Dancing for the sight and hearing impaired...
As of late I've been
busy studying sign language and as a result am now prepared to handle
any of the hearing impaired who attend my classes. They, too need to
"STOP WATCHING" all the fun and "START HAVING" it!
One of my
favorite two step dance partners is completely deaf and has such incredible
rhythm and following ability that sometimes I completely forget about
the lack of hearing. What fun to dance with such motivated people who
treat what most of us consider shortcomings as though they don't even
exist.
And one
of our regular straight students at the Sunday Salsa Social, who is
deaf, is not only able to dance Salsa on 1 in addition to 2, (which
I hear far too many of the "hearing" complain that they can't
do...believe me when I say it's all a mind-set) but he does so with
more speed and precision than I ever would have imagined. He even perfects
Abdul's 100-mile-an-hour shines for the advanced dancers every week
without a hitch and much better than all of the hearing participants.
Plus...
During a
recent Dance-&-Learn Party, one of the students attending was legally
blind, which I didn't realize until I saw him leaving with a white cane.
He had danced all night long, so I was genuinely amazed when I finally
made that realization.
I have also
had numerous physically handicapped students in different classes over
the years and am truly inspired by such people and their determination
to attack such tasks as dancing with so much perseverance. Especially
when so many of us who have all of our abilities and senses too often
begin to panic and start to feel sorry for ourselves at even the slightest
difficulty that we might encounter in learning something new.
These examples
are just a few more reasons why the words "I Can't" are no
longer in my vocabulary (so don't bother bringing them up in class and
telling me what you "Can't" do). I have never asked and never
will ask anyone in a class to do something that I'm not absolutely convinced
that they are capable of. Many of us can do so much more than we allow
ourselves to believe. Often those who are lacking in the senses that
most of us take for granted prove over and over again what "can"
be done with the right mind-set. The real problem is that too often
we spend much too much time trying to convince everyone (and ultimately
ourselves) of what we CAN'T do, as opposed to concentrating on what
we "can" do and just making the effort. (OK...now I'll get
down off my soap box...)
Anyone who is seeing or hearing impaired is
welcome and encouraged to attend any of the classes and events listed
on this web site (plus it gives me the chance to practice my ASL...which
NEEDS a LOT of practice!...).
ALSO!!!...during Gay Games and
World OutGames...separate divisions for blind and deaf dancers?...
Some of us would also like to see a separate DanceSport
division for deaf and blind dancers in Chicago
and/or Montreal...
Some of us feel that those in our community who are less accomplished
in couple's dancing, such as the blind and deaf, whom we rarely go out
of our way to encourage on a competitive level, should also have the
opportunity to perform in a separate division in Chicago and Montreal.
So that just as in the new IAGLCWDC "Rookie/Vet" division,
some of our more experienced competitors could dance with and encourage
them to become more proficient in this sport that so many of us continue
to enjoy. And we should be able to do so without having to give up regular
seeing and hearing competition partners that we're already dancing with.
In many of the other sports such as socker or baseball offered in Chicago
and Montreal, the blind dancers particularly could not participate and
the deaf dancers would at least be at a disadvantage in some of them.
Even though it isn't supposed to be all about winning, no one likes
being stuck out there among a group of peers when having a major disadvantage.
Special events for both the seeing and hearing impaired, however, would
express fairness and inclusiveness to everyone by our LGBT community.
Since dance involves performing as a couple and since a seeing partner
can make such a performance a possibility for a non-seeing or non-hearing
partner, some of us would like to see a Gay Games and/or OutGames DanceSPORT
competition (or at least an exhibition of 1 level as is done in the
Olympics before a sport is actually sanctioned) in Ballroom & Latin
and/or Country/Western (or preferably all 3 dance styles) to encourage
their participation in a sport not normally considered for blind &
deaf.contestants.
If anyone is interested in either dancing in or helping to support this
endeavor, please contact us….It would take one blind or deaf dancer
performing with a seeing and hearing partner as is done in wheelchair
dancing, which is already an event in Ballroom & Latin with one
able-bodied dance partner and one wheelchair dance partner. Seeing and
hearing dance partners would then be needed for the blind and/or deaf
dancers if such an event or exhibition ever happens. These could hopefully
be found in our pool of more accomplished dancers already out there
if a separate division ever comes to pass, so that those more experienced
performers could then also be able to compete with their regular partners
in their open divisions. As it is, anyone would have to give up their
regular seeing and hearing partners that they're already working with,
which decreases the chances of blind and deaf dancers of finding someone
more qualified to compete with.
Some have asked why a separate division need be formed as blind and
deaf dancers could well enter the regular line-up of events with everyone
else. Which is true. But But in my 57 years, I have never seen a blind
or deaf dancer compete. So I think that those of us who have the backgrounds
and ability should make an effort to give them more encouragement to
do so. Which is what a separate division would do. Then hopefully in
a few years there will be more blind and deaf dancers competing on a
regular basis and they may get good enough to compete across the board.
An Open Championship event in each dance style, including all levels
at once, or even just an exhibition the first year for all levels at
once would definitely suffice to show inclusiveness for everyone in
our community. If you know of anyone who may be interested in dancing
in or would be interested in helping to promote such a concept, please
contact us. Especially if you have connections with the “powers-that-be”
who could make it happen.
And by the way, there are MANY able-bodied dancers who can’t hold
a candle to the talent of the wheelchair dancers who performed during
Gay Games, Amsterdam. I’m convinced from that experience that
there could also be a lot of blind and deaf dancers who would put on
an equally impressive show in 2006 if only they were encouraged and
given the opportunity to perform with more qualified and experienced
partners.
Contact Ralph Bradley at EarlyRide@msn.com &/or Terrychasteen@hotmail.com.
Thanks,
Visit http://www.pleasedancewithme.com/gdeafblinddancers.htm
www.GayDanceSPORT.com (www.LambdaDanceSPORT.org)
If you are interested in helping to promote the inclusion
of such an event during these two incomparable dance tournaments in
Chicago and Montreal in 2006 or participating in them as partners for
blind, deaf or wheelchair dancers if they come to pass, please contact
Ralph Bradley at EarlyRide@msn.com or TerryChasteen@hotmail.com. You
might also express your interest to the DanceSport organizers of Gay
Games Chicago and World OutGames Montreal. Request those email addresses
from TerryChasteen@hotmail.com. We would love to see everyone in the
LGBT community have an opportunity to fairly participate in these two
monumental DanceSport events, the likes of which have yet to be seen
on the North American Continent. Which makes it that much more important
for all of us to be given the opportunity to be fairly included.
Plus it would be even more ideal if everyone was able to be
fairly included in all 3 Ballroom, Latin, and Country/Western dance
styles.
And by the way...
"The Thriller" is
coming...
...and will eventually
be offered in ASL...
...(I'm
about 3/4 there)...
Contact: Terry
Chasteen 202-462-0870
TerryChasteen@hotmail.com
www.GayDanceSport.com (www.LambdaDanceSport.org)
and
www.PleaseDanceWithMe.com
(I promise your "dancing"
will "never" be "the
same"!!)
Click
here
for a one-page flyer of
Terry's complete dance class schedule
Click
here
to learn more about classes for the
"1st World OUTgames and Gay Games®
Dances"
Click
here
for a one-page flyer of Terry's complete list of
Ballroom & Swing classes
Click
here
for a one-page flyer of Terry's complete list of
Salsa classes
For some
great practice opportunities in your dancing:
Click
here
for detailed information on the Sunday evening
"Lambda DanceSPORT Sundays"
including classes and dancing at the Chevy Chase Ballroom.
Click
here
to print or send a one-page flyer of the Sunday evening
"Lambda DanceSPORT Sundays"
including classes and dancing at the Chevy Chase Ballroom.
Click
here
to download a Lambda DanceSPORT Sundays
"2-for-the-price-of-1 pass"
when one of those attending is for their first time...
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here
to print or send a one-page flyer on the Friday or Saturday evening
Salsa, Ballroom, Tango, Hustle, & Swing
"Dance-&-Learn Parties"
including mini-classes and dancing at the Chevy Chase Ballroom
Click here
to download a Dance-&-Learn Party
"2-for-the-price-of-1 pass"
when one of those attending is for their first time...
Click
here
to print or send a one-page flyer on the Sunday afternoon
"Salsa on both 1 & 2 classes, plus Salsa Rueda
"
with Terry & Steve Denlinger at the Chevy Chase Ballroom
Click
here
to download a Sunday Salsa Social
"2-for-the-price-of-1 pass"
when one of those attending is for their first time...
Click
here
to print or send a one-page flyer for the next
"Chevy Chase Ballroom Showcase"
including professional & amateur performances, refreshments, plenty
of general
dancing and a free beginner mini-lesson in Salsa & Swing.
("Gay
Games® is a registered trademark of the Federation of Gay Games")
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