Intimacy Professional
Acacia Fischer and Eddie Ramos in ROMEO AND JULIET.
What is Intimacy Choreography?
"Intimacy Choreography is a creative and technical process for creating physical and emotional intimacy, nudity, and sexual violence in live performance. From simple kisses to elaborate and graphic multi-partner intimate moments, well-choreographed intimacy ensures that the director and actors are free to do what they do best: tell powerful stories." - Chelsea Pace, Intimacy Choreographer, Coordinator & Educator
ARTISTIC STATMENT
I come to the field of of intimacy choreography with over a decade of experience as a professional theatre director working on material that required actors to be intimate emotionally and physically. I have choreographed countless kisses, full nudity, simulated sex, simulated sexual violence and many intimate moments in between. I am certified as an ‘Intimacy Captain’, in Mental Health First Aid and have Bystander Intervention training. In addition to my practical experience in the field, I attend on-going professional training workshops with Theatrical Intimacy Education to strengthen and expand my knowledge of best practices and am currently in the 2023 cohort for the SAG-AFTRA accredited intimacy coordinator training and certification program - Intimacy Professionals Association.
The inherent power hierarchy of a rehearsal space can skew informed consent and personal boundaries for actors who are often given the least amount of power in the room. I use my consent-based practice to create specific and mindful movements within the actors boundaries that also successfully brings the director's vision to life. The goal of the work is to provide an ‘ethical, efficient and effective’ process to build intimate choreography that can be re-created every night of performance.
As we step out on stage with cautious optimism “post” COVID-19, we should take special care in telling stories that include physical staged intimacy. Actors who once performed a stage kiss with open arms and joyful play may find that their physical boundaries have changed. In the past, staging intimate moments have been set by the director, dance choreographer, stage manager or even the actors themselves. As an intimacy choreographer, I facilitate the actors' process to establish their boundaries and learn specific choreography - even for a simple stage kiss - so other production members can utilize their rehearsal time and focus on their crucial work. As a result, the story is told in a respectful, clear and compelling manner that promotes the safety of all.
The inherent power hierarchy of a rehearsal space can skew informed consent and personal boundaries for actors who are often given the least amount of power in the room. I use my consent-based practice to create specific and mindful movements within the actors boundaries that also successfully brings the director's vision to life. The goal of the work is to provide an ‘ethical, efficient and effective’ process to build intimate choreography that can be re-created every night of performance.
As we step out on stage with cautious optimism “post” COVID-19, we should take special care in telling stories that include physical staged intimacy. Actors who once performed a stage kiss with open arms and joyful play may find that their physical boundaries have changed. In the past, staging intimate moments have been set by the director, dance choreographer, stage manager or even the actors themselves. As an intimacy choreographer, I facilitate the actors' process to establish their boundaries and learn specific choreography - even for a simple stage kiss - so other production members can utilize their rehearsal time and focus on their crucial work. As a result, the story is told in a respectful, clear and compelling manner that promotes the safety of all.
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TESTIMONIALS
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"Every Stage Manager should have the experience of working with an Intimacy Choreographer like Caitlin! She is a great collaborator and educator. She made our actors feel safe and perfectly outlined each step they would be taking. As a Stage Manager, I was given very clear instructions on how to document the process, what to look for in future rehearsals/ performances, and an open invitation to reach out at any time with questions. (And I did!) Working with Caitlin was a wonderful experience for both cast and crew, and I wouldn't hesitate to call her again! - Rhonda Lehan (Stage Manager; The Sound of Music)
"I loved working with Caitlin. Not only did she work to make me and my scene partner comfortable but also worked to make sure communication was at the forefront. As a trauma-informed specialist, I was most impressed by her creating a common vocabulary to make all consent incredibly clear. She was thoughtful and considerate but also worked to serve the story we were trying to tell. With her guidance we were able to make the intimate moments exactly what they needed to be." - Stephen Huseby (Actor; The Sound of Music)
"I originally met Caitlin in New York City in 2004 and we quickly became artistic collaborators. Seventeen years later, we have joined forces as Co-Artistic Directors, producing partners, actor/director and friends. I first worked with her as an intimacy choreographer (before we called it that) in a 2006 production of MUD by Maria Irene Fornes. The play included an intense and emotional intimate scene that was challenging for me as an actor. Caitlin ensured my boundaries were respected and the choreography was specific. I knew the choreography would be exactly the same every night, which allowed me to trust the structure and focus on the emotional demands of the scene. I enthusiastically recommend working with Caitlin and I’m glad she’s lending her intimacy choreography talents to productions other than her own." - Alia Wilson (Actor, Mud)
"I worked with Caitlin in a production of Tommy Smith’s ‘White Hot'. The play contained a very graphic and long intimate scene. Her technical direction in choreographing both the foreplay leading up to the intimacy and then literally each move of the intimacy (which, dear God, contained an entire monologue) ensured that I felt protected during both rehearsals and the run of the show. The clarification and respect of boundaries we established with me and my scene partner made me feel safe. Her open communication and continual checking in on our comfortability with the intimacy ensured a positive, consensual experience. She is a joy to work with." - Michal Sinnott (Actor, White Hot)
EXPERIENCE
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2023 AMERICA'S SEXIST COUPLE by Ken Levine (Intimacy Consultant), Lowell Arts, Lowell, MI (Richard Mulligan)
2023 THIRTEEN by Jason Robert Brown (Intimacy Choreographer) Rockford High School, (Director Kristin Tomlin), MI. 2023 I LOVE YOU FOREVER (Intimacy Coordinator) SAG independent feature film, Detroit, MI. (Written and Directed by Cazzie David & Elisa Kalini; Cinematography by Cristine Ng) 2023 ONCE ON THIS ISLAND by Lynn Ahrens(Intimacy Choreographer) Grand Rapids Civic Theatre, (Director Marcus Jordan), MI. 2022 CROSSING DELANCEY by Susan Sandler (Intimacy Choreographer) Jewish Theatre Grand Rapids, (Directors Ian Gruel), MI 2022 INTRODUCTION TO BOUNDARIES FOR YOUNG ACTORS (Instructor) Grand Rapids Civic Theatre, MI 2022 THE MUSIC MAN by Meridith Willson (Intimacy Choreographer) Circle Theatre, Grand Rapids, MI (Directors Chris & Jenna Grooms) 2022 INTRODUCTION TO INTIMACY CHOREOGRAPHY WORKSHOPS (Instructor); various theatre's throughout Michigan; CTAM 2022 STEALING JOKES (Intimacy Coordinator) SAG independent feature film, Woodward Original, Detroit, MI. (Written and Directed by Mike Young; Cinematography by Geoff George) 2022 STINNEY: AN AMERICAN EXECUTION (Intimacy Choreographer) music by Frances Pollock, libretto by Tia Price, Opera Grand Rapids, Grand Rapids, MI (Conductor Austin McWilliams; Stage Director Naimah Kisoki) 2022 SHAKESPEARE IN LOVE by Lee Hall (Intimacy Choreographer) Grand Rapids Civic Theatre, Grand Rapids, MI (Director: Allyson Paris) 2021 THE SOUND OF MUSIC (Intimacy Choreographer) by Russell Crouse, Grand Rapids Civic Theatre, Grand Rapids, MI (Director Bruce Tinker) 2021 ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW SHADOW CAST (Intimacy Consultant) Circle Theatre, Grand Rapids, MI (Director Eiraan Betka-Pope) 2018 ROMEO AND JULIET by William Shakespeare, The Vagrancy, Los Angeles 2016 MACBETH by William Shakespeare, The Vagrancy, Los Angeles 2014 WHAT OF THE NIGHT? by Maria Irene Fornes, The Vagrancy, Los Angeles 2014 99 WAYS TO F@CK A SWAN by Kim Rosenstock, The Illyrian Players, Los Angeles 2013 WHITE HOT by Tommy Smith, Hollywood Fringe Festival, The Vagrancy, Los Angeles 2012 DOWN IN THE FACE OF GOD by Tim J. Lord, The Vagrancy, Los Angeles 2010 PHENOMENON OF DECLINE by Joseph Tracz, The Vagrancy, Los Angeles 2009 THE DROWNED WORLD by Gary Owen, The Vagrancy, Los Angeles 2007 MUD by Maria Irene Fornes, The Vagrancy, NYC |
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INTIMACY TRAINING
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2022: Staging Sex: Power Play with Theatrical Intimacy Education (3 hours)
2022 Working with Trans and Non-binary Artists with Theatrical Intimacy Education (3 hours) 2021 Consent in the Acting Classroom with Theatrical Intimacy Education (3 hours) 2021 Trauma Informed Practices with Theatrical Intimacy Education (3 hours) 2021 Solidarity in Action; Bystander Training with Haleema Bharoocha (1 hour) 2021 Theatrical Studio Techniques, Casting, & Policy with Theatrical Intimacy Education (6 hours) 2021 Certified Intimacy Captain with Intimacy Coordinators of Color 2021 Foundations in Race, Intimacy and Consent Workshop with Theatrical Intimacy Education (2 hours) 2021 Intimacy Coordination Workshop with Theatrical Intimacy Education (6 hours) 2020 Intimacy Choreography Workshop with Theatrical Intimacy Education (6 hours) 2020 Best Practices Workshop with Theatrical Intimacy Education (6 hours) 2020 Intimacy Choreography with Carly Weckstein, Virtual (3 hours) 2020 Introduction to Theatre Intimacy with Carly Weckstein, Virtual (2 hours) 2020 Mental Health First Aid Certification with Blue Ridge Behavioral HealthCare |
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