is an adaptation of and expansion on those thoughts.
Content Warning: Religion, Religious figures, January 6, 2020, Abortion, Sex
Read MoreI was really excited to see last week that a project I worked on over the summer is releasing on Hulu on November 1! While Hulu hasn’t posted their schedule for November online yet, it should be available soon. Variety posted a Hulu description in their press release about the film.
Read MoreOn Set, Intimacy Coordinator Finally Ease Long-simmering Discomfort by Sarah Rappaport for Bloomberg News. Sept. 1, 2022.
A few guidelines you can keep in mind as you budget for your theatrical season or film production:
Read MoreMy job is a hot topic. There’s no doubt about it. And a lot of conversations I have, with strangers on TikTok, in meetings with producers, and with students at the university start with “How do you become an Intimacy Coordinator?” or “What are the qualifications to be an Intimacy Coordinator?”
Read MoreNicole LaBonde- Transformation Coaching of Mind and Body, Pilates, Nutritional Cleansing
CABARRET- Barre and Dance Fitness
Public Persona- Professional Image Coaching for Public Speaking and/or Online Branding for Fitness Instructors, Life Coaches, Healers and other Heart-Centered Entrepreneurs.
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