The School of Theatre and Dance at the University of South Florida is hosting most classes and major performances online this semester. Students such as Talia Fish are struggling with the adjustment.
“People don’t turn on their cameras. I think we’ve passed that in zoom apparently, and not seeing people is really rough,” Fish said.
Acting classes require close attention to the details of movement and tone that can be difficult to measure online.
“A lot of it is the interaction between characters, so if you can’t see that physically, are they making that connection still and where can you find that and dive into it?” Fish said.
Theater professors such as Dora Arreola strive to make the transition beneficial to their students despite the setbacks.
“Some of the exercises that I used in a regular setup of a classroom or studio needed to be adapted to this new form – this normality and new way of teaching,” Arreola said. “We are using what is there, we’re not waiting for the re-establishing of what was before.”
Virtual acting classes help some students feel less self-conscious when they’re in the comfort of their own home.
