What is an intimacy coordinator/director?
An Intimacy Coordinator, often referred to as an IC, is a choreographer, a movement coach, an advocate for actors, and a liaison between actors and production for scenes that involve nudity/hyper exposed work, simulated sex acts, and intimate physical contact in T.V. or film.
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An Intimacy Director, often referred to as an ID, carries out the same role as an IC but for Theatre and Live Performance
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April as an intimacy coordinator/director
April Sigman-Marx (she/her) strives to empower artists through inclusive and embodied practices that support a culture of consent and collaboration.
Upon learning about intimacy work in 2016, April began a journey training in intimacy coordination and direction, mental health first aid, trauma-informed practices, EDI, anti-racism work, disability justice, gender and sexuality, anti-harassment work, bystander intervention, nonviolent communication, mediation and conflict resolution, navigating power structures, and consent and boundaries practices, with particular attention on navigating beyond physical boundaries into mental, emotional, artistic, and academic consent.
Additionally, she applies her 30+ years of dance, movement, choreography and acting experience as well as her body language expertise to intimate movement choreography and storytelling. Drawing on her 20+ years as a pedagogue, April teaches consent and boundary practice workshops for educators and artists who wish to build a culture of consent in the classroom, rehearsal room, on-set and within the industry as a whole.
Working with an intimacy coordinator/director
As Intimacy Coordinator, April will facilitate safe practices and a culture of consent while sustaining professional and artistic excellence on set. This can include: advocating for actors and crew, liaison with multiple departments, assisting with rider language, consultation and/or providing intimacy garments and barriers, conducting consent and boundary training, chemistry exercises, closure practices, choreography, and movement coaching. Overall provide support on set during vulnerable moments of nudity, hyper exposed work, platonic and intimate touch, kissing, simulated sex acts, sexual violence/assault, or any physical or emotional intimacy as needed, while bringing the directors vision to life.
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Does my film or TV production need an Intimacy Coordinator? View this IC flow Chart​ to help you decide.
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Does my theatrical production need an Intimacy Director? View this ID flow Chart to help you decide.
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Work with April
Want to work with April as an Intimacy Coordinator on your upcoming film or TV project or as an Intimacy Director on your upcoming theatrical production? Click on the IC/IC button to fill out an inquiry form
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April provides zoom and in person workshops for the following: Creating a Culture of Consent in the Classroom and/or Rehearsals, Avoid Burnout by Building a Self-Care Plan, Foundations of Intimacy work, Introduction to Intimate Choreography. Workshops can also be personalized for your organizations needs.
Looking for a workshop to introduce consent and boundry practices to your company, studio, department, students, faculty, artists, creative or production team? Click the workshop request button below
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Trainning
IDC Level 1 (12 hrs)
Intimacy Directors and Coordinators, Maya Herbsman & Sarah Lozoff
January 2021
“Foundations of Intimacy", This workshop is an introduction to the foundational ideas and concepts that shape IDC’s approach to building consent based workspaces and choreographing intimacy. This workshop is open to the general public: actors, directors, producers, educators, stage managers etcetera.
IDC Level 2 (12 hrs)
Intimacy Directors and Coordinators, Sasha Smith & Alicia Rodis
April/ May 2021
“Foundations of Intimacy II” covers the philosophy and theories that underpin all of IDC’s recommended best practices. Students will take a deep dive into the complexities of consent and power dynamics, advocacy, and communication. This course marries theory with deep self-reflection and critical thinking. An Intimacy Professional carries enormous responsibility within a creative process, and this course aims to prepare the student to fulfill those responsibilities while minimizing harm.
IDC Level 3 (97 hrs)
Intimacy Coordinator Certification
Intimacy Directors and Coordinators, Alicia Rodis & Claire Warden
January-April 2022
Candidates transition from learning foundational ideas to the specific hands-on details of what exactly it takes to be an excellent Intimacy Coordinator. This level is by application only.
IDC Intimacy Direction & COVID-19 (1.5 hrs)​
Intimacy Directors and Coordinators, Claire Warden
July 2020
COVID-19 has had a tremendous impact on the theatre world, and many are wondering what it could look like to be back in live rehearsals again. Join broadway intimacy director, Claire Warden, for a discussion on how COVID-19 will likely affect scenes of intimacy. We will be discussing the use of virtual tools for prep work, costuming practices for intimacy, and how tools for consent during scenes of intimacy can and should be applied on a broader scale.
IDC Intimacy Direction & Academia (1.5 hrs)
Intimacy Directors and Coordinators, Dan Granke
July 2020
Teachers who take this course will gain the skills to create a culture of consent in their classrooms and rehearsal halls, learn how to communicate fairly and clearly with their students about power dynamics, plan for and handle situations of physical and emotional intimacy that arise in their work, and become better advocates for student safety and consent within their departmental culture. Participants will explore how the pillars of intimacy direction are not just tools for scenes of intimacy, but also tools for educators to create a highly collaborative environment that will drive student success.
Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion for Intimacy Professionals (3 hrs)
This workshop explores the frameworks of Justice, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion as they relate to the field of intimacy choreography, direction, and coordination. Throughout the workshop, participants will discuss: The core attributes of racial justice, intersectionality, disability justice, transformative justice; how to integrate these frameworks into their work as intimacy professionals, and how to integrate an accountability practice into their work.
Accessible Intimacies: Disability Justice In Intimate Performance
This workshop will introduce the liberation framework, Disability Justice, to the field of Intimacy Coordination and Choreography and will explore the expansive ways to apply its principles in order to curate accountable accessibility in the field and better representation of the disabled community in our media.
Intimacy Best Practices (7 hrs)
This workshop covers TIE’s Best Practices, including tools for developing a consent-based process, setting boundaries, desexualizing the process, choreographing intimacy, and documentation.
Intimacy Choreography (7 hrs)
This workshop will cover the role of the intimacy choreographer for theatre, dance, opera, and other modes of live performance. We will cover the pre-production and production process, an introduction to physical storytelling techniques, choreography drills, common recipes, working with the team, transcribing and documenting intimacy, and troubleshooting.
Intimacy Coordination (7 hrs)
An introductory workshop will cover navigating the collaborative process from pre to post-production, on-set practices, building your kit, collaboration, modesty garments, and troubleshooting.
Trauma Informed Practice
(3 hrs)
What does it mean to have trauma-informed practices as an educator and as an artist? In this workshop, you will learn about trauma-informed principles and what it means to be trauma-informed without being trauma-based. Gain a deeper understanding of boundaries and learn strategies for incorporating trauma-informed approaches into your personal practice.
Consent in the Acting Classroom (3.5 hrs)
This workshop is for educators interested in bringing consent-based practices into their acting classes by learning strategies to help students poetize the uncomfortable while honoring their boundaries. We will talk about tools for instilling self-care in actor training, power dynamics, and qualities of a consent based training.
Supporting Trans Actors & Creatives (10 hrs)
this 10-hour course is designed for cisgender producers, directors, and other artistic leaders that want to create more affirming and supportive work environments for your trans and non-binary colleagues. If you want to make sure you’re doing the best that you can for the trans/non-binary creatives you work with, on stage/screen and beyond, this course is here to help you. We will spend two days clarifying terminology, discussing representation and casting, and learning common challenges that trans and non-binary people face in the industry.
Anti-Racist Theatre: A Foundational Course (6 hrs)
March/ April 2021
In this two-part, six hour course Nicole offers participants tools to craft their own unique anti-racist theatre ethos and delve into the three core principles of anti-racist theatre: harm reduction, harm prevention and relationship repair. Participants will be guided through self reflection exercises designed to strengthen their analysis of their position, power, privilege and begin to uproot their racist practices, policies, and protocols. All who believe the way forward for theatre is anti-racist and anti-oppressive are welcome. We all have a role to play. The future of art will be nourished by you. Join us in doing the work to make sure theatre is a liberated place for all.
Anti-Racist Theatre with Nicole Brewer: A Level Up Course (3 hrs)
April 2022
This course about leveraging your anti-racist theatre ethos in shaping and sustaining an equitable container. We'll look at how the three degrees of racism: interpersonal/individual, institutional, cultural and how the practice of “static equity” combine to hinder our ability to impactfully disrupt racist and oppressive conditions in our collaborations. Level Up also explores how your anti-racist theatre ethos helps you better discern the anti-racist and anti-oppressive practices to support the container that’s right for your goal.
Stand Up Against Street Harassment Training (1 hr)
Right To Be, Formally Hollaback!
March 2021
Leveraging our 5D’s methodology to help people safely intervene when they experience or witness harassment in public spaces. Through this 1 hour training we use a clear, adaptable, and expert-approved set of tools that have been proven to reduce the prevalence of street harassment. The goal of the Stand Up program is to ultimately build a culture where street harassment is seen as unacceptable behavior.
Bystander Intervention 2.0: Conflict De-escalation Training (1 hr)
Right To Be, Formally Hollaback!
May 2021
Conflict de-escalation requires patience, a willingness to listen, and an ability to see the humanity in everyone, even those we don’t agree with or who seek to hurt us. Using our Observe-Breathe-Connect methodology, we’ll learn how to identify potential conflict before it escalates using our “pyramid of escalation” and how to assess whether intervening is the right action for you. We’ll talk about specific biases that are increasing conflict, harassment, and violence during COVID-19 -- and the role of implicit and explicit bias in conflict. We’ll also learn how to connect with others by validating and de-escalating their feelings -- even if we don’t understand them or agree with them. We’ll have time at the end to practice using real-life scenarios.
Building Racial Equity: Foundations Training
(6.5 hrs)
May 2020
Building Racial Equity: Foundations is the first and “foundational” training of the series. Participants will build on and strengthen racial equity practices for themselves and their organizations and networks. This training will introduce participants to concepts, frames, and tools that are essential to a productive racial equity practice. Attending this training is required to participate in subsequent series trainings.
Organizing Racial Equity: Shifting Power
(6.5 hrs)
August 2020
Organizing Racial Equity: Shifting Power is the second training of the series. Participants will build on and strengthen racial equity practices for themselves and their organizations and networks. This training will strengthen participants' collective analysis of power while providing useful tools and framework to shift power within groups, institutions and other formations seeking to advance racial justice in this time.
LGBTQ+ Ally Training
(2 hrs)
Safe Zone Project, CSULB
2017 & 2019
Safe Zone trainings are opportunities to learn about LGBTQ+ identities, gender and sexuality, and examine prejudice, assumptions, and privilege.
Mental Health First Aid Certification (9 hrs)
National Council for Mental Wellbeing
November 2021
Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) is an evidence-based training program administered by the National Council for Mental Wellbeing that teaches you how to identify, understand and respond to signs of mental health and substance use challenges. The training gives you the skills to reach out and provide initial help and support to someone who may be developing a mental health or substance use challenge or experiencing a crisis. More than 2.6 million people across the United States have been trained in MHFA by a dedicated base of more than 15,000 Instructors.
A Trauma-Informed Approach to Self-Care: Preserving and Nurturing Yourself (4.5 hrs)
The Institute on Trauma and Trauma-Informed Care, Certificate Program
November 2021
Individuals who work with trauma survivors can experience burnout, vicarious trauma, and compassion fatigue. Work-related stressors can take a toll not only on the individuals doing the work, but also on the overall work environment. There is evidence that cultivating a culture that meaningfully supports staff self-care can help to mitigate the negative impact of these stressors while positively enhancing personal and professional growth. This presentation will increase awareness about possible impacts of the work, examine the importance of self-care when interfacing with trauma in one’s work, and offer strategies to support individual and organizational wellbeing.
Trauma and Trauma-Informed Care: "Trauma 101" (6.5 hrs)
The Institute on Trauma and Trauma-Informed Care, Certificate Program
May 2022
This course offers foundational information regarding the nature and impact of trauma as well as key concepts and the core values/principles of trauma-informed care. Frequently clients, students, patients, community members, co-workers, and other individuals that we encounter on a daily basis have experienced trauma. This course is intended to facilitate developing a level of competency and awareness of trauma among those who work in clinical as well as non-clinical settings.
Trauma-Informed Systems and Organizations: What Do They Look like? (7.25 hrs)
The Institute on Trauma and Trauma-Informed Care, Certificate Program
June 2022
This course provides foundational information regarding implementation of a trauma-informed approach in organizations and systems. Organizations and systems become "trauma-informed" by incorporating in all aspects of service delivery an understanding of and responsiveness to the prevalence, nature, and impact of trauma, as well as by implementing intentional policies, protocols, and procedures that actively and deliberately resist re-traumatization. Adopting a trauma-informed approach in organizations and service systems creates a supportive, affirming, and therapeutic environment for individuals who have experienced trauma as well as for staff.
Trauma-Informed Care: Working with Children, Youth and Service Providers in the Education System (.5 hrs)
The Institute on Trauma and Trauma-Informed Care, Certificate Program
June 2022
The course offers a foundation of information regarding implementation of Trauma-Informed Care in the educational system. Staff and volunteers within a school system including: teachers, nurses, bus drivers, administration, social workers and other school staff can benefit from this presentation. Students who experience chronic violence and other forms of trauma are likely to have increased absences, oppositional behavior in school and failing grades. Benefits of implementing a Trauma-Informed approach in the educational system are unlimited and could potentially empower and support student to improve attendance and test scores.