It’s already the middle of April, and we can’t believe it. As our students look ahead to departure day in just two short weeks, some ADALife bloggers have stopped to reflect on what they will miss most about life in the Villa and Arezzo, and also on their personal breakthrough moments this semester. Check out what Megan, Elena, Brandan, Ian, and Mei have to say!

Pictured from left: Michayla Kelly, Caroline Burden, Megan Hopkins, Briar White, Eliza Malecki, Tamar Reisner-Stehman
Photo by Victoria Awkward

Megan Hopkins: Dance, Goucher Collge MD
Elena Toppo: Physical Theatre, Boston University MA
Brandan Skahill: Physical Theatre, Muhlenberg College PA
Ian Wallace: Physical Theatre, Boston University MA

With the end of the program in sight, the students of ADA Spring ’17 are starting to get nostalgic…

Here are some of the things we are going to miss the most:
-Watching the sunset from the top of the teatrino
-Paprika Pringles
-Late night community sing along sessions
-Traveling with friends, old and new
-Dancing with the studio windows open, and then having a max exodus out of them when it’s time for lunch
-The ability to traverse around Europe with ease
-NADIA’S COOKING
-Theatre kids…
-Dance kids…
-Just all the students ok?
-Trenitalia
-Cheap flights
-Medieval cities
-Desiré
-Lunch outside
-Super cheap boxed wine
-Dancing to Italian pop music in class
-Really good wine for under $10

Students basking in a beautiful sunset at the villa
Photo by Renelle Wilson

Mei Harris: Dance, Hendrix College AR

My personal break-through story did not happen all at once—rather, it has been a slow accumulation built up over my time at the villa this semester. I don’t think I have ever been surrounded by so many artistically talented, inspiring people at once, and this realization has especially been refreshing. I have learned so much from the teachers here who have assisted me in moving past previous injuries and making me feel truly like a dancer again. I’ve used my voice numerous times in class (whether that be singing, reciting lines in Italian, or acting), something that I would have never put myself out there to do had I stayed in the United States. I have experimented with my movement and have found a certain comfortableness in the way that I naturally move as an artist, and I appreciate that the instructors here value that we keep what makes us different. Through the students who I’ve met here, I’ve learned to work within a group dynamic, use improvisation, and have felt what it means to not just consider myself a dancer, but also a performer. Moving beyond the classroom, I’ve learned to rely only on myself and focus on letting plans fall so that I can live more in the moment. My sense of the world around me is constantly expanding the more I experience here in Italy, and I cannot wait to see what the future holds for me for the duration of the program!

Pictured: Mei Harris
Photo by Elena Toppo