U.S. and India

Deaf Teens Inspire and Entertain

Astad Deboo and Alexandria Wailes in a stellar performance. (photo copyright © by Paul Harrelson)

Last summer, four deaf teens traveled halfway around the world to inspire and entertain the people of India.

With their adult sponsors-Gallaudet University's Young Scholars Program and the Discovery Program, and Quest, a private arts organization-the teens performed and gave workshops for people in Bombay, Calcutta, and four other Indian cities. They performed songs in American Sign Language, presented stories in mime and sign language, and danced for audiences that included deaf, hard of hearing, and hearing people.

A deaf American visitor encourages a young Indian student. (photo copyright © by Paul Harrelson)

"Often we performed for standing room only audiences," said Quest director Tim McCarty. "We would perform twice a day. In the mornings, students from the local schools-most of them deaf and hard of hearing-would come to see the performance. In the evenings, adults came. In all, we performed for 7,000 people and another 500 came to our workshops."

The Indians loved the performances.

"People stopped us on the street to tell us they enjoyed our show," said McCarty.

A deaf Indian actor, Sundeep Kedia, joined the Americans on stage. In Calcutta, students from the Clarke School for the Deaf in Chennai joined them, too, performing Indian dances dressed in magnificent costumes.

Young deaf students discover new strengths at a workshop in India. (photo copyright © by Paul Harrelson)

"At the end of each performance, the audience would line up to meet us, and wait with their pens and hands outstretched," said McCarty. "They greeted us with hugs and, often, tears. It was very moving."

The deaf teen performers were Carrie Suggs from Virginia, Lalita and Leela Chaitoo from New York, and Tami Santimyer from Florida.