Denise Yvette Serna

In this course we were presented with a range of power play scenarios: from enforcing and subverting power dynamics to the kinky and dominant (or submissive). We learned about physical approaches to telling stories of power and how to stage them ethically, efficiently, and effectively.

In this course we explored outercourse, an umbrella term for all non-penetrative sex acts from making out to oral sex. We learned about the physical mechanisms of a variety of sex acts and how to stage them ethically, efficiently, and effectively.

In this course we explored the physical mechanisms of a variety of penetrative sex acts and how to stage them ethically, efficiently, and effectively.

In this workshop, we talked about a range of physical approaches to telling stories of non-consensual intimacy, consent withdrawal, and complicated or unclear consent. We explored the physical mechanisms of the storytelling and how to stage them ethically, efficiently, and effectively.

Defining “intimate scenes”

An overview of The Pillars of Intimacy in Production

A basic introduction to structural power dynamics and how they affect The Pillars of Intimacy

A basic introduction to trauma-informed work 

An invitation to deep introspection in relationship to the above theories

The complex relationship between consent and power dynamics

Boundaries work

A closer look at how the five pillars work together to underpin a consent forward workspace in which stories of intimacy can be told with safety and artistry

Contextual analysis of various case studies

Learning a specific approach to the consensual handling of nudity, simulated sex and intense physical intimacy as well as cementing an understanding of the principles and protocols for an intimacy director.

Exploring the structure of power dynamics and communication between different production teams and how the role of the intimacy director works within that hierarchy and mitigate potential harm.

Honing effective skills for liaising and collaborating with other production departments.

Deepening understanding of at-work harassment and ways to interrupt potentially harmful behavior.

Exploring and practicing collaborative choreographic and physical storytelling tools and techniques to apply to scenes of simulated sex or physical intimacy.

Learning and practicing collaborative, non-coercive communication including inclusive language, dealing with resistance and concern and conflict resolution.

Exploring an approach to sexual dramaturgy and research.

Learning and practicing working with modesty garments, barriers and intimacy kit provisions.

Practicing negotiating, pitching and contract considerations for the role of intimacy director.

This workshop covered TIE’s Best Practices, including tools for developing a consent-based process, setting boundaries, desexualizing the process, choreographing intimacy, and documentation.

Founded in 2017, Theatrical Intimacy Education empowers artists with the tools to ethically, efficiently, and effectively stage intimacy, nudity, and sexual violence.

A 2 part training led by Chelsea Pace, Co-Founder and Head Faculty of Theatrical Intimacy Education.

This course reviewed best practices and key concepts, while digging into the specifics of Intimacy Choreography. Training included in-depth study of the Intimacy Director’s role and responsibilities throughout pre-production, rehearsals, tech, and understudy prep, with focus on documentation, consent based practices, resource access and distribution, and moment-to-moment choreography.

Intimacy work cannot exist in a vacuum - there needs to be a culture of consent to create and support long-term changes in how artists work and train together.

In this workshop, I learned more about community agreements, the research into the benefits of crafting them, and explored models for folding this practice into my own.

This workshop outlined best practices for staging effective and affirming trans and non-binary intimacy with interactive and reflective opportunities to engage with queer/trans perspectives on creating spaces for gender-expansive artists to thrive. This workshop heralds the call into a relational and reparative approach to resist bias and forge new methods for consent-based collaboration.

This workshop focused on the ethics, aesthetics, and praxis of staging trans and nonbinary intimacy from queer/trans perspectives. We looked at existing works of TGNC artistry, discussed expanded cultural views on gender and consent, and practiced generating choreography with feedback.

What does it mean to have trauma-informed practices as an educator and as an artist? In this workshop, I learned about trauma-informed principles and what it means to be trauma-informed without being trauma-based. I gained a deeper understanding of boundaries and learned strategies for incorporating trauma-informed approaches into my personal practice. Taking this training pushed me to obtain more specific training in Trauma Informed Care.

In this workshop, we analyzed choreography using multiple examples from popular media, shared language, and different sociocultural lenses. We interrogated the use intimacy in storytelling and intimate moments in movies, TV, and live performance. We also explored shapes and movements that consistently communicate certain ideas.

Bess Rowen shared methods for identifying the useful parts of stage directions for intimacy and provided tools for engaging with different kinds of stage directions. Bess introduced her concept of "affective stage directions" and taught how affect transforms stage directions into playgrounds for creativity. We worked through affective stage directions for intimacy found in scripts from theatre and film with the opportunity to try writing our own.

In this workshop, I had the chance to read and review multiple Community Guidelines and Tools for Talking and dive deeper into the specificity of language.

A workshop with Julia Fisher. Topics covered how to collaborate with playwrights, an overview of the new play development process, how to handle new, deleted, or revised scenes midway through rehearsals, and more.

This workshop delved into a deeper understanding of the concept of trauma-informed communication with instructor Roque Rodriguez. Roque expanded on what trauma is, common trauma responses (including our own), and how we can create brave spaces for ourselves and others.

Synthesizing existing physical theater techniques, current peer-reviewed psychology, and Charlie Bender’s personal experience in the field, this workshop explored techniques to address stepping out of character, while providing tools for continued exploration of de-roling.