Abigail Kessel
Movement & Intimacy Director | Choreographer
A LITTLE ABOUT ABI
Abi began her professional dance career aged 15, having been handpicked to dance with the world renowned Bolshoi Ballet. Upon graduation from Central School of Ballet London, she built a prestigious international career performing on world class stages around the globe.
Abi's versatility and detailed focus with movement direction and choreography, deeply informs her work as an intimacy coordinator/director. Alongside other acting, writing and directing projects, Abi is a committed teacher and mentor for young aspirational dancers and actors. She is the director and co-founder of ARC Dance Academy London.
Abi is bi-lingual in English and Spanish.
The sensitive and intricate world of intimacy creates a specific need for actors to feel supported and safe within the nuances of storytelling through their bodies and emotions. When analysing a script, the lens of intimacy can be inclusive of all levels of nudity, simulated sex scenes, childbirth, breastfeeding and medical interventions, as well as working with children, young adults and beyond.
An intimacy specialist collaborating from the onset of a production, with the guidance of the director's vision and within the consent and boundaries that are established by each artist, will enable a transparency of communication whilst fully considering the intimate moments and needs of the artists; choreographing realistic 'alive' scenes for film and theatre.
What is
Intimacy Coordination?
Represented by Loop Talent.
Matt Clinch for all work enquires:
+44203 488 6599
FILM
THEATRE / OPERA
Osqui Guzmán
Actor
Working with Abigail Kessel leaves a mark.
I say this because after experiencing her ideas, I could not keep working without taking care of the details that she unfurled from my work to perform Prospero in The Tempest. Her complete vision, developing the diction, discovering the body in the words, and then from there, the magical body of my character, was revealing. The love and respect in every one of the stages of the rehearsals, encouraged creativity and made us expressively fly.
The value of the requirement and the beauty of the affection, or,
the requirement of courage and affection for beauty.
Yin and Yang
This is how I define the marks she leaves on her path.
Malena Solda
Actress
Working with Abigail Kessel helped me explore my character from undiscovered places and broaden my own expressive limits. Her perception and professionalism motivated me to benefit from a creative and revealing process. The result was the best that an actress could have: transform my body and the way I express myself, in the role of Ariel in The Tempest, a character completely different to myself.
Lynn Sutcliffe
Mighty Productions MD
Producer / Director
I have been fortunate to work with Abigail over the last few years, producing the large scale community musicals for the Telegraph Hill Festival. As part of the professional artistic media team, we expect a very high standard of contribution from all the creatives.
We all agree that Abi is a rare talent indeed. Not only is her choreography unique, varied and refreshing, but she has an innate skill that allows her to communicate extremely effectively with mixed ability large groups. We had over 200 people aged 4-77 in the last piece we worked on, and Abi was the sole choreographer involved.
She can genuinely turn her hand to any size creative project and I cannot recommend Abi highly enough.
I would have her to work on any of my TV projects in a flash, and I am looking forward to the day when we can make this happen.
Penelope Cherns
Theatre Director
Abigail is a multi talented artist with a great spirit. I loved working with her as my movement director on the Tempest.
She was an imaginative and responsive partner in the work. A great ensemble player, utterly creative and supportive. Individual but with no ego; just a love of exploring, inventing and sharing.
GET IN TOUCH
contact
Represented by Loop Talent.
Matt Clinch for all work enquires:
+44203 488 6599