Playing to the Gods

  Greece

• Athens: 
Athinai (Athens)

Term: Summer 
Dates: July 1 - 27

Description:
Experience the beauty, excitement and colorful traditions of Greece through its theatre, dance, architecture and timeless sunsets. Explore the roots of western theatre and dance while attending seminars in the origin of gods, myths and theatre; Greek language and culture; mask making, mask work, and Greek dancing. Optional daily activities include yoga, hiking, and swimming. Study sites include Hydra, Athens, Delphi, Corinth, Epidaurus, Spetses, Hermioni, and the forests of Episkopi. Students attend performances in ancient theatres throughout Greece. Meet and learn from some of Greece's most distinguished theatre and dance artists and scholars.
Immerse yourself --- Live the Dream!

Courses offered:
* DRA 155B - Ancient and Contemporary Greek theatre and Dance ( 6 units)
    - Origins of early theatres and the first actors, playwrights and dancers and their powerful influence on western performance and thought up to present day.
* DRA 198 - Directed Group Study (2 units)
    - GE credit: None

Highlights:
* Athens - we will have guided tours of:
- the Acropolis and Museums
- the Parthenon Temple of Athena (goddess of wisdom)
- the Theatre of Dionysus (god of wine and drama)
- the Roman and Greek agoras
- the flea market of Monastiraki
- and we'll see dance & music performances

* Delphi
Delphi was considered the centre of the ancient world where heaven met earth and man was closest to the gods. We will have guided tours of:
- the Amphitheatre
- Museum
- Sanctuary
- the Temple of Apollo (god of music) where the Oracle proclaimed her ambiguous predictions
- On the way we will visit the impressive Corinth canal and the village of Arachova, famous for its craft-work

* Epidaurus
- We will see a performance in the best preserved ancient Greek theatre - the mysteries of the perfect acoustics of this 14,000 seat theatre built 2,400 years ago, are still being unwound.
- the costume museum and sanctuary where arts festivals were held to honor the god of medicine

* The Island of Hydra
- A trip to the Forests of Episkopi accompanied by donkeys
- Open air Cinema
- International Arts Festival
- Boat tour of Island
- The Historical & Koundouriotis Museums

The Island of Spetses
- A comedy performance at The Anargyrion amphitheatre in the forests
- A coach and horses tour of the port

Degree Level: Bachelors Degree (Undergraduate)

The Accommodation and Activities Fee includes:
-lodging
-select meals
-select field trips

The program fee covers group health insurance and printed matter. Air fare is not included. Please contact us for the most up-to-date information concerning program costs.

Students who enroll before the Accommodations and Activities Fee is posted will be notified via email as soon as the fee is available. If they choose to withdraw within 10 days of this notification, their deposit will be refunded.

Experience Required: no

This Program is open to American Participants.

Participants Travel to Greece Independently

Typically Participants Work in Groups of 16-25

Scholarships are Available. Summer Abroad is pleased to announce that the Education Abroad Center will award USD15,000 in travel awards to participants in Summer Abroad 2010 programs. All students enrolled in a Summer Abroad program (Davis and Non-Davis) will have the opportunity to apply for an award ranging from USD500 - USD1,000. Application deadline: March 1, 2010. Contact us using the link at the top of the page for details.

Application Process Involves:

• Disciplinary Clearance Form
• Online Application plus Application Assessment
• Physical Exam/Health Records
• Transcript

Post-Program Services Include:

• Alumni Network
• Exit Debriefing Abroad
• Job and Internship Network
• Re-Entry Debriefing at Home

UC Davis Summer Abroad's Mission Statement: UC Davis Summer Abroad programs offer students short but intense academic courses that are complemented with a wealth of cultural activities. The courses are structured in such a way that students gain knowledge not only in the classroom, but also from experiential learning that takes advantage of the program site. All of our programs are built around UC Davis courses and are led by UC Davis faculty. Many provide opportunities for students to visit non-English speaking countries while doing their coursework in English. Our class sizes are limited, generally enrolling from 18-30 students, thus allowing us to create intimate learning communities overseas. Programs are open to all students outside the UC system, alumni and professionals.