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Dancing with the heart | Manila Bulletin
Deaf people can dance – and very well at that!
This is what members of Silent Steps Dance Troupe, a performing arts group from the De La Salle – College of Saint Benilde, School of Deaf Education and Applied Studies (SDEAEAS), have proven when they started appearing in the mainstream media to showcase their dancing prowess.
Myra Medrana, Silent Steps choreographer, believes that showing the public that deaf people can do things such as dancing is already a big feat for the deaf community.
Medrana, herself a deaf person, learned how to choreograph through research and observation of different hearing professional groups. In choreographing the ensemble, Medrana is assisted by an interpreter to be able to know what the meaning or story of the song is.
“When I already know and understand the meaning, I then start to feel the vibration of the music by touching the radio. And then I need to count the time while the interpreter isexplaining to me what the meaning of the lyrics is. I adjust the choreography in my mind,” she explains.
Silent Steps was established in 2001 and first performed in public during an event in DLS-CSB. They were just ‘’accidental performers’’ who had to replace a group that could not make it.
Currently, the ensemble has 18 dancers – all deaf. They are Maria Elena Lozada, Emmary Glor Batain, Kresta Marie Joie Usal, Gracezen Pearl Santiago, Alelih Ann Santos, Marljuire Ortaliz, Rochell Corrales, Mary Grace Arcilla, Daisielynne Reyes, Costa Rica Quindipan, Lynn Cappal, Jonathan San Juan, Patrick Silver Padao, Basil De Leon, Jorge Paulo Quiambao, Rodolfo Iligan Jr., Irwin Lester Garica, and Carlo Louis Roldan. The group usually performs within CSB but also gets invitations from various organizations and companies for special events.
The road however was rocky. Pundits consistenly compared them with other groups such as Dulaang Tahimik ng Pilipinas (DTP). “But we try to explain that we are different, we are student-artists and we are not professionally trained to dance. But we pursue this art with passion nevertheless,’’ Medrana says.
Today, the group performs three to four times in a month, showcasing improvisation and modern dance, usually about religion and history of the Philippines. The dancers squeeze rehearsals in between their studies and other academic duties.
THE ROAD TO ACCEPTANCE
Despite the growing awareness and acceptance of people with disabilities, there is still a lot of learning to be made as far as understanding the condition, needs and wants of the deaf.
“Parents for instance need not to be ashamed of their kids with disabilities and they have to be sensitive of their needs and not force their children to live up to very high expectations,” Medrana laments.
She says it would also help if parents would encourage their regular children to have a harmonious -- and not abusive -- relationship with their sibling with disability.
“The whole family should get involved, interact and be understanding.
Parents should be concerned about their special child’s self-esteem and allow them to develop and express themselves.”
She also urges parents of deaf children to learn sign language and gestures in order to communicate with their child. “Try all the means to understand what their child needs and what would make them happy. Don’t allow your deaf child to grow up depressed and with low self esteem.
Parents should give more opportunities for their child to develop their personalities.”
Deaf people can dance – and very well at that!
This is what members of Silent Steps Dance Troupe, a performing arts group from the De La Salle – College of Saint Benilde, School of Deaf Education and Applied Studies (SDEAEAS), have proven when they started appearing in the mainstream media to showcase their dancing prowess.
Myra Medrana, Silent Steps choreographer, believes that showing the public that deaf people can do things such as dancing is already a big feat for the deaf community.
Medrana, herself a deaf person, learned how to choreograph through research and observation of different hearing professional groups. In choreographing the ensemble, Medrana is assisted by an interpreter to be able to know what the meaning or story of the song is.
“When I already know and understand the meaning, I then start to feel the vibration of the music by touching the radio. And then I need to count the time while the interpreter isexplaining to me what the meaning of the lyrics is. I adjust the choreography in my mind,” she explains.
Silent Steps was established in 2001 and first performed in public during an event in DLS-CSB. They were just ‘’accidental performers’’ who had to replace a group that could not make it.
Currently, the ensemble has 18 dancers – all deaf. They are Maria Elena Lozada, Emmary Glor Batain, Kresta Marie Joie Usal, Gracezen Pearl Santiago, Alelih Ann Santos, Marljuire Ortaliz, Rochell Corrales, Mary Grace Arcilla, Daisielynne Reyes, Costa Rica Quindipan, Lynn Cappal, Jonathan San Juan, Patrick Silver Padao, Basil De Leon, Jorge Paulo Quiambao, Rodolfo Iligan Jr., Irwin Lester Garica, and Carlo Louis Roldan. The group usually performs within CSB but also gets invitations from various organizations and companies for special events.
The road however was rocky. Pundits consistenly compared them with other groups such as Dulaang Tahimik ng Pilipinas (DTP). “But we try to explain that we are different, we are student-artists and we are not professionally trained to dance. But we pursue this art with passion nevertheless,’’ Medrana says.
Today, the group performs three to four times in a month, showcasing improvisation and modern dance, usually about religion and history of the Philippines. The dancers squeeze rehearsals in between their studies and other academic duties.
THE ROAD TO ACCEPTANCE
Despite the growing awareness and acceptance of people with disabilities, there is still a lot of learning to be made as far as understanding the condition, needs and wants of the deaf.
“Parents for instance need not to be ashamed of their kids with disabilities and they have to be sensitive of their needs and not force their children to live up to very high expectations,” Medrana laments.
She says it would also help if parents would encourage their regular children to have a harmonious -- and not abusive -- relationship with their sibling with disability.
“The whole family should get involved, interact and be understanding.
Parents should be concerned about their special child’s self-esteem and allow them to develop and express themselves.”
She also urges parents of deaf children to learn sign language and gestures in order to communicate with their child. “Try all the means to understand what their child needs and what would make them happy. Don’t allow your deaf child to grow up depressed and with low self esteem.
Parents should give more opportunities for their child to develop their personalities.”