Date:16/11/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/11/16/stories/2008111651150200.htm

Kerala - Kochi

Dancing to the unheard rhythm

Staff Reporter

— Photo: Vipin Chandran

TEST OF TALENT: A dance performance in connection with the 12th inter-school youth festival for the hearing impaired that began at the Ernakulam Town Hall on Saturday.

KOCHI: They danced to the rhythm of music, but they could not hear it.

The synchronised way in which participants at the 12th inter-school youth festival for the hearing impaired staged group dance events left others spell-bound.

After all, how can a dance event be staged if one is unable to attune oneself to the background music!

Moreover, they swiftly changed the expressions on their face in tune with the mood of each dance sequence.

One among the dance teachers, R.L.V. Sunny, spoke of how the children were trained using “their language”, after telling them the story behind each dance. “They pick up fast when told to count the steps to be taken in each pose. From among the audience, we guide them through actions to convey to them the time to change each pose.”

His team of students underwent three months’ training to participate in the event organised each year by the Ernakulam District Association of the Deaf.

“Many of the kids have won State and national-level events. They know that this is a competition and they put in their very best. Anything less than the first prize is unacceptable for most of them and the fall in spirits would be very evident, affecting their performance in other events,” says Mr Sunny, who has also taught dance to mentally challenged kids.

For people who could hear well, who seemed to be outnumbered by those who could not, it was quite a spectacle to see the cheerful kids interact with one another in sign language.

Around 350 of them from six schools for the hearing impaired turned up for the event that will conclude on Sunday at the Ernakulam Town Hall.

A few sponsors and well-wishers helped organise the fete. The programme general convenor Nizar Ibrahim said the district-level events are the launching pads for the children to participate in State-level special school youth festivals.

“Most schools have stocked sufficient number of costumes for the children to wear for dance and other contests,” he said.

Apart from dance events, the children will participate in pencil drawing, painting, action song and magic show.