As our undergraduate Physical Theatre and Dance students enter their final few weeks here at the ADA, we asked bloggers Allison, Maia, Joe, Stephanie, and Olivia to reflect on what their favorite memories will be of their experience here once they have returned to the states. Keep reading to find out more!

Allison Rapisardi: Physical Theatre (Boston University, MA)

A very incomplete list of things I’ll cherish forever:

• Capoeira
• Our trip to Venice
• Playing games in Italian class
• Making Valentine’s Day gifts for each other
• Creating theatre with my classmates for our first Cabaret
• Traveling to different parts of Italy/Europe
• Devising our Voice final
• The humming circle in Dory’s Voice class
• Whenever we had gnocchi in the Mensa
• Successfully holding conversations with Italians
• Jamming to music in the living room
• Open Mic nights
• Watching people’s movement pieces
• Discovering a new part of Arezzo every time I went to town
• The feeling of inspiration/strength/accomplishment I get after every class

There’s so much more comes to mind when I think of my favorite memories of the Accademia: I could go on forever. The most lasting moments, though, are the ones I’ve shared with new and old friends. I don’t think I can put into words how grateful I am to have spent this semester here, and it’s hard to list off favorite memories when there are still more to be made. It’s definitely going to be hard to say goodbye, but I’m comforted by knowing that there’s so much knowledge, love, and friendships that I’ll be taking with me once the time comes.

Pictured from left: Rafi Schneider, Christa Maxwell, Gabriel Stephens, Tommy Walters, Joe Boyce, Julia Krawczyk, Sam Barksdale

Maia Potok-Holmes: Dance (Goucher College, MD)

This week’s blog post prompt asks us what our “stand out” moment from this program has been. To be honest, I don’t think I could choose just one. The last few months have been filled with tons of stand out moments. But I suppose I should talk about these moments a little bit, so here is a list of some of my favorite things I’ve done or experienced since coming here in January:

-Learning how to partner during the contemporary workshop
-Exploring Venice
-Learning how to travel the world on my own
-Having the best sandwich of my life in Seville
-Seeing a Flamenco show
-Every meal I’ve had at ADA
-Drinking Italian wine
-Going to the zoo in Barcelona
-Going to Aurora with almost everyone in the program
-Having Tarantella class outside
-Watching the sunset on the roof
-Going to an Arezzo soccer game
-Walking around Arezzo on our first day here
-African class with Ashai
-Becoming a family with everyone here
-Impromptu movies nights on the weekend
-Climbing the tower in Siena
-2 euro pizza
-Taking a boat ride around Capri
-Eating lunch outside
-Getting gelato at Sunflower
-Realizing how much this place feels like home

It’s hard to believe how fast this adventure is coming to a close. I have learned so much about myself in the last two months and am so grateful for everything I have experienced and all of the people I have met. The Accademia is a magical place and I will forever cherish the amazing memories I have made here. And the food I’ve eaten. I will dream about the food here for the rest of my life. I will never be able to eat food in the U.S. again.

Pictured from left: Maia Potok-Holmes, Allison Rapisardi, Julia Krawczyk, Olivia Wood, Annie Corrao, Sydney Burrows

Joe Boyce: Physical Theatre (Boston University, MA)

When I think about this program thus far, I cannot help but feel that nearly the entirety of it has generated “favorite” memories. There are experiences I have had here that I will never forget for the rest of my life, such as when I was handed a large sheet of leather and over the course of a week I crafted this leather into a Capitano mask. Or when I had my first taste of gelato in town. Or when I spent a week learning the beginnings of Capoeira with my classmates. All of these things have made this abroad experience more than life changing, but if I have to pick a single moment, I would choose one that happened over Spring Break. After a solid week of traveling and walking and sight seeing and friend-seeing, I was exhausted. I sat in the airport terminal and said “I can’t wait to just get home.” And this was the first time I used “home” not in reference to Boston back in the states, but in referring to the Villa here in Arezzo with all of my friends and teachers. This whole program has been made up of stand-out moments, but that recognition of home is my favorite memory. That and gelato.

Stephanie Occhipinti: Physical Theatre (Boston University, MA)

Being in Arezzo this semester I have formed so many memories and know there are so many more yet to form. Some of my fondest memories are of the traveling I’ve been lucky enough to do, the friendships I’ve made, and the exciting intensive courses we’ve had over the weeks. One of the most interesting and fun weeks was when we got to handcraft leather commedia masks with two guest professors. After a long and intense week of learning the craft, putting it into practice, realizing the character I was creating, and seeing the mask slowly take shape. At the end of the week, as we all put the finishing touches on our beautiful and unique leather masks, we all raced to the backyard and began to play. Intuitively, we put the masks on, transformed from mask makers to masked characters, and enjoyed our classmates, the beautiful weather, the flowers, the sun, and the freedom to explore. It was some of the most fun I’ve had.

A haiku about the experience:

Unleashed after work,
We will become animals,
Full, sun-struck creatures.

Pictured from left: Leah Krokowski, Olivia Wood, Carly Haig, Maia Potok-Holmes, Annie Corrao

Olivia Wood: Dance (Muhlenberg College, PA)

So, I am refusing to write about my favorite memories from this program because this program is not a memory yet and I haven’t quite accepted the fact that I’m leaving. Instead, I will share some beautiful kernels of wisdom from some of my professors:

“Don’t worry.” “Respiro.” “Organize your body.” “You are a gift.” (Rita)

“Leave Brian in the garden.” “Just let.” “You are young, you are sunshine.” “Don’t cut the salami.” (Giorgio)

There are so many more, but those are the ones that I constantly hear in my head!