Today we’d like to introduce you to Laura Rikard
Laura, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I started developing practices for consent processed in the performing arts when I became a graduate instructor for acting in 2008. The work lead to developing tools and techniques for better practices for staging intimacy. That led to founding Theatrical Intimacy Education in 2017. We have since become largest training organization of intimacy practitioners in the industry.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It has been a surprising road. I founded the company as a way for folks who were interested to be able to easily find us. After the MeToo movement folks from all over the world because interested as did the industry. It is not always smooth but it is very rewarding.
As you know, we’re big fans of Theatrical Intimacy Education. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
Founded in 2017, Theatrical Intimacy Education is a consulting group specializing in researching, developing, and teaching best practices for staging theatrical intimacy. We are the oldest, established organization for training intimacy practices in the performing arts.
Theatrical Intimacy Education empowers artists with the tools to ethically, efficiently, and effectively stage intimacy, nudity, and sexual violence.
We provide consulting, and training in how to establish consent based spaces in all forums. We expand upon how to foster an environment where establishing and respecting boundaries is normal.
We train the whole company, department, or ensemble in TIE Best Practices so that you aren’t on your own when the intimacy coordinator or intimacy choreographer goes home. This is about culture change.
Although based in the performing arts we provide support for all spaces looking to establish a more progressive culture when it comes to managing power dynamics in an equitable way.
We believe that all processes should be Ethical, Efficient, and Effective and we want to train you to do it.
What’s next?
There are many big plans in the works. I am looking forward to helping connect the community of people interested in this work and finding ways to make it accessible.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.theatricalintimacyed.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theatricalintimacyed/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theatricalintimacyed
Image Credits
Dana Patrick
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