skin to skin
i remember you
and the intimacy that comes
from proximity
fingers on spine
a firm handshake
cheeks
i close my eyes
i remember you
and the stories
slipping from our skin
accordion ribs
floating palms
soles
you close your eyes
i remember you
and the booming belly laughter
belonging to familiarity
mouths wide
knees slapped
teeth
we close our eyes
i remember you
and the sensuality of disclosure
born by whispered words
lips near ears
head on shoulder
collarbones
i close my eyes
i remember you
and the knowing that forms
beneath the surface
iliac to iliac
thigh upon thigh
toes
you close your eyes
i remember you
and the swell of love
magnified by touch
hand to hand
eye to eye
hearts
we close our eyes
skin to skin - Nicole Nigro
“The idea for skin to skin emerged from our collective missing. Simply, I miss my friends, my family, my colleagues. I miss their skin. I miss their touch. I think most of us are missing intimacy amidst the pandemic. skin to skin attempts to display intimacy in an unusual space, as does the pandemic, in the digital realm. The skin of the body becomes a canvas to speak of our shared humanity, both porous and protector, the space we occupy and the (dis)connective fabric between us and the world.”
Concept & Direction: Nicole Nigro (CAN)
Sound Score: Cory Neale (USA)
Collaborating Performers:
Cory Neale (USA), Nicole Nigro (CAN), Faith Sullivan (USA), Sloane Teagle (USA), Johannes Zits (CAN)
photo credit: Faith Sullivan
Nicole Nigro is a dance-theatre artist. She is a graduate of The School of Toronto Dance Theatre (CA), holds an Honours BFA from York University (CA), a Diploma in Dance Teaching Studies with The Royal Academy of Dance (UK), and is an MFA candidate at Accademia dell’Arte (IT). She has had the privilege of interpreting as a guest artist with Anandam Dancetheatre, Broken Jump Theatre, The Danny Grossman Dance Company, Divadlo Continuo, Dance Theatre David Earle, Peggy Baker Dance Projects for Nuit Blanche, Die Wolke Art Group, Diyar Dance Theatre and several independent choreographers. Her work has been presented in Canada, the United States, Europe, Mexico and the Middle East. She was a longtime faculty member at The School of Toronto Dance Theatre’s General School and Canadian Contemporary Dance Theatre (CCDT), as well as the Artistic Director of CCDT’s Core Apprentice Company. In June of 2016, Nigro traveled to Europe to pursue an MFA in Physical Theatre at Accademia dell'Arte. The 2.5-year graduate program took place in Italy, Germany, and the Czech Republic. Her thesis explores liminal space in performance. Her performative work interlaces her interests in behaviour, sensory perception, language, and connection. Nigro creates movement investigations, which are a synthesis of her studies in dance, voice, improvisation, and physical theatre.
Photo credit: Allison Guzy
Cory Neale is an architect, visual artist, and sound designer from Philadelphia, PA. He is a native Philadelphian and graduate of Temple University School of Architecture. He is resident composer for Philadelphia contemporary dance companies Kun-Yang Lin/Dancers and Birds on a Wire Dance Theater, and San Francisco-based Echo Theater Suitcase as well as ongoing collaborations with solo artists Nicole Nigro, Keila Cordova, and Maré Heironimus. Cory is a co-producer and curator for Earthdance’s E|MERGE Interdisciplinary Collaborative Arts Residency in Plainfield, MA. Cory was the recipient of the American Association of Community Theater Sound Design Award in 2011 for Bootless Stagework’s production of Martin McDonagh’s The Pillowman, and a 2015 Rocky Award recipient for collaborative contributions in the Philadelphia dance community, and is a 2020 Peer Artist for the Jacob's Pillow Curriculum in Motion Institute®. He is a member of the bass section for the Abington Festival Strings.