How do I know if HPI is right for me?

Test #1: Imagine yourself creating edgy, experimental performance work that breaks a lot of rules and invents new ones. Do you feel nauseous? Or excited?

Test #2: When you encounter a completely new type of music, film, technology or art, do you get nervous and run away? Or do you get interested and exhilarated?

How is this different from my school?

You’ll spend all of your time on art. All of the students will be as passionate about art as you are. HPI focuses on original, ensemble-driven work that blends movement and theater. You’ll see a lot of live performance. You’ll live in a city, not in a dorm.

I love performing, but most of the shows I see are predictable and flat.
I want something bigger, more real, more alive. Will I fit in at HPI?

Hell, yeah. We feel the same way. And it’s our life mission to make things bigger and more. See you soon.

Is HPI for actors or for dancers?

Yes. Both. And directors, designers, choreographers, performance artists, physical theater creators, and any artist interested in live performance.

I can’t do a plié, can I still come to HPI?

Yes. As long as you are ready to train physically and use your body in new ways. (There won’t be much plié-ing, though.)

I can’t do a monologue, can I still come?

Yes. As long as you are ready to work with your voice, with character, with images. (There won’t be much monologuing, though.)

I’m a multimedia/experimental/performance art/hard-to-say-exactly kind of artist
and I’m not sure exactly what category I fit in.

You sound amazing. If you’re looking to expand your skills, PLEASE come to HPI.

What if I’m not sure if I want to be an artist after graduation?

HPI is a chance to test-drive the life of an artist. You’ll be immersed in it all the time. And you’ll see how real live artists live, create, and build community. You might love it, you might not. But you’ll know a lot more about it.

What kind of college credit will I receive from HPI?

College credit is granted as transfer credit from Bryn Mawr College. As in any off-campus study program or semester abroad, it is important to arrange for credit with your college’s off-campus study office. The process is different for each college. HPI staff can help you with this.

What specifically are the credits I will receive?

History and Criticism. Performance Techniques. Composition/Directing. Independent Projects. HPI classes are the equivalent of four 300- or 400-level courses, a full semester of study. Each student should talk with the Department Head at their home college to establish how HPI credits will fulfill major requirements. Again, HPI staff members are happy to help. Look here for expanded descriptions of our courses.

When does the semester begin and end?

HPI follows the Bryn Mawr College semester: September 7-December 18, 2009. There will be an orientation period beginning September 3, a one-week fall break (October 9-19), and time off for Thanksgiving.

Will there be a final performance at the end of the semester?

Yes. At Friday salons, student artists show works in progress and assignments from the week with members of HPI. There are two formal performances, one in October, and one at the end of the semester, which are open to the public.

Can I concentrate in one area of performance?

Students will take classes and workshops as a group, sharing training. But independent projects and compositional assignments will give students a chance to focus on the areas and techniques they choose. The faculty hopes that student artists will branch out into new techniques and work boldly in familiar disciplines.

I graduated from college, but I'm really interested. Can I apply?

HPI accepts a limited number of recent college graduates. E-mail here for details.

Where will I live?

Students will live and work in the heart of Philadelphia, experiencing first-hand what it means to be a member of an urban artistic community. Our Coordinator assists students in finding the short-term housing they need, and can help students find other students to live with, if they desire. Philadelphia is a big college town, so there are many short-term rental options, which range from group houses to apartments.

What does HPI cost?

Tuition and fees for HPI total $12,000. This does not include housing and meals; however, all HPI performances trips and tickets are included in the tuition fee.

Philadelphia has a low cost of living relative to other large cities, and room and board usually comes to about $4,000 for the semester for students living alone ($700 per month for rent = $2,800, and $300 per month for food and other expenses = $1,200).

Will scholarships and financial aid from my school apply?

Check with your financial aid office to determine whether your loans, grants, and scholarships can be applied to HPI. This is the case for the vast majority of our students because of our partnership with Bryn Mawr College. HPI offers a limited number of work-study scholarships.

Can I hold down a job during HPI?

HPI is a full-time intensive semester, so any outside wage work will need to be limited and flexible.

What else can you tell me about Philadelphia?

Philadelphia's dance and theater scene has exploded in the last decade, with groups making original (not script-based) work in movement theater, dance theater, physical theater, clown, and the spaces in between. We call it "hybrid" work, work that mixes dance and theater. These artists collaborate and perform with each other, giving and getting inspiration in an intimate, supportive community. HPI will begin with two weeks at the Philadelphia Live Arts and Fringe festivals, with students attending 20 performances and experiencing the Philadelphia arts scene. Throughout  the semester, students connect with Philly artists and be able to take advantage of the fantastic cultural offerings of a major American city. You've heard of the Philadelphia Museum of Art, but what about the Mütter Museum? Or the Mummers' Museum?

Please look here for more Philadelphia details, and ask us even more about what our city has to offer. It's a fantastic place, and we love to talk about it!

Can students from outside Pennsylvania apply? Outside the U.S.?

Yes. And yes.