Accademia dell'Arte

The actual program did not fit the student handbook they have on their website. I did not learn anything. The professors do not speak English well and try to mansplain English words to you. Students were sexually assaulted at this program and the admin just tried to keep us quiet about it. Students were also constantly hurt in class because the spaces we worked in were tiny. Our schedule changed constantly so we had no time to travel on the weekends or even go into Arezzo during the week. They would punish us like we were children, and we had to do weekly chores. The facilities were broken: we had no running water the first week so we could not shower or use the toilet. The wifi was terrible. We had no heating for almost a month at the coldest point of the semester. They said there would be a doctor on-site and there was not. Students who got COVID at the program were not allowed to zoom into class or go outside for weeks. Yes, weeks plural. The professors did not wear masks and encouraged students to NOT test if they were symptomatic, endangering others.

This program solidified my passion for dance and made me want to continue incorporating it into my life as a career. Everyone was very encouraging and talented. I was so inspired from others but also found my own self worth because each of the student's movement was authentic and appreciated for what it was. I grew so much as a person in just 3 months and am so grateful to have participated.

The Accademia has brought confidence and curiosity back into my work. It has given me new means to explore my creative processes and gotten me to a point where I feel not only ready, but excited to make work. At the Accademia I was able to reopen parts of my body and brain that had closed and shielded themselves, I was able to conquer a creator's block that had been going on for almost a year, and I re-awoke a passion for learning that had been buried by doubt and overstimulation. My body and mind have found new levels of awareness, articulation, a patience.