Today, we’d like to introduce you to Nicole Perry.
Hi Nicole, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
In 2017, I was choreographing a musical for a high school. The director hadn’t said anything about the kiss at the end, and the students were getting nervous.
One came to me to ask “How does this work?” I realized that while we were choreographing dances and fights and telling the actors to sit, stand, and walk at certain times, we had no procedure for moments like this! It was bonkers!
So, I started looking around for resources and found some workshops. In 2018, I took a 3-day intensive with Intimacy Directors International, and then in 2019, I participated in a 9-day intensive. I realized that this new field of “staged intimacy” was a place where I could bring movement skills, as well as my passions for theatre and dance, plus my desire to see others succeed in their work.
In 2021, I was certified by Intimacy Directors and Coordinators. I have worked in small, local theatres and off-Broadway, as well as indie films and major studio features. I’ve also staged intimacy in opera and work as a dance choreographer.
We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
No! Nothing in the arts is a smooth road!
But in intimacy, there wasn’t even a road when I started. 2019 and 2020 were a lot of conversations and teaching moments of what the work was and how it could benefit actors, theatre companies, directors, production companies, schools, etc.
Even still, there are folks who think the work is unnecessary or like I’m “the sex police.” But really, I’m there to make art! I want us all to do our best work so we have a final product or performance we are proud of and excited to share with audiences.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. What can you tell our readers who might not be as familiar with your work?
As an intimacy professional and a dance choreographer, I am known for my specificity of movement. I’ve been a dance educator for 20 years and am also a certified Laban/Bartenieff Movement Analyst. I really geek out over movement.
I have also done a lot of professional education in trauma-informed creative practices. Every human has experienced trauma in some form, and we need to remember this when we work and create with others.
I’m really proud of helping to create the Florida Intimacy Professionals Collective (https://www.floridaintimacyprofessionals.org/) and Intimacy Direction in Dance (https://www.intimacydirectionindance.com/). These two organizations help connect people to qualified Intimacy Professionals.
We’d love to hear about any fond memories you have from when you were growing up.
Summer days with my grandparents. One set would take my sister and me to yard sales every Saturday morning. This is probably where I developed my love of vintage clothes!
The other set had a pool and a ton of blueberry bushes. We would swim and eat all the berries.
Contact Info:
- Website: http://www.nicoleperry.org
- Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/intimacychoreofl
Image Credits
Amy Mahon, Clay Cartland, Matthew Buffalo’s “Which Way to the Stage,” Matthew Tippins, Nicole Perry, Sandi Stock, and Erynn Dalton in “The D*ke and the Porn Star”
