Intimacy Consultant — Cessalee Stovall

Specialties:

Theatre intimacy

Commercial intimacy

Interracial intimacy

Visible intimacy

Masking intimacy

Simulated heterosexual intimacy

Childbirth / Maternal intimacy

Movement / Dance based intimacy

As An Intimacy Director,

Cessalee’s methodology is to open avenues of communication and support the boundaries and well-being of all artists and personnel on the production. She approaches the work as an opportunity to empower agency, self-determination, and storytelling in a consent-based environment. In Australia, her intimacy work has been seen at Malthouse Theatre, Antipodes Theatre Company, Darlinghurst Theatre, Griffin Theatre and in the National Tours of Jagged Little Pill and The Wedding Singer. She has completed over 100 hours of training with IDC, Intimacy Coordinators of Color, Theatrical Intimacy Education and Intimacy Coordinators Australia and is currently under mentorship with Alicia Rodis.

As an intimacy professional, Cessalee believes that a consent-based practice leads to greater overall wellbeing for company members and more authenticity in storytelling. Working across film, tv, commercials, and music, Cessalee’s methodology is to support storytelling and create choreography that responds to the intersectional dynamics that are present in a space including identity, power dynamics, personal and psychological safety, bias, time, budget, and experience. Leading with advocacy, her approach is to support artists, artistic teams, crew and producers with language and tools for the identification, conscious communication, and respect of boundaries before, during and after intimacy on stage or screen.

Fundamentals of intimacy work:

Consent-forward practice, grounded in context
Brave work that happens within well-defined boundaries
Supporting the right to agency over safety for artists, crew, cast and creatives
Navigating power dynamics so those without power don’t have to
Creating choreography and movement to align with storytelling and personal boundaries
Offering closure practices for company

Intimacy Director work includes:

Audition notice language and support Rider preparation Script consultation Company workshops Wardrobe consultation Barriers and modesty garments Establish consent practices Director consultation Confidential actor consultations Rehearsal support Choreography of intimate scenes Notation of choreography Closed set protocols Power and Safety workshops (cast, crew, and creatives) Intimacy workshops (cast, crew, and creatives)