Community Highlights: Meet Sara Zanelletti of Learn Italian Now

Today we’d like to introduce you to Sara Zanelletti

Hi SARA, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I’m Sara Zanelletti aka ‘Sara Z’, Italian, from the Emilia Romagna region, in the north-central part of Italy. I started dancing in a dance school in Piacenza, a city one hour from Milan, at the age of six, and from the age of eighteen onward, through hundreds of auditions and rejections, I managed to make dance my career, performing in shows across Italy and Europe. I moved to Milan in search of better opportunities, and in 2008 I was invited to join Cirque du Soleil as a dancer and co-star with Criss Angel in the show Believe at the Luxor in Las Vegas. I worked with them for three years. It was one of a kind experience. My English wasn’t great, and I was pretty shy about speaking with the other American artists. It was hard to connect with them beyond the language barrier, as I would with someone who spoke my language. The different culture and the city itself—I wasn’t in sync with Las Vegas either and learning how a worldwide company like ‘Cirque du Soleil’ operates was a whole new challenge, leading me to realize that reaching your dream isn’t exactly the ultimate happiness goal,— in fact, it can often be quite the opposite; however, it has to be experienced. Regardless of what I just described, I am profoundly grateful with no regrets because I’ve learned so much about other cultures and the subtleties of an American life.

Afterward, I went through a complete emotional and existential crisis. I didn’t want to dance anymore, but at the same time, I didn’t know what else I could do. I decided then to move to Los Angeles and pursue acting. I trained in various acting studios, including improv at The Groundlings and Upright Citizens Brigade. Improvisation was a demanding course; you need to learn to think on your feet, listen attentively. It wasn’t my comfort zone, but I learned to let go of any second thoughts. Just take the plunge.

I followed every step of the actor’s journey—getting headshots, creating a showreel, and finding an agent. But breaking into the casting world has been even tougher than being a dancer. Whether it was my not-so-perfect American accent, my appearance, or other reasons.
I certainly don’t miss the endless hours of auditions, being called back for more, and then hearing “No, thanks!” but what I do miss is the sweat. That physical exhaustion—the kind you feel after a show—always gave me a deep sense of accomplishment.

While navigating the “acting hole,” I began teaching Italian to support myself in LA. I know it had been my choice but I can’t hide the fact I feared stepping away completely from the entertainment industry. I reached out to a language company that provided me with students, and, little by little, I started to enjoy it very much. The incredible part of this business, which I’m still doing today, is that I’ve met so many people in the entertainment world—film production, celebrities and more. Ironically, what I thought would pull me away from entertainment, has actually brought me closer to it and in a better way.

Teaching Italian, with no doubt, has greatly helped me improve my communication and writing skills increasing my love for languages. I also speak Spanish and French. A path I never thought I’d take, just as I never imagined landing on American soil. I, who once suffered from a crippling fear of flying experiencing panic attacks!

My first years in Los Angeles were marked by deep loneliness. A loneliness that turned out to be fruitful, giving birth to my first book ‘Non ho chiesto l’America’ available on Amazon, all digital book stores, and “Barnes & Noble”. The book is written in Italian and features Giulia, the protagonist, as my alter ego. It explores themes of identity, belonging, and the immigrant experience through Giulia’s journey, delving into my own personal experiences along the way.

During quarantine, I started interviewing people for my social media show ‘Sara Z La La Land Stories: interviews in both Italian and English with a variety of guests and public figures. My interviews caught the attention of Vanity Fair Italian social media team, leading to a brief collaboration with them. My passion for conversation has allowed me to connect with a multitude of fascinating individuals. Being able to share their compelling stories to inspire others it is a huge privilege for me.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Facing both economic and psychological challenges, I found myself at a crossroads. Teaching Italian became a decision rather than a choice. At that moment, it was the most effective and familiar option, especially after I chose to step away from dancing. I got in touch with a language institute. They hired me but it took at least seven months for the agency to provide me with my first few students; the income was minimal. I struggled with whether this path was viable, not certain if I could truly make a living from it. Essentially, I hesitated to fully invest myself. I was haunted by the memory of who I once was—’Sara, the strong badass dancer.’ “Who am I now?” – I would tell myself. How could I redefine myself in this new role? I was on a frantic, anxious search for something that could give me the same fulfilling adrenaline rush I experienced with dance. Accepting change is never easy, yet it is necessary. I definitely needed fresh creative oxygen. Albeit you may not know where you’re heading at first, you can’t imagine all the wonderful surprises your new path has in store, often the most unexpected ones. I am very curious about what life has to offer and consider myself a constant work in progress. Chin up and never give up!

As you know, we’re big fans of Learn Italian Now . For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
I specialize in teaching Italian to a diverse range of professionals within the film and entertainment industry. My students are from Los Angeles as well as from around the world (Japan, New York, Lebanon, Boston, Baltimore, Mexico…) and want to master the Italian language for business, fun or for their upcoming trip to Italy. I work with actors, directors, producers and I had a few celebrities such as Kate Beckinsale and…(come to class, I’ll tell you more) other high end industry professionals. Every client is unique. I tailor my lessons to meet their specific needs, helping them communicate effectively and confidently in Italian. You’ll learn grammar and actively engage in Italian conversations on a variety of topics, discovering new ways to tell a story.
I teach one-on-one in person/online or groups to beginners, intermediate and advanced. In addition, I offer translation services, on-set interpreting for movies and TV shows, and subtitle translations.
I offer both hourly rates and package pricing for 10-hour sessions.

What sets me apart from other Italian instructors is my extensive background in the entertainment industry, combined with my diverse experiences as a dancer, writer and podcaster. This unique blend allows me to transform each lesson in un’esperienza divertente e carica di energia!

My website www.learnitaliannow.com
IG @learnitaliannow_
My video interviews ‘Sara Z La La Land Stories’ @sara_zanelletti
Audio interviews on Spotify, Itunes, Amazon audible.

Do you any memories from childhood that you can share with us?
I always stayed for lunch at preschool. We would go to the cafeteria and sit at those small, colorful tables and chairs. The food was often pasta with ragù, saffron risotto and frittata. For some strange, inexplicable reason, I wouldn’t eat the frittata and would stuff it into the pocket of my apron. Right after lunch, we’d go out to the courtyard to play on these elastic mats. I would jump like a kangaroo, and the frittata would fly out of my pocket like a frisbee through the air! The nun would grab my wrist, scold me, and demand an explanation. I had no clue what to say because I actually liked frittata. Why am I telling this story? If you invite me over and cook frittata, I promise to eat it — just don’t forget plenty of pasta!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.learnitaliannow.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/learnitaliannow_/ https://www.instagram.com/sara_zanelletti/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sara.zanelletti
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@SaraZanelletti
• Yelp: REVIEW ON GOOGLE https://g.page/r/CQxJTQEy1OYaEBM/review
• Other: SPOTIFY https://shorturl.at/ICB5e Amazon https://shorturl.at/jcOjc Barnes&Noble https://shorturl.at/Sn66Y

Image Credits
Mario Gramegna for the main photo