Theory of Connectivity...
It’s all part of studying abroad in Tuscany.
Karen Dearborn, director of dance at Muhlenberg, knows that study abroad is an enriching experience for students. The students tend to agree with her – over 50% of this year’s graduating class opted to study abroad during their time at Muhlenberg.
Professor Dearborn, however, wanted more than a typical study abroad experience for her dancers; she wanted a transformative cross-cultural artistic exchange.
Muhlenberg College’s program with Accademia dell’Arte, located in the heart of Tuscany, offers that creative dialogue
For several years, Muhlenberg theatre students studied a physical theatre curriculum deeply rooted in the Commedia dell’Arte tradition. The intensive study with stellar European artists in an intimate and supportive community presented an ideal environment for artistic growth, and Dearborn seized the opportunity to develop a parallel dance program.
Now, while theatre students hone their craft in one studio, the dancers move in another to the rhythms of the tarantella, examining the ancient rituals of Mediterranean dance forms, studying butoh (a post –WWII Japanese modern dance) and expanding their skills in contemporary ballet and modern dance through ongoing study with Italian artists.
The exchange doesn’t stop at the studio door. Theatre and dance students, faculty and staff all share meals, lively discussion and philosophies of art to create a dynamic community of artists unbridled by boarders. Students present performances in the Italian community and travel to see European theatre and dance events.
“Studying abroad at Accademia dell’Arte allowed me to surround myself with other artists who taught me countless lessons and supported me as I dove head-first into deeply exploring my passion for the art of dance,” says Emily Daly ’10. “The tightly-knit community that was cultivated by the program is something I will never forget and that I would love to maintain throughout my life.”
Would you like to learn more about our Theory of Connectivity? Take a look at our other stories to see the many aspects of our unique, boundary-breaking community.