Studying Physical Theater at AdA - Growth, Community, and Joy! May 13, 2026

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

Studying physical theater at the Accademia dell'Arte was one of the most challenging and inspiring experiences in my artistic career. The program is intensive! It involves conservatory-style training, with long class days filled with physical movement. Do not expect a chill study abroad experience, as this is NOT that! I believe that you get out of this program what you put into it. Dive into the experience ready to work, ready to be challenged. Keep an open mind throughout the process, and have fun!! The head faculty are all great professors with extensive experience in their field. Students also have the opportunity to work with a variety of talented guest artists from all over the world. Many professors have a varied approach to the work (some are more strict than others, etc.). I appreciated being exposed a variety of instructional techniques, but be aware that not every class will look the same.

On-site administration of your program

The administration is great! The executive director, Dory, is the best!! She creates a supportive and joyful environment, and is always there if you need anything. The student services staff, Francesca Barbini, is also incredible. She is the main point of reference if you have questions about traveling, healthcare, etc. Sometimes I found communication to be a bit lacking. We didn't receive our roommate assignments until we arrived, and there were a few instances where students weren't properly informed about events. However, anytime I had a question or concern it was answered promptly!

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

This program is located in the Villa Godiola, a historic Italian villa. It is absolutely STUNNING! The whole environment is so beautiful, and it offers the best views of the city. Although it's notably an older building, I never had any issues with facilities. My room and bathroom were amazing! My roommate and I lucked out and were placed in a triple, so we had a great deal of space. Wifi can be a little spotty, so just be prepared for that. It was also so convenient to live and learn in the same place. Not having to walk far to get to class eliminates stress in the mornings. After classes, the villa is left to the students! This means that you're able to conduct your own rehearsals and work using the available facilities (studios, pianos, props). My favorite part about living in this environment was doing homework in my room while listening to someone play piano or guitar from down the hall. Living with other artists is truly a special experience!

Due to the intensive schedule on the weekdays, students are prepared three meals a day. This was an absolute BLESSING. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are all included in the daily schedule. Not having to worry about preparing food or when to eat took away so much unnecessary stress! The kitchen staff is INCREDIBLE. The food was literally amazing, and I miss it so much lol. The pasta and soup they prepared was so delicious, and they made the best tiramisu. I'm a vegetarian, and they were super accommodating! There were a few instances when there was no vegetarian pasta option, but this was uncommon. The dining hall is closed on weekends, but there are so many fantastic restaurants in Arezzo. You can also order food to the villa using Deliveroo (the Italian Uber Eats)!

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

AdA made great effort to help integrate us with the Arezzo community! We were required to take Italian, and the class included multiple "cultural excursions," including trips into town, museum visits, and gelato making! There is also a monthly kabaret at the Teatro Virginian in town, which students are invited to attend/perform at. I think that this aspect is partially up to your personal effort. I wish I had made a greater attempt to have longer conversations with locals or push my Italian language skills past the beginner level.

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

I had one instance where I required healthcare. I had a foot injury that I avoided for far too long, and it started to heavily bother me in class one day. My professor, Dory, noticed immediately and offered to take a look at it. She suggested I go to the local urgent care to get an X-Ray, and Francesca, our student services staff, drove me there about 15 minutes later. Francesca stayed with me throughout the visit to help translate the doctor's instructions. Thankfully, nothing was broken, and my foot healed up quickly with the care I received. The whole situation was handled with kindness and urgency, and I appreciated the support so much!!

I ALWAYS felt super safe at the Villa, as it's located in the quiet hills of Arezzo. I also never really felt unsafe in Arezzo itself. However, it IS a city, and the train station can get a bit sketchy at night. I would suggest not walking alone at night and to just remain vigilant, as you would in any city!

This program is so unique and special. The community of artists that was cultivated during my semester was truly one of a kind.

(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost)

Overall, I spent the most money on travel expenses and souvenirs. Italy has a lower cost of living than my hometown, and I found groceries and food to be quite cheap. Having meals provided during the week also helped immensely. Travel costs are dependent on how often you want to travel and to where. I took a lot of day trips, which were quite easy to do on a budget. I found train travel to be reasonable overall. Arezzo itself is not an expensive city, but bigger destinations like Rome and the Amalfi Coast were expensive.

0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language

Our Italian class involved cultural excursions where we were encouraged to use Italian to speak with locals, order food, etc. Our professor often spoke Italian in class, which I appreciated.

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• Dorm

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• Americans

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• Americans

• Artistic Community
• Location
• Intensive Training

• Communication

The Academic or Linguist