Meet Nicole Perry | Intimacy Professional, Dance Choreographer, and Movement Instructor

We had the good fortune of connecting with Nicole Perry and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Nicole, is there something you can share with us that those outside of the industry might not be aware of?
Being an Intimacy Professional is a three-fold job, with each part equally important.
1. advocate for the less powerful
2. communicate, and make communication between parties easier
3. choreograph and tell stories through movement

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I took a winding path in my work, and yet, it’s also really connected!

I started as a dancer, and then began choreographing for theatre in 2010. While I was choreographing for theatre, I also began performing in theatre. I was teaching both dance and theatre in 2018, when I learned about Intimacy Choreography. I quickly recognized that this was a new way to use my movement story-telling skills and well as my passion for social justice and fair treatment of artists. I have been working an Intimacy Professional for five years.

I am really proud of my experience and training. I work in everything from opera to major feature films, from student shorts to nearly every regional South Florida theatre, and just had my work on off-Broadway. Additionally, I have an MFA and multiple advanced movement certifications. I am both well-read and well-practiced!

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
We would definitely check out all the live arts in South Florida! There is professional theatre from Kendall to Jupiter, so whenever someone visits South Florida, there will be great talent on display. This fall, I will have work up with TheatreLab in Boca (The Little Mermaid in September and The Last Yiddish Speaker in October/November), LoveSong at ThinkingCap Theatre in Fort Lauderdale, and a new queer version of The Fantasticks at Island City Stage in Wilton Manors.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I have so many people and books and trainings that have helped me.
But, I’d really like to shout out Florida Intimacy Professionals Collective because this is a group of film and theatre industry professionals who think consent-forward work is important, and are promoting it all across the state. The Intimacy Professionals who are members also support each other and have candid conversations around rates, working environments, etc. It’s great to be a part of community and support each other’s learning and creating.

Website: https://www.nicoleperry.org

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/intimacychoreofl

Other: intimacychoreofl on TikTok

Image Credits
Feature photo: Nicole working with Matthew Buffalo and Clay Cartland in Island City Stage’s “Which Way to the Stage” Jan 2024. Photo by Matthew Tippins
5709- Richard K. Weber and Bianca Upset in LakeHouseRanchdotPNG’s “Have you Seen Boomer?” Sept 2024. Photo by Zachary Oshaugnessy
Headshot of Nicole Perry by Amy Mahon
2679- Kathy McCafferty and Jim Ireland in “Plaza Suite” at Maltz Jupiter Theatre. February 2024. Photo by Jason Nuttle
image0- Nicole Perry working with Noelle Nichols and Sam Kroegh rehearsing LakeHouseRanchdotPNG’s “XOXO, Lola” Aug. 2023 for the Miami Herald. Photo by Lauren With