ABOUT

Hello, I’m Darla Villani, a New York-based interdisciplinary artist, educator, creative coach and your trusted collaborator.

Highlights of my experience include a Guggenhiem Fellowship, an Interdisciplinary Research Fellowship at MacDowell along with numerable grants, residencies and exhibitions.

My thirty year professional trajectory is marked by a history of deep artistic practice with visual art, dance, performance, directing, devising theatre, music and writing as single disciplines and as interdisciplinary practice.

As an educator, I have cultivated safe and vibrant creative environments for emerging and seasoned artists to invent and build their deepest work and self. I have worked with painters, performers, photographers, actors, writers, scenic artists, dancers, theater makers, singers, choreographers and interdisciplinary creative humans. These descriptors are indicators and in no way are meant to define you.

I place an unwavering value to learning you in context – for the work you make, the creative human you are and how you care for your instrument. This ensures that creative support and guidance is a reflection of your vision and needs, providing clarity and direction in the pursuit of growth and creative action.

In addition to honing into singular concentration to these areas, I also focus on their interrelatedness, they are in fact intrinsically connected. Often times we learn, work and live in very compartmentalized ways which can leave us feeling more exhausted and divided, which may limit or partition growth and well being — diminishing the space and vitality we need for what we make and how we work and live. Creating alignment and highlighting connection enables a synchronous sustainability – one voice  – through all you do and make. 

EXPERIENCE

I began as a painter at the Art Institute of Boston and Massachusetts College of Art. After receiving a B.F.A, exhibiting work and teaching, in mid swing I followed a deep desire to purse dance and choreography for three summers at Harvard’s Dance Program. Soon after NEA grants, residencies, and commission followed. Highlights include a Guggenheim Fellowship in Choreography. My dance work as a soloist has been shown at The Joyce Theatre, Dance Theatre Workshop, The Kitchen and International venues.

Career highlights include an invitation from Bill T. Jones to collaborate in the creation and performance of a premiere work for his company called, Ursonate. I was the first collaborator invited into the company since his partner, the late Arnie Zane.

Robert Wilson has also extended several invitations to participate in the development of new projects at the Watermill Center including Death,Destruction in Detroit III, Barcelona Point, and notably working with Dominque Sanda on Wilson’s adaption of The Lady From The Sea.

MacDowell invited me as a resident artist for an Interdisciplinary Research Fellowship to draft WILDLIFE, a book.
WILDLIFE was listed as finalist for the 2019 Zone 3 Press Creative Non-Fiction Book Award.

Working 1:1 with you is my life’s latest work.
In my Creative Coaching Practice I’ll lead you to take bold creative risks, devise deep inquiry, and experiment freely — not only for your exploration and discovery, but for building your work from the ideas up.