Accademia dell’Arte, Tuscany, Italy
With its focus on theatre, music, and dance, the Accademia dell’Arte offers a unique opportunity to study in an intense studio setting, with outstanding artists and professionals from Europe and the United States. Those who come to study at the Accademia will experience an intensive Italian language and cultural immersion program, academic studies, and high-level theatre, music and dance performance training.
Students live near each other in the villa, sharing meals with their teachers. The atmosphere is relaxed but very focused. The medieval city of Arezzo is about a mile away, and on weekends, students venture through Tuscany and take train trips throughout Italy and beyond.
The Dance Program features in-depth study of several genres of dance, ranging from ballet to modern to somatic practices, as well as Italian dance forms and butoh. The curriculum has been carefully designed in consultation with Director of Dance Karen Dearborn to complement Muhlenberg’s dance major.
Working closely with the Terìaca dance group and Giorgio Rossi, founder of the internationally acclaimed dance company Sosta Palmizi, students experience dance training that takes them into the ancient and contemporary cultural fabric of Italy and the Mediterranean. Terìaca is well known for its research into the roots of Italian popular dance. Rossi, teaching modern dance technique and choreography, is a nationally acclaimed performer, widely noted for his highly personal dance style.
In addition to their core studio classes, students participate in intensive workshops in diverse movement and dance forms. They also take a working excursion to Naples, attend numerous professional performances, and present their own work both in-house and in the local Italian community.
Find out more on the Accademia dell’Arte website.
Student Testimonies
Anthony deMarte (Spring 2017): “My time at the ADA was truly invaluable and so fruitful to my education. As a theatre and dance double major, I chose to study theatre while in Arezzo. The physical theatre program informed so much about breath, my capacity for movement, and my identity as an artist that has forever changed my work as a dancer. The collaborations with the dancers while at ADA are plentiful and wonderful, and being exposed to so many different kinds of art-making has made me a more open-minded individual. Remember that when abroad – you are still you and need to take care of yourself! Being abroad is an extraordinary experience, but take time for self-care so that you can make the most out of your experience.”
Jacqueline D’Amico (Spring 2017): “Going to the ADA is such an invaluable experience, I can’t really encapsulate it all in words, but for any mover who wants to be physically & mentally challenged as an artist and individual, I strongly suggest applying! I was so fortunate to be a part of such a unique and immersive program, and you will too. To be able to study and thrive in an environment so starkly different from your college program is so rewarding. In the beautiful Italian countryside, you will find new in everyday and come to appreciate the simple things. You will grow so far outside of your comfort zone, that by the end of the semester you won’t be able to decipher what it was to begin with. You will be challenged as both a mover and a person—and as you work closely with other dancers, theatre students, and faculty you will create strong bonds and a devoted ensemble. Trust them and trust the process. With an open mind and eagerness to learn, stay fully present with your instructors & peers in investigating these different techniques. In no time at all, you’ll exceed your own perceived boundaries and be so proud for it. ADA is a playground worth exploring, so smell the fiori di popavero and go play. In bocca al lupo!”
