University of Windsor (U of W) acting students are taking intimacy workshops and self-defence classes which started in the fall semester to raise awareness about proper intimacy and conduct.
The workshops and classes were a response to the wake of sexual violence allegations against American film producer Harvey Weinstein and more recently against the former artistic director of Toronto-based Soulpepper Theatre Company, Albert Schultz.
“It’s about giving permission . . . intimacy isn’t just about sexual content. We have intimacy in all different kinds of relationships, circumstances,” said Kelly Daniels, U of W acting professor. “It’s about acknowledging the other person, respectfully . . . and it’s about having a healthy relationship to the work and the person you’re working with.”
The intimacy workshops involve a lecture about recognizing what’s appropriate in terms of touching and eye contact and what is not, followed by a practical component.
The idea for the workshops started last summer when Arielle Zamora, a former student, informed Daniels of the intimacy director training done by Siobhan Richardson at the Stratford Festival.
Daniels said she contacted Richardson, an intimacy director at Intimacy Directors International, about hosting workshops at the university.
“I thought ‘wow’, this is really fantastic, especially for acting students who are often in vulnerable positions . . . just really relevant to their self-esteem, their self-confidence, their safety,” Daniels said.
After four actresses filed lawsuits against the Soulpepper Theatre company earlier this month, it prompted Daniels and faculty to plan for workshops for all acting students next school year.
Daniels recalled how when she was in acting school, there wasn’t actual instruction about intimacy and rather respect and conduct were “an unspoken thing.”
There is more detailed information and instruction now because of the abuses that have come to light, she added.
Daniels emphasized the importance for those in authority to take a leading role, as she said students are in a “vulnerable position” to professors and directors and it shouldn’t be up to them to speak up.
“We shouldn’t be putting them in the position of having to do so,” she said. “Hopefully we’re going to hear much fewer stories about awful things happening to actors and students.”
Lauren Watson, a second-year acting student at the U of W, said the workshops are “a great idea” and very helpful for students as it shows them exactly what’s acceptable and not.
She said taking self-defence courses gave her more self-confidence.
“I think, especially for young women, it’s really important to understand how to protect yourself and what is and isn’t right and acceptable,” Watson said.
According to her, harassment and improper conduct comes from a sense of “cockiness.”
After being in a small theatre where everyone was friendly, she said, “Coming to university, you can see more of people overstepping their bounds . . . because they have this mindset of ‘oh, I’m here, I’m better than people and this is where I’m supposed to be.’ ”
Watson said most of her classmates are respectful and thankful for their position.
“No one deserves to be abused at work,” she said. “No one deserves to be told that just because they don’t do a sexual act for someone that they’re going to be fired.”
