| Wild Zapper, Common Ground Sign Dance Theater | | | | technique workshops for those who hope to be |
| Company, Rathskellar - The 4 Jack, ChanDanse De | | | | performers. |
| Sourds, Russian Soul, Arai Dance Show, China | | | | Another American group, Rathskellar - The 4 Jack, is |
| Disabled People's Performing Arts Troupe. Dynamic | | | | made up of four deaf song-signers. This group's very |
| names for groups of very talented, high-energy | | | | popular work is set to a background of throbbing |
| performers who have won awards and inspired | | | | music that feels almost primitive. They incorporate |
| countless people around the globe. | | | | the raw beauty of sign language with the cultural |
| Incredibly, all these groups are made up of dancers | | | | vibrancy of the deaf community of Gallaudet |
| who are deaf. Literally, they can't hear the music | | | | University, where the group was formed. |
| they're dancing to. Some of the dancers were born | | | | Russian Soul was the first theatre for the deaf in the |
| deaf; others lost their hearing due to accidents or | | | | world. Founded in 1964, it now has several touring |
| illness during infancy or early childhood. Some have | | | | performing troupes based in Moscow. This group's |
| some residual hearing, and may use traditional hearing | | | | acclaimed Mime and Gesture Theatre is blossoming |
| aids or cochlear implants. Some communicate by | | | | despite the difficult times in Russia. |
| reading lips; others rely on the use of sign language. | | | | Chandanse des Sords, a group that is unique in |
| Who are these remarkable people, and how have | | | | France, has ten deaf dancers, plus deaf percussionists |
| they made a name for themselves in what might be | | | | and a deaf technical team. They do community |
| considered a profession that's only accessible to | | | | outreach and offer performances of inspiring dance |
| people who hear? | | | | and "visual music," which is percussion. This group's |
| The China Disabled People's Performing Arts Troupe | | | | purpose is to show that deaf people can create |
| is a group of twenty-one young male and female | | | | high-quality works completely under their own |
| dancers. They are most famous for their Thousand | | | | direction. |
| Hand Guan-Yin dance, a breathtaking performance | | | | One of the current stars of the Arai Dance Show of |
| depicting an ancient Chinese deity with many arms | | | | Armenia is young Hayk Hobosyan, aged 26. At age |
| and hands. This group's tight coordination and elegant | | | | 11, Hayk saw Michael Jackson dancing on television, |
| artistry has thrilled audiences around the world. They | | | | and was inspired to make dance his life's work. When |
| use four human, hearing "conductors" who stand | | | | asked how he can dance without hearing the music, |
| unobtrusively at the corners of the stage to cue the | | | | Hayk states that dance is passion, a way to express |
| dancers into their next steps. | | | | thoughts with gestures. He specializes in hip hop, |
| Wild Zapper is an all-male deaf dance troupe in | | | | break dancing and Latino dance, and he has been |
| Maryland, USA. These young men work with kids, | | | | called a "phenomenon" and "the sun" of the Arai |
| letting them experience funk, hip-hop and jazz dance | | | | Dance Show. |
| styles, while teaching a little American Sign Language | | | | To communicate among themselves, these deaf |
| in a fun environment. They give workshops and | | | | artists speak in the sign languages of their own |
| other educational programs that have won them high | | | | region or country. Far from being simply speech |
| accolades and loyal fans worldwide. | | | | made visible on the hands, sign languages are |
| Common Ground, comprised of four dancers out of | | | | languages in their own right, which use space, |
| Liverpool, England, originated a style of dance | | | | directionality and many other components that |
| performance that fully integrates sign language into | | | | spoken languages simply can't use. Watching these |
| their choreography. Like the Deaflympics, this group is | | | | artists' hands fly in sign language is almost like |
| now run by deaf people. Their work is strongly | | | | watching another elegant dance performance. |
| rooted in deaf culture, but those who are unfamiliar | | | | These remarkable people have realized their dream |
| with sign language can fully enjoy their passionate | | | | through hard work and determination. Through their |
| performance pieces too. Common Ground is alo | | | | devotion to their art they have helped raise |
| involved in reaching out to the community. They run | | | | awareness of sign language and of the artistry and |
| workshops for colleges and other groups, and give | | | | "musicality" that deaf people can possess. |