How COA+A Students Are Staying Creative Over Summer

CoA+A students don’t stop their arts practices when classes are out!

This blog highlights what our students are up to over summer break and how they are keeping creative.

Whether it’s summer internships, performances, summer intensives, or study abroad programs, our students know how to keep the creativity flowing! 

Dance student Arelys Duran spent the first half of summer in Rome, Italy with our Department of Art & Art History’s Art, Film, & Language Study Abroad Program! “I focused my film work on creating dance videos and how to enhance my dance videos in the future,” she shares. “I used the artworks and galleries we visited to inspire my work. I also scouted for some professional dance companies that I could potentially join in the future in Italy!”

This recurring summer program offers five courses taught by CoA+A professors Aspen Hochhalter (Photographing the Streets of Rome), Dr. Jim Frakes (Rome: City as History, City as Memory), Will Davis (Filmmaking: Personal & Cultural), and Erik Waterkotte (Mapping Rome: Rome as City & Cultural Phenomenon), with guest Italian professor Daniela Dal Pra (Italian Language, Culture, and the City). The program is designed for ALL majors and each class is cross-listed for flexibility. Students can earn credit for: LBST, University Honors, Arts + Architecture Honors, Graduate level Architecture Studio and History, Italian Language, Film Studies, Art History, and Studio Art.

Theatre major Carly Helms is spending her summer in Manhattan studying at the Stella Adler Conservatory. “I’m doing an acting intensive, studying Shakespeare, voice & speech, movement, tv & film, improv, scene study, dance, and ensemble building, all rooted in the technique of Stella Adler,” Carly shares. “I’ve had some amazing opportunities in the city to see broadway shows, attend Tribeca film festival events, and recently got to attend a guest lecture with SNL’s Chloe Fineman! My favorite thing to do here is study in the Rose Main Reading Room at the NYPL.”

Architecture student Abena Atiemo is enjoying her summer internship at the architecture firm Smith Slovik! “I work as an architectural intern, fixing details on drafts, modeling in Revit 3d, and going on site visits to understand more about the architect’s role in the clients’ life. They’re a residential firm, so it’s a lot of work to learn how to make a house into a home! Here are some photos of myself and a fellow SoA student intern, Sam Conrad, on a site visit with the company.”

BFA Graphic Design major Cameryn Lytton is keeping creative over the summer by challenging herself to create a new design for 100 consecutive days! “I was inspired to begin the 100-day design challenge to grow my skills as a communicator of activism. Nothing fuels my creative energy more than the need for action,” she shares. Follow along at her art page, @ibitegraphics!

Theatre education major Brooke Russo is spending her (fourth!) summer at Camp JuMP, a week-long theatre camp in Charlotte where kids learn choreography and make sets to put on a junior musical. “A couple of weeks ago we had our first week of camp called “Scrapped” where around 30 kids were split up into 4 show snippets including shows like Annie and You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown that performed by the end of the week,” Brooke explains.

“For “Scrapped,” I served as director for the Oklahoma! segment and an acting counselor for the other shows. Later in July, we will have three, one-week sessions for Frozen Jr. and I’ll be an acting counselor for those too, running scenes, giving notes, and helping teach dance!” she continues. 

Dance Ed student Alyssa Bainey is performing in the Ashe County Contemporary Dance Festival this summer in a piece choreographed by dance alumna Makayla Rosenberger ’18!⁠ “The festival offers classes over several days, and then there will be a concert to conclude the festival, which is what I’m performing in,” Alyssa. “I’m working alongside charlotte dance alumna Anna Edwards with choreography by Makayla. The concert is July 16 at 4 pm in the Ashe County Civic Center! Come out and support!”