Nicole Perry demonstrates the side the pelvis to actors Marlo Rodriguez and Denzel McCausland, while Assistant Director Kunya Rowley looks on. Photo by Ryan Arnst for New City Players’ production of Lungs. October 2021.
An Intimacy Choreographer can bring a lot more to your production than a boundaries conversation or choreographing a sex scene. Learn more about my work below.
Intimacy Choreographer FAQs
Why would someone hire an Intimacy Choreographer?
ANSWER: There are lots of reasons. The type of scenes (see #3 below), concern for performer safety, legal protections, and others. But my favorite reason to go to work is: “because it makes the story-telling better!” When performers are confident, they are able to do their best work. By letting them know that their safety is is a priority and providing clarity for movements, and how those movements support the story, performers can focus on their job- creating characters and a story people can connect with.
Intimacy Choreographers are movement specialists. I am trained in the ways bodies tell stories. My training comes from dance (ballet, jazz, modern, and post-modern) and the Laban/Bartenieff Movement System. Working with an Intimacy Choreographer can make scenes more dynamic, diverse, and again, tell a better, clearer story.
2. What is the difference between an Intimacy Director, Intimacy Coordinator, Intimacy Choreographer, and Intimacy Professional?
ANSWER: An Intimacy Director is for LIVE performance: theatre, dance, opera, etc.
An Intimacy Coordinator is for RECORDED performance: film, tv, etc.
Intimacy Choreographer and Intimacy Professionals can be either/or, both/and.
I choose to use Intimacy Choreographer, as I am a movement specialist, and feel this title best highlights my movement background.
3. What types of scenes does an Intimacy Choreographer work on?
ANSWER: IDC has a great PDF flow chart that can help here. I give my answers over on my blog in this post, and this one.
For me, it comes down to two questions-
Are people vulnerable? If performers and/or their characters are in a state of vulnerability, physically or emotionally, extra support can be helpful.
Are there are specific movement requirements? Should it be stylized or period-specific? Does it fill a lot of time, requiring a variety of movement? Or have other specific movement needs?
Here are some examples of scenes that could I could support as an Intimacy Choreographer, that are not the obvious sex scenes! :
grieving siblings at a graveside
childbirth
someone having a flashback to a traumatic experience
someone struggling with a form of self-harm
a first kiss
stylized or period-specific intimacy
developing character movement distinct from personal movement patterns (this is a Laban/Bartenieff-specific skill!)
undressing/being undressed for medical examinations, bathing, or simply changing onstage
4. What does it mean to be certified?
ANSWER: Certification is one way to show the training an Intimacy Choreographer has received. It is not the only way to become an Intimacy Professional. However, you do want someone who has training in: movement, power dynamics, consent, trauma, and in your specific medium. Check resumes and references. Use the Free Download below to help!
I choose certification as a way to honor myself for the time and money that I put into training to be an Intimacy Choreographer. I am a certified Intimacy Director and Intimacy Coordinator. I am a certified Intimacy Director and certified Intimacy Coordinator with IDC, but I have done trainings with IDI, TIE, and Intimacy Stage and Screen (UK).
A side note (because this actually has come up…): being involved as an actor in a scene of intimacy, or observing an intimacy director working with other actors in 1 production does NOT constitute training as an Intimacy Professional.
Fight Director Lee Soroko, Actors Caleb Scott & Ernesto Reyes, & Intimacy Director Nicole Perry collaborate of the 2022 Broadway Factor production of Borrowed.
How does an Intimacy Choreographer Support a Production?
These are specific to how I approach my role as an Intimacy Director / Intimacy Coordinator.
Pre-Production or Before Rehearsals Start
Collaborate on audition notices and procedures re: onstage intimacy, nudity riders, etc.
Provide a breakdown of all intimate moments in the script.
Converse with the director about vision for the scene(s) as part of the overall story, and working methods.
1-on-1 performer calls to establish boundaries and working methods before rehearsals/filming begin(s).
Create/consult on any documents (Closed Set memos, nudity riders, etc.) that may be needed.
Begin conversations with others on the creative team (wardrobe, dance choreographer, etc.) on how we can best support each other.
Create or consult on Content Advisories.
During the Rehearsal Period (Theatre/Dance/Opera)
Day 1 “Company Culture” and/or “Protecting the Performance: Boundaries and Closure” workshops on Power and Consent available through Momentum Stage.
Day 1 “Intro to Intimacy Choreography” Designer presentation
Establish consent-based and trauma-informed practices in the rehearsal room for all members of the cast and crew.
Collaboratively choreograph intimate scene(s) that fit the director’s vision, upholds performer boundaries, and tells a dynamic, exceptional story.
Create options to the scenes for understudies and to always have an alternative for performer health.
Collaborate with costumes, props, lighting, etc. to support performer boundaries and excellent story-telling.
Create and share protocols for rehearsal, performance, and sustainability of any scenes of nudity or simulated sex.
Review rehearsal reports for any applicable items.
Laban Motif all choreography for the prompt book and to offer as additional meaning-making tool for the performers.
Support the performers’ physical, emotional, and mental well-being.
On the Day of Filming (TV/Film)
Establish consent-based and trauma-informed practices for filming the scene.
Collaboratively choreograph intimate scenes that fit the director’s vision, upholds performer boundaries, and tells a dynamic, exceptional story.
Coordinate with wardrobe, makeup, etc. to support performer boundaries and excellent story-telling.
Provide a kit of needed modesty garments, barriers, tapes, and other support tools.
Uphold any Closed Set memos or nudity riders.
Provide movement notes if requested by the director.
Support the performers’ physical, emotional, and mental well-being.
Performance Period or Post-Production
Provide closure practices for the whole production team.
Provide closure practices for the performers.
Review performance reports for any applicable items.
Discuss storage procedures of sensitive footage
Review edits to ensure they fit within performers’ nudity riders and/or stated boundaries.
Review marketing materials to ensure they fit within performers’ nudity riders and/or stated boundaries.
Provide promotion for projects on social media channels and website.
Having an Intimacy Professional on your project is good press!
Even more FAQs about Intimacy Direction and Intimacy Coordination!
How much does an Intimacy Director / Intimacy Coordinator charge?
The answer, like almost everything in this industry is— it depends!
Working on a SAG production is different than working on a student film. Working for an established regional theatre is different than working at a new theatre company. Working with a small modern dance company is different than working with a long-established, well-endowed ballet company. What is important to me is that this work is accessible to those who want it.
A few guidelines you can keep in mind:
For live performance (theatre, opera, concert dance), your Intimacy Director should be paid what you pay your Fight Director, Music Director, and/or Dance Choreographer. These rates should be comparable to what you pay your Sound and Lighting Designers.
I, and other members of the Florida Intimacy Professionals Collective use the SDC tiers as a reference point for live work.
For film, your Intimacy Coordinator should be paid comparably to your Stunt Coordinator and/or other Department Heads.
For SAG productions, these rates are set.
For live performance (theatre, opera, concert dance), prep work is built into my rate. You are paying not only for me to be in the rehearsal room, but for me to have read, researched, conversed, shopped, and/or designed all of the things necessary for my work that day.
For film, prep work is billed as a separate day, as is industry standard.
Please contact me about your project for a quote.
Currently, in Florida, I have support rates for queer independent films to help ensure these films get made with the utmost professionalism, and to help withstand public scrutiny.
How do I become an Intimacy Director / Intimacy Coordinator?
As mentioned in #4 above, Certification is one way to demonstrate qualification for Intimacy Direction and/or Intimacy Coordination work. I am certified as both an Intimacy Director and an Intimacy Coordinator through IDC. They are linked in #3 above.
I have a lot of free information on intimacy choreography on my TikTok, in my blog, and on this page. If you have questions beyond this, please book me for a consultation!
Can I shadow/assist you? Can someone on our set/in our company train with you?
That is certainly possible! However, I do have some requirements for those wishing to assist or shadow:
Have completed IDC Levels 1 and 2 Foundations, IPEC Modules 1 and 2, and/or TIE Best Practices and Intimacy Choreography or Intimacy Coordination (whichever fits the media we are working in) workshops, or a similar configuration of trainings from other organizations.
Be certified in Mental Health First Aid and/or have significant Trauma-Informed Practices training.
Not be in a position of power in the set or rehearsal room (ie the director, producer, etc).
Be willing to enroll in mentorship and/or lab hours with IPEC for your shadowing/assisting time.
Taking on an assistant may affect rates.