About
I am an intimacy, movement, and violence director based in the DC-metropolitan area. I hold an MFA in Pedagogy with an emphasis on Movement and Stage Combat from Virginia Commonwealth University . I am a proud member of the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society and the International Order of the Sword and the Pen.
Movement
With training in diverse movement techniques, from Laban to Suzuki, I believe theatrical movement is essential for enriching performances. It provides a powerful tool for deeper character exploration and stronger audience connection. My approach focuses on guiding actors to develop authentic, resonant movement that not only reflects their character but also drives the story forward in a dynamic and meaningful way.
Pictured Left: La Salpêtrière.. Photo by Cameron Whitman.
Intimacy
Theatrical intimacy encompasses a wide range of moments—familial, emotional, and even violent—where one character transgresses upon another. Drawing from techniques developed by leading intimacy companies and years of hands-on experience, I create a space where actors feel both comfortable and empowered to make brave, bold choices with confidence and trust.
Pictured Right: Botticelli in the Fire. Photo by Scott Sudman.
Violence
They fight. It's that intense moment when words fall short, and characters, driven to a heightened emotional peak, resort to violence. My journey began with the Society of American Fight Directors and evolved into a more global perspective through the International Order of the Sword and the Pen. In my work, I prioritize safety, character, and storytelling, tailoring choreography to fit both the actor's abilities and the demands of the scene.
Pictured Left: Peepshow. Photo by Sandi Moynihan Multimedia.
John Stoltenberg,
DC Theatre Arts
“Intimacy and Fight Choreographer Lorraine Ressegger-Slone had her work cut out for her—what with all the brawling, lip-locking, and getting it on—and she worked it.”
Review: ‘BLKS’ at Woolly Mammoth Theatre
The hilarity is revolutionary.
Tim Treanor,
DC Theatre Scene
“Bare Breasted Women Sword Fighting, in which, um, bare-breasted women fight with swords, is actually the final act of a five-act anti-burlesque put together by dog & pony dc. It is an extraordinarily sharp and subtle bit of political satire dressed in swaddling clothes, and incidentally also a demonstration of the formidable skills of the gifted fight choreographer Lorraine Ressegger, who constructs the evening’s entertainment.”
Courtney Sexton,
District Fray Magazine
"This work translates, too, to the audience’s experience of the performance. In considering the gaze, and expectations of performance, Ressegger-Slone is able to help the performers navigate what it means to challenge the idea of consent, for example. Who is consenting to be seen, in what way, and when?"