Deaf students perform to the beat of the music

From: South Florida Sun-Sentinel, FL - 08 Mar 2003

By Jamie Malernee
Education Writer
Posted March 8 2003

Some of them have never heard their mother's voice. Or the "shh-crack!" sound of a soda can being opened. Or the melody of a songbird.

But that didn't stop a group of high school students, including four South Florida natives, from dancing, clapping and swaying to music Friday in front of a crowd at Coral Springs High School, where they performed as part of the state's largest deaf dance troupe.

That's right, a deaf dance troupe.

"The first time I ever performed, I was nervous. But after that I was confident," signed Mitch Curtis, 18, through an interpreter before the show. "I can't hear the music. But I can feel the beat, the sound, the bass. I memorize it, and [our director] gives us cues."

The 23 teenagers attend the Florida School for the Deaf and Blind in St. Augustine. The troupe, founded more than 30 years ago, travels across the state to show people that the deaf can do amazing things.

The show -- which they practice during a special class two hours a day, four days a week -- is a revue of songs from various decades and music styles. The students dance simple movements, do skits, and translate the lyrics into sign language as they move about the stage.

"I'm good. No, I'm great!" senior Tyrone Drayton, a Fort Lauderdale native, signed with a sheepish look on his face.

Added Elizabeth Baldwin, 18, of Miami, "We get applause, flowers, cards. Little kids just gave us Valentines. It makes me feel good, like they are honoring me."

This is the third time the group has come to the area, sponsored by PRIDE -- Parents Really Involved in Deaf Education. PRIDE President Cindy Hurd said her daughter, who is deaf, saw the show last year and was blown away.

"They do it perfect. Everybody who sees it, their jaws drop to the ground. And the signing is so beautiful, it makes you tear up," she said. "It's so great for our kids to see that even if you are deaf, you can do anything."

The troupe's director, teacher Cheryl Johnson, says their performance benefits not just the audience. She said it leaves her students with increased confidence that carries over to the rest of their lives.

"Deaf people used to stay in their own little world. When you are deaf and a conversation is going on around you, it's like you become invisible, and a lot of deaf people still don't speak up. Or they don't want anyone to see their hearing aids," she explained. "But my students have hearing friends and deaf friends. Now they're getting their [hearing aid] molds in green and purple and blue. They have pride."

She paused and added, "One of my former students is going to Nepal on Monday to climb Mount Everest. The world literally has no limits."

Some members of the troupe are hard of hearing, not entirely deaf. Two hearing aids help Angel Yarbrough, 16, of Jacksonville hear somewhat despite slow deterioration of her auditory nerves discovered when she was 5. Now she uses her partial ability to help some of the other students stay on beat. But she has her own special reason for being on the team.

"I'm going to be totally deaf in 10 years, so I want to savor every moment of this," she says wistfully. "I love music."

Jamie Malernee can be reached at jmalernee@sun-sentinel.com or 954-356-4849.

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