Abigail Kessel
Movement Director | Choreographer | Intimacy Coordinator
A LITTLE ABOUT ABI
Abigail Kessel 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 she built a prestigious international career as a ballerina & contemporary dancer performing on world class stages around the globe. Her passions and curiosity led to her pursuing other creative mediums of acting, writing, choreography, movement direction and intimacy coordination.
Abi's immense dedication, vast skill set, versatility and sensitivity continues to inform her work.
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In each production she works in, Abi brings a wealth of specialist knowledge not only from her successful stage career, but also her ongoing investigation and practice in body/mind focused therapies.
Alongside her projects within the creative industry, Abi is a committed teacher and mentor for young aspirational dancers and actors. She is co-director and founder of ARC Dance Academy London.
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Abi is bi-lingual in English and Spanish.
Abi's IC film work includes supporting BBC/BFI, Warner Bros., Netflix, 20th Digital Studios, Hulu, Disney+, Film 4, Noho Films, Creative UK/Sky Arts & TV, Acendant Films, as well as many other productions. As an Intimacy Director for theatre and Opera Abi works for Rutgers at the Shakespeare's Globe, Dead Centre, Richard Burton Company for Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, Transform Festival, Guildhall, LAMDA.
Abi spoke at The Cornwall Film Festival and has delivered IC workshops and rehearsals for many conservatoires throughout the U.K, for Rutgers Conservatory U.S, and gives talks for Argentina and Colombia.
She supports INSET IBEROAMERICA Coordination and Direction for intimate scenes in Iberoamerica.
Abi trained with Ita O'Brien, founder of Intimacy on Set (IoS) and has been mentored and supported by many inspiring creatives and teachers throughout her career.
INTIMACY​
COORDINATION
Represented by Loop Talent.
Matt Clinch for all work enquires:
+44203 488 6599
RECENT WORK
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.
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The value of the requirement and the beauty of the affection, or,
the requirement of courage and affection for beauty.
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Yin and Yang
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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