Being deaf and taking dance lessons. That is an unlikely combination. Yet people with hearing problems can certainly learn to dance. Such as Riva van Baardewijk from Den Bosch. She has been taking dance lessons for years with great pleasure, albeit with some difficulty. That will now improve considerably. The first dance school has been opened in her hometown especially for the deaf and hearing impaired. “Deaf dancers are visually oriented,” says dance teacher Sharon.
“That is so nice,” says 22-year-old Riva, who is now taking lessons at 20Hertz. She was born deaf, but received a hearing prosthesis as a child. As a result, I can hear a lot again, but not everything. “I have been dancing for seventeen years, but it has not always been without a hitch,” she says. “I always had to look at other people to follow their steps and was often behind. And when my implant battery ran out, I couldn’t continue.”
“I’ve heard of people being turned away because communication would be a problem.”
At the dance school on the Tramkade, extra large sound systems have been provided that produce a loud bass. The teacher speaks with sign language and there is an interpreter on the dance floor. “We look for as many ways as possible to make it easy for everyone,” says dance teacher Sharon Wesseling. Together with Floris Mentink she started the new dance school in Den Bosch and Amsterdam.
“I am also hearing impaired, but I was lucky that I was able to make dancing my profession,” says Sharon. “I’ve heard stories of people being turned away because communication would be a problem. If you use certain resources, everyone can dance. And that’s what we’re trying to do here.”
“Deaf dancers are visual, so I act as a kind of metronome.”
Floris has no hearing problems. He produces the music used in the lessons. “We ensure that there is a palpable, heavy bass in the music that is not too difficult,” he explains. “For example, like today’s house music.”
They also investigate what technological options are available to make dancing easier. “For example, you can connect the implanted hearing aid that Riva has to the music system,” says Floris. “This way, deaf people can receive the sound directly.”
“Five, six, seven, eight,” Sharon shouts across the room. Meanwhile, the students follow her movements. “I visually indicate the rhythm,” says Sharon. “Deaf dancers are visual, so I act as a kind of metronome.” Is it difficult to teach this way? “I don’t think so,” she says. “I spend an extra hour per lesson, because everything is of course visual. But that’s not a problem.”
“I always thought: I’m deaf, so dance training isn’t going to work.”
Riva is surprised that there has not been a dance school for the deaf and hearing impaired before. “I hear so many deaf people say they want to go dancing, but get stuck or don’t even get accepted,” says Riva. “So it’s really fantastic that we can now come here. There is an interpreter and the explanation is clearer. I feel more at home here.”
Riva is now also doing an internship at 20Hertz with the aim of eventually teaching herself. A dream come true for her. “I always thought: I’m deaf, so dance training isn’t going to work. So I am very happy that I now have that opportunity here.”
