Theatre Courses in Tuscany, Italy

Accademia Dell'arte:
The Accademia dell'Arte in Arezzo, Tuscany (50km South of Florence, Italy) is a premier study abroad program in the arts, primarily focusing on the performing arts but other options are also offered. The Accademia draws its faculty from among outstanding practicing artists internationally. Those who come to study at the Accademia dell'Arte will experience high level training in theatre studies, vocal arts, dance, film, art history, drawing and Italian language. Experience the tapestry of Italian culture while gaining invaluable training in your craft. Housing is on campus in our 16th c. villa, or in comparable housing in Arezzo. Hendrix College, Arkansas, has become the exclusive accrediting college partner with Accademia dell'Arte for the undergraduate program.

Theatre:
This program is an introduction to the world of physical theatre and offers program participants the opportunity to learn from world-renowned masters of their craft. The first part of the semester is comprised of daily training in movement, extended vocal techniques and Italian language, all of which serve as the foundation for the series of intensive workshops that follow in the second half of the semester. Workshops entail studies in Commedia, as well as a thorough introduction to performance topics including, but not limited to, mask-making and clown.

Students will be guest artists in residence during a working excursion to either Venice or Naples, participating in a professional-level workshop with Accademia faculty. Throughout the semester students will reflect on the nature of their class work through a philosophical lens in the seminar course the Philosophy of Art and Performance. Faculty is comprised of internationally recognized masters at the cutting edge of their art. They are all deeply rooted in European traditions of theatre, where the body, gesture and vocal prowess are at the center of the performer’s craft.

Music:
Each fall Accademia dell’Arte offers a conservatory-style music program in partnership with Furman University. In addition to the Italian language component offered at the Accademia, students will have the opportunity to study applied music (voice or instrument) with Italian music instructors, as well music history survey and basic conducting courses taught by Furman music faculty. Included in the program is a week-long series of excursions and lectures that reveal the richness of Tuscany’s visual art, presented by Furman art faculty. In addition, an Italian musicologist will teach a special-topics music history seminar on the Italian madrigal. Students will also have the opportunity to perform in chamber music and solo recitals both in-house and locally. Regular concert attendance and musical excursions to Florence, Rome and Venice form an integral part of this program.

Dance:
Each Spring Accademia dell’Arte offers a unique dance program in partnership with Muhlenberg College and Goucher College. This intensive program combines high-level studio training in contemporary choreography with the world of popular Mediterranean dance forms linked to Tarantismo. Contemporary in its aesthetic orientation, the Accademia curricula features in-depth study of several traditional dance genres, ranging from ballet to modern to somatic practices as well as Italian dance forms. Working intimately with a variety of Italian and European artists, students will have the opportunity to explore various approaches and further develop their personal dance stylizations.  Students will expand their choreographic range through the creation of solo and small group pieces, will be encouraged to incorporate a range of disciplines including song and
text into their work, and will be exposed to a range of musical and thematic material that
will challenge their choreographic skills.

Summer Arts and Festival:
In this program participants the opportunity to take part in a truly collaborative experience. The Accademia is the co-organizer of the ArezzoFestival, a week-long, annual international arts event that hosts and coordinates venues for undergraduate performances in theatre and dance and viewings of student films from around the world. Students participating in the Summer Arts + Festival program will have the opportunity to present work created during their summer program, volunteer in the festival and participate in master classes facilitated by guest faculty.

UCI Summer Sessions I and II:
Summer Sessions I and II are offered at Accademia dell’Arte in collaboration with University of Cali-
fornia, Irvine. Students must enroll directly through UCI. 

UCI SUMMER SESSION I:
Session I offers students the opportunity to explore physical theatre as well as liberal and applied arts through participation in Commedia dell’arte, art history or drawing courses. The unique setting of the Accademia and total commitment to honing performance skills under outstanding European faculty provides a rare and stimulating opportunity to combine technical mastery with creative inspiration. The program includes several excursions to surrounding areas.

UCI SUMMER SESSION II
Session II offers students the opportunity to participate in an art history course in which students can learn about artworks firsthand. Students may also explore theatre in an introduction to basic acting in which they will participate in a beginning-level course designed to teach a basic foundation for actor training. An Italian language course will be offered as an elective, as well.
 
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THEATRE Course List (Fall and Spring):
(1) Italian Language
(2) Philosophy of Art and Performance
(3) Acting: Commedia dell'Arte
(4) Extended Performance Topics
(5) Voice and Performance Topics

DANCE Course List (Spring):
(1) Italian Language
(2) Philosophy of Art and Performance
(3) Dance Technique and Performance
(4) Extended Performance Topics
(5) Tarantismo and Popular Dance of the Mediterranean

MUSIC Course List (Fall):
(1) Italian Language
(2) Basic Conducting
(3) Music History
(4) Applied Skills

SUMMER ARTS AND FESTIVAL Course Options:
- Theatre
- Dance
- Film

SUMMER UCI I Course Options:
- Commedia dell'Arte
- Drawing
- Art History

SUMMER UCI II Course Options:
- Basic Acting
- Art History
- Italian Language