Give your young artist an experience they will remember forever.

Dance Italia + Open Arts Studio
Young Artists Program

Summer Dance Intensive 2023
Lucca, Italy
July 21-August 5, 2023
(depart NYC July 20)

The Program:

Dance Italia + Open Arts Studio (located in NYC) offers focused and individualized training with renowned educators and choreographers. The Young Artists program is a 14-day dance training intensive in the historic city of Lucca, Italy.

Our goal is to provide each dancer the opportunity to grow and develop in a supportive and creative environment, providing them with a platform to discover a diverse range of contemporary techniques, while immersing themselves in the local culture.

  • Studio

    The program will be headquartered at Motore 592 located in Lucca, Italy. The 2000 sq. ft multi-disciplinary contemporary art space is the home of Dance Italia.

    see the space

  • Dance Italia

    Founded in 2011 by New York choreographer, Stefanie Nelson, Dance Italia has developed into a vibrant community of international students, performers, educators, and choreographers who gather annually in Lucca, Italy.

    website

  • Meet the Directors

    Write to: Openartsstudioinc@gmail.com to set up a conversation.

    more about the Leadership

  • Learn about the Faculty

    The faculty at the Young Artists Program is comprised of international dance professionals and teaching artists.

    Meet the faculty

  • Our Chaperones

    All of our activities are supervised with care and individual attention 24 hours per day. Chaperones guide students to classes, meals, and activities, and stay with them at the same hotel.

    meet our chaperones

  • Accommodations

    Students and chaperones will stay at the Principe Calaf Bed & Breakfast and Guesthouse.

    see the rooms

  • Travel

    From the moment your young artist arrives in Italy we have everything organized. We meet each student at the airport and bring them to the Dance Italia studio and housing. All local travel is supervised and included in tuition.

    email us for details

  • Tuition

    Tuition is 3500 euros for 15 days and includes all classes and workshops, housing , food, local travel and our day trip to Pisa. (Airfare not included).

    scroll down this page

Program Information

For intermediate & advanced dancers ages 14-17-ish

Students take 4 classes per day in contemporary dance forms, ballet, hip hop, improvisation, choreography and receive individual mentorship.

Young Artists have the opportunity to be part of the creation of a new work to be performed in Lucca on August 5th.

Full Schedule 2023

Annia Nelson, Young Artist 2022

Application
Open until March 31, 2023

The online application for the 2023 Dance Italia + Open Arts Studio Young Artists Program will be open on November 1, 2022.- March 31, 2023

Vaccinations against Covid-19 are strongly recommended for international travel.

Scholarship Information
Apply to the Young Artists Program

Audition Dates

London, UK 1/14
Billings, MT 1/21
Northampton, MA 1/22
Boise, ID 1/27 & 1/29
Brooklyn, NY 2/4
Barcelona, Spain 3/18
You may submit a video if you cannot attend an audition.

To register and/or to learn exact times and studio locations please send us an email: openartsstudioinc@gmail.com

Half-Day Trip to Pisa

Midway through the intensive we take a half-day trip to Pisa to see the sights and learn more about Tuscany.

Willa O’Connor, Young Artist 2022

Studio Location

Classes and workshops are held at
-Motore592, via Mateo Civitali, 592, 55100
-Arte e Danza Arabesque, Via Tagliate III, 548, 55100

Housing & Accommodations

We provide accommodation at Bella Adormentata e il principe Calaf, which is a 5-10 minute walk to both studio locations.
All rooms have single beds, air-conditioning, and wifi.

Brogan Donston, Young Artist 2022

Chaperones

We provide a carefully supervised and supportive environment 24 hours per day. All activities are chaperoned by a trained adult. Chaperones guide students from classes to meals and around Lucca. There is 1 chaperone for every 5 students. Chaperones stay in the same hotel as students.

Stella Emery, Young Artist 2022

Activites

Young Artists activities include an Italian language workshop, a city tour, an evening with the Dance Italia Advanced Program Professionals, attendance at both a music and dance concert and more.

And we try to eat GELATO whenever possible.

About Lucca, Italy

The charming historic city of Lucca is in the Tuscany region of Italy.It is known for the well-preserved Renaissance walls encircling its historic city center and its cobblestone streets. Broad,

tree-lined pathways along the tops of massive 16th- and 17th-century ramparts are popular for walks and inspire students to create site-specific dances. Lucca features some of Italy's finest medieval and Renaissance architecture.

Transportation:

Local transportation including to and from the Italian airports and our trip to Pisa is included. Airfare is not included.

Watch the video of the Young Artists performance in Lucca on August 5, 2022

Tuition

  • 15-day program: €3500
    (register by Jan 31, 2023 and pay €3300)

  • Tuition includes all classes, meals, housing and local transportation.

  • All non-local participants will be chaperoned at a 1:5 ratio by Dance Italia staff.

  • Airfare is not included.

  • Local dancers: Contact us for drop-in prices.

  • Limited need-based scholarships are available.
    Apply to the Young Artists Program

  • Scholarship Information

The Young Artists of 2022

Photographed by Caitlin Chung

Dior Wright

Nevaeh Davis

Finnegan Mankins

Stella Emery

Annia Nelson

Rose Johnson

Ava Davis

Brogan Donston

Willa O’Connor