Dance Magazine: In October 2018, HBO made news with an announcement that it would engage specialists to ensure sex scenes in every movie and series it produced were handled safely and professionally. Some characterized the network's new policy as a move to stem the tide of #MeToo allegations in entertainment, proof themselves that the industry had failed to self-regulate.
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I really think the work of intimacy directors is one of the most important developments in theater over the past few years or so. I believe that almost every show should have someone in this role associated with it. Maybe it does not always need to be someone’s soul job, maybe an AD or actor could take on the duties in shows that do not have very much physical contact, but there is almost always something in any show that could be considered intimate. This idea about the differences between film, theater, and dance in these regards is really interesting too. All of these art forms inherently stem from a really physical close relationship between coworkers essentially that is very different than any other industry which is beginning to be dressed more and more, but the nuances between the specifics within the entertainment industry still need to be fleshed out a lot more. Dance is inherently more physical than theater and almost always puts different people in very close contact with each other’s bodies so I can really see the need for an intimacy director being involved in any and every dance piece being performed.
I feel as though dance is such a finicky topic in terms of sex and intimacy. It is something that I, myself, am constantly deep in thought about. I may be straying off topic a bit, but there is a lot of uproar going on right now over the Netflix movie Cuties. I have not seen the film, mostly because after reading what people had to say, I felt uncomfortable looking at it. However, I have been reading posts from lots of people who have watched the movie, saying that it is not as bad and many people (most of whom didn't see it) have been saying. Some have gone as far as to say that shows like the reality TV Show Dance Moms (which I am obsessed with) are worse than Cuties when it comes to showcasing young girls dancing in an overly sexualized and inappropriate manner. This really has me at odds, to the point where I'm now considering watching the movie to gather my own opinions rather than bandwagonning on what everyone is saying. This makes me ponder things such as viewers and their mindsets/perceptions/what they are focusing on, parents and their responsibilities to their daughters & sons being involved in dance with its, sometimes, sexual and intimate nature, the dance "sexualization standards" and who they apply to...etc. It really is a lot. That being said, I do agree that intimacy coordinators and intimacy directors are so very important. Going back to Dance Moms, I remember watching some episodes where these little girls, around 9/10/11 years old, had their first kisses in the dance studio with their dance partners because it was a part of their routine. I couldn't imagine being in their shoes and not having someone guide me and my dance partner through that process. Hell, I'm 25 and I'd still need someone there guiding that process. I'm happy that roles such as these are becoming more important in theatre, film, dance and wherever else is necessary.
YES! This is an amazing move for HBO. While I can understand people’s perspective on the fact they HBO might be trying to do this to mitigate #METOO allegations, however, I do think that this is a great thing to do to prevent sexual assault from happening on movie sets. Intimacy direction is a small new little pocket of the entertainment industry but soon I feel like not having an intimacy direction person on your project will be uncool and just plain wrong. This is a really exciting new turn for the industry as a whole. Incorporating these ideas into dance is also really smart. The fact that dancers' boundaries are more muddy is unpleasant and it’s really important to still instill power in each dancer’s ability to consent. The fact that dancers have been told and taught that their bodies are not meant for them or are not controlled by them is no longer an acceptable mindset to teach to young folks. They are human beings who deserve to have the ability to say no when they are uncomfortable. No matter the circumstances. This article focuses on healthy communication and on creating a safe space for anyone in the arts industry.
Weirdly enough, I do not think I have ever thought about intimacy choreography in context of it being DANCE choreography. It has always come up for me as depictions of intimacy in acting and movement, but not particularly in dance. Now that I am examining it closer, I think there might be even more of a need for this in dance. Choreographer Faye Driscoll made a very strong statement in this article in saying that “In dance, there's this implicit devotion to give your body to this form and to the teachers and mentors and choreographers who are then going to direct it and mold it and shape it.” Dance is such a physical thing, and relies on the flow of bodies in unison to create art. Everybody involved should not have to feel uncomfortable, and passing the burden of solving uncomfortable moments to a trained individual could be a very easy way to increase security of mind and body in and out of the room.
I think intimacy coordinators should always be required within any production that has any type of physically intimate moments, consent and communication should not be afterthoughts. While there obviously can be a palpable chemistry if performers are allowed to improvise intimate moments, there can also be discomfort and harassment. It is vital that all performers are given direction and protection within intimate scenes so that there is no room for questioning what is okay and what is not. Additionally, if there is an expectation that intimate scenes are to be improvised, there can be a recurring stress for the participating performers every time that scene is coming, derailing the rehearsal and performance process. It was particularly interesting that this article covered dance intimacy, as the dancer’s body is the art here, and the surrendering of their body to the art should not result in a surrendering of safety and respect.
I, personally, have not seen many dance performances, so I hadn't thought about how sex scenes might be portrayed in dance. Intimacy coordinators are certainly a position I've seen in credits more recently and I've found it to be so interesting. How I think of it, it's almost like a stunt coordinator; trying to make a moment in film or on-stage safer and more comfortable for everyone involved. Sex scenes in dance though do seem to be more of an art than in other mediums, though. The fact that it has to blend with the dancing and evoke what it is meant to without feeling awkward is fascinating. Also, like any art form, it could be anywhere or a range from representative to abstract, depending on what fits the mood. How the choreographers in the article talk about it, it definitely seems to be a fine line between a movement being fitting and out-of-place, and having to balance that with the story-telling elements is a commendable feat.
This is another thing where I wish I could put all of the theatrical people in a box, then shake the box while screaming, “wHy ArE yOu AlL sO SlOw To Do ThIs”. A company writing an article celebrating their use of an intimacy coordinator one time on that one show is sTUPID. This should be a consistent staff member or position that is filled on every show. I don’t care what show you are doing. There should be a trained member of the team to handle all intimacy coordination, that includes love, sex, violence, etc.. Dance in particularly has no excuse for not having an intimacy coordinator. Give me three examples of even semi-professional dance performances in which no performer ever touches another at all. You can’t because those shows are boring and no one would ever choreograph like this. Even if we cannot, for some inexplicable reason, learn to take care of one another on our own and practice consent and respect in all interactions, we have got to accept the consequences of our past and hire someone to protect our people.
I was raised in a theater that has made every mistake it could possibly make. I’m not sure if it was the fact that we didn't have the funds, or the administration just didn’t care, (probably both), but I never got the chance to work with an intimacy director for any shows I worked on, no matter how badly we needed one. Our director would just say, “now kiss,” or often something much more severe to the cast. I had heard about the work of intimacy directors but I had no idea how far reaching their roles could be. I didn’t realize they didn’t just choreograph the intimate scenes, but help the whole room feel comfortable before, during and after. Looking back, I have no idea how we did shows like West Side Story, How I Learned to Drive, or Ragtime with no intimacy director. The energy in the rehearsal rooms for those shows was always solemn and silent. No one had the know-how to discuss these things and maybe provide some closure for the actors involved. And looking back, I’m sure it weighed on them. This really needs to become the norm for all levels of theater. Hiring an intimacy director shouldn't still be looked at as exceptional, just unacceptable when this position is not filled.
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