"Where Can I Learn More About Intimacy Coordination?"
Updated: Jun 22
I’m of the belief that a good intimacy coordinator’s education should be well-rounded to best care for the diverse array of actors and crews they may work with. A commitment to harm-reduction and intersectionality is fundamental to how I’ve approached this research and my work as an intimacy coordinator. That’s why this page includes not only resources specifically about intimacy choreography, but information relating to trauma, gender/sexuality studies, anti-racism, disability advocacy, and more. It is important to me to stay grounded in the activist principles of the #MeToo movement our field grew alongside. To me, this role is rooted in activist philosophy meant to disrupt existing power dynamics and hierarchies in favor of more equitable practices, alongside artistic expertise.
After sitting on a draft of a resource document for months, I saw that I was tempted to only list resources I had read every page of and “approved” of 100% of. Then, I realized how silly that instinct was, and how it was rooted in a sense of ownership and control of the prospective viewer’s learning, and an insecurity about how the work I put forward may reflect on me. When I prioritized your learning over my ego, I realized you don’t need to wait for someone else to sign off on something to see if it can benefit your practice, and I’m still learning, too, so who am I to say? With that in mind, please view these lists as piles to sort through in a big friendly library and take/toss what you will as a jumping off point for your research.
On a technical note, I chose to create my Booklists on the service Storygraph so that the books can have multiple tags and be filtered to your interests and preferences. Re accessibility of those books- please utilize your local library and support authors when you can. If you cannot, pdf’s and other file-types of some of these titles can supposedly be accessed here.
Please reach out if you have any additions to this page, or if you’d like to discuss something you’ve learned!
This list is a living document, last updated June, 2023.
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Intimacy Coordination/Direction
Training Organizations Theatrical Intimacy Education Intimacy Coordinators of Color IDC Professionals Heartland Intimacy Intimacy Professionals Association National Society of Intimacy Professionals
Protocols and Policies, Union Resources Not In Our House: Chicago Theater Standards
SAG-AFTRA: Standards and Policies for Intimacy Coordinators SAG-AFTRA: Safe Place, Reporting Options
SAG- AFTRA: Quick Guide for Scenes Involving Nudity and Simulated Sex
SAG-AFTRA: Intimacy Coordinator Resources
ACTRA Toronto: Best Practices for Scenes involving Nudity, Intimacy, Simulated Sex, and Sexual Violence Times Up Guide to Working in Entertainment Your Rights in Nude and Intimate Scenes Your Rights in Auditions Your Right to Report Nudity Rider Basics Incident Report Template Intimacy for Stage and Screen (UK) Guidelines for Live Performance Guidelines for Film and TV Advice for Performers Sexual Harassment in the Workplace U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity: Sexual Harassment Sexual Harassment in the Workplace: State by State Misc/Other Resource Lists
National Society of Intimacy Professionals Resource Hub
Xploring Gender Resources for Building a Consent-Based Community
Acacia DëQueer Blog (Includes posts like “What is an Intimacy Coordinator Kit and What is in it?” and “What Qualifications Should an Intimacy Coordinator Have?”) IDC Resource Guide IDC's Pillars of Intimacy in Production Stuff and Things: Modesty Garments/Barriers/ Tapes/Misc Kit Supplies (What brands you choose to buy and where you choose to buy them from are totally up to you! Links are examples.) Online shops selling garments made specifically for intimacy coordination (Including garments with barriers): Intimask TheModestyShop
Covvier Relevant Undergarments: Dance Belts Adhesive Thongs (1) (2) Adhesive bras Silicone Nipple Covers Pasties Barriers: Yoga mats Exercise mats Small pillows (wrap pillows in an impermeable bag!) Neck pillows or cervical spine pillows Kikkerland pillow Bone shaped neck pillow Textured ball Tapes/Adhesives: KT Tape Tape design options for the chest Using tape for binding
(not many yet specifically about intimacy coordination but I'm excited for this one to grow!)
Movement and Choreography
Classes Society of American Fight Directors: Private Training Centers Society of American Fight Directors: Regional Stage Combat Workshops
(Note: Fight Direction is a different job and if there's serious violence a fight director needs to be there. Unarmed stage combat basics have been useful for me when it comes to things like hair pulling, flirty wrestling, someone being held down or pushed against a wall, etc, so that's why I've included this info.) S Factor NYC Dance Classes
Also look into classes focusing on mask work! Lots of different studios offering this.
Resources
Laban Institute of Movement Studies
Film
Theatre
Anti-Racism, Anti-Colonialism
Lenapehoking- "NYC"
Delaware Tribe of Indians Official Website
Exhibitions in NY | National Museum of the American Indian
21 Native American Heritage Sites in NYC
NYC Schools Native American Heritage Month Resource Guide
Indigenous Peoples of Long Island and New York- Brooklyn Public Library Research Guide
Videos
Lenapehoking: The Tenacious Myth of the Purchase of Manhattan by the Center for Brooklyn History
Lenapehoking: The History of Lenape Forced Removals by the Center for Brooklyn History
Lenapehoking:Arcaheology, Heritage, and the Power of Place for Lenape Tribal Nations
The Lenape- The Original Stewards of the Lenapehoking
Podcasts
The Land of The Lenape- The Bowery Boys
LGBTQ
The Transgender Training Institute Safe Zone Self-Guided Foundational Training Safe Zone LGBTQ+ Resources Gender Explosion Resources The Trevor Project Resource Guide
Intro to Gender Diversity- Trans Care BC; Provincial Health Services Authority
Gender Equality and Sexual Diversity: MOOC Chile; Human Rights Resources Online
Bystander Intervention/Conflict Mediation
Trauma and Mental Health
Trauma-Informed Organization Certificate Program International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation
Mental Health First Aid https://www.mentalhealthfirstaid.org/ TIE has also started offering MHFA Training.
Feminism
Non-Violent Communication/Leadership
Consent
Share The Load (workshops on interpersonal consent/boundary practice) Planned Parenthood's resources on sexual consent and FRIES model Booklist