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