Bay Area International Deaf Dance Festival 2016

Antoine Hunter's Urban Jazz Dance, in collaboration with Dance Mission Theater presents...

Bay Area International Deaf Dance Festival 2016

Director and Founder: Mr. Antoine Hunter

Assistant Director: Zahna Simon

Mission: The Bay Area International Deaf Dance Festival (BAIDDF) is an annual event produced by Urban Jazz Dance company that consists of performances and workshops that highlight the important contributions that Deaf and Hard of Hearing (HoH) artists make to our community.

This Year: 

We have Deaf Artists flying in from London, Turkey, Mexico and Washington DC to name a few.   There will be a diversity of Sign Languages including but not limited to Mexican Sign Language (LSM), British Sign Language (BSL) and Turkey Sign Language.  Plus don't miss Sound, light and vibration engineering provided by Bobby Cox of Six Second Monks, a local Deaf Art Collective.

Deaf USA Celebrities: 

Antoine Hunter, CJ Jones, and Fred Beam

The 4th Annual Bay Area International Deaf Dance Festival:

Aug 12-14, 2016 

Dance Mission Theater 

3316 24th St, 

San Francisco, CA 94110

(Close to 24th and Mission Bart) 

Date and Time:

Fri, Aug 12th - 8pm

Sat, Aug 13th- 8pm

Sun, Aug 14th- 4pm ( There will be a different program for the family friendly matinee)

 http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/2561054 

Price:

$30 at Door  

$25 on line

$12 Youth (under 16)

Babies Free

Group Discount (Please Call)  (415) 863-9824

Special Event!!

Meet the Artists Brunch:

Saturday August 13th 10 am-1 pm

Deaf Community Center (DCC)

1550 San Leandro Blvd, San Leandro, CA 94577

Come to our special "Meet and the Greet" our local and Guest Deaf Artists plus famous Deaf Artworks by Guy Wonder will be presented for sale.  Don't miss this opportunity to catch Q&A with the Artists plus live interviews and a fabulous delicious brunch provided by our Local Bay Area Deaf Cheif Philip Smith Jr!!

Special Admission Price: $5 at the door if you show your Deaf Dance Festival Ticket

Workshops: We’re excited to provide Jazz, Hip-Hop, Ballet, ASL DANCE, and more different types of dance classes taught by International, Domestic and Local Deaf, Hard of Hearing and Hearing artists who sign fluently.  These workshops will be taught for both Youth and Adult participants in various locations including Richmond, Santa Cruz, Oakland, San Francisco, South Bay and other parts of the Bay Area...

Workshop Schedule:

Wednesday August 10th 6-10 pm

Deaf Community Center (DCC)

1550 San Leandro Blvd, San Leandro, CA 94577

6:30-8 pm Deaf Dance Academy from Istanbul, Turkey to present Belly Dance...

• Anatolian Folk Dance :

This dance is called "halay" in Turkish, belongs to East and Southern East side of Turkey. It is danced hand to hand and symbolizes unity and solidarity.

• Belly Dance: 

It is the esthetichs and rhythmic reflection of waist and hips with the arms to the body. The musics of the dance consist of Egypt and Turkish melodies. It mostly addresses to women participants.

Price: $5 (you are welcome to donate more and no one is turned away due to lack of funds)

8-10 pm Sign Dance Collective from London, United Kingdom to present:

Improvisation:

We have developed a way of improvising in dance which is very accessible.  It really can be for everyone...there is some contact involved but mainly it is about responding to impulse and variation in  using space and how the  the performer works in relation to the space and each other in an improvisation . We also pay a lot of attention to the use of the spine and the expression of the whole body . If there is space for wheelchair users we can include everyone .

Price: $5 (you are welcome to donate more and no one is turned away due to lack of funds)

Saturday August 13th 3:30-5 pm

Dance Mission Theater

3316 24th St, San Francisco, CA 94110

CJ Jones of Los Angeles, CA to present..

Creative Rhythms:

Creative rhythm game 

Demonstrate cajon drum 

Hands on cajon drum 

Create beat rhythm through cajon drum

Create ensemble body language beat based on creative rhythm 

Special Ensemble performance in the evening

Price: $5 (you are welcome to donate more and no one is turned away due to lack of funds)

Sunday August 14th, 12-2 pm

Dance Mission Theater

3316 24th St, San Francisco, CA 94110

Antoine Hunter to teach Youth Workshops!  Youth of all ages welcome!

Suggested Donation: $5

No one is turned away for lack of funds!

If you are interested in becoming involved with the BADDF as either a performer or volunteer,  Please email Antoine Hunter at thegreatedancerah@gmail.com or Zahna Simon at zahnasimon@gmail.com

This project is made possible in part by support from the California Arts Council and the Zellerbach Family Foundation.

Epiphany Productions is the fiscal sponsor for Urban Jazz Dance’s Bay Area International Deaf Dance Festival. Visit www.epiphanydance.org.

ASL MOM Teaching ASL to Birth Worker At TCBC!!!

I thought I take the time to write about something that I greatly feel is really beautiful going to happen in Southern California! Yes L.A!! You see I value family and I am a family man- I am man who want to have a family and hold my family tight together healthy and alive and protected... Yes i plan to have a family!

If you planning to have a family or a child,  you gotta thinking about what kind of birth you want. Well I tell you I been at few birth in my life and I would tell you Home Birth are the best!!! I didn't learn homebirth until 2011. My 1st home birth with my beautiful nombre/novia/amiga. It was so beautiful I would write a book about it but that another story. While my love and I commuicate with heart and spirit which was a blessing and yes of course she knew a little sign as a hearing woman who recently been in relationship with a Deaf person but we communicate from the heart and that help give a smooth birth.

You have to think who do you want to be at your birth- Family often people would say that but you need someone who know as much as a doctor - I would tell you get a Midwife!  What is that??

Well i went on midwife web site from TCBC.. and it said ..
" midwife is a trained professional with special expertise in supporting women to maintain a healthy pregnancy birth, offering expert individualized care, education, counseling and support to a woman and her newborn throughout the childbearing cycle. A midwife works with each woman and her family to identify their unique physical, social and emotional needs. When the care required is outside the midwife’s scope of practice or expertise, the woman is referred to other health care providers for additional consultation or care. "

I would tell you get a Midwife as I said before because most midwife don't treat us like rough Doctor- it like have a close friend or family there for you and take care of you whenever you call them.. Now as a Deaf Person !! Are there many Midwife that sign or are there Deaf Midwife??? I don't know many and in fact I wished for a midwives that sign however I am forever graceful for the beautiful wise midwife that was there during me and my love one times. Yet would other Deaf family want to have someone who sign or must pay for ASL Interpreter  and Midwife oh wow that going to be a lot of money - look like most Deaf either are blessing to know someone who Sign communicate for free - with midwife to help them through a smooth birth!  Reality That dont happen often no matter how beautiful birth is everyone want to get paid and of course family want to pay them for their beautiful time. Just too much money for people who are not really "rich of money" so... For the reason why i writing this blog...

IN L.A there going to be something really beautiful happening - August 24, 2012 @ 12:00 pm - 4:00 pm 



Ms. Racha Lawler who is a beautiful soul and a wonderful friend of mine.. Her passionate inspired me to continue what we do.. Serve our community -  While we both are lover of dance and arts, we both help community very different ways... Her ways is as Midwife ohh - Wait until you see her in action- she amazing spiritual person! Her 3 children are beautiful and so smart as a Star! I love her spirit alway there for any mother at birth! You can look on her web site for more information however you might ask me what or why am I talking about Ms Racha Lawler - Well she own a Birth Center called The Community Birth Center in L.A and had many beautiful midwives!! She decided to have a wonderful workshop called what??

ASL for Birth Workers

August 24, 2012 @ 12:00 pm - 4:00 pm 

Where:	The Community Birth Center 2422 W Florence Ave Los Angeles,CA 90043 USA	Map data ©2012 Google - Terms of Use Report a map error Map Satellite View Full-Size Map
Cost:	$50
Categories:	Birth Workers The Community Birth Center

American Sign Language for Birth Workers -
taught by a certified ASL instructor and mama/client of  TCBC!’
TCBC ladies get a 50% discount.

Hey there all my L.A People if you doing Birth for living and want to learn ASL - then go here http://lacommunitybirth.com/ai1ec_event/asl-for-birth-workers/?instance_id=136 lol!!

 

How exciting is that?? That is great for Deaf Family who would be considering home birth- yes they are having a Certified ASL instructor teach birth worker and yes that involve midwife!.... Wait wait  I know you all my Deaf friend said "ASL Certified hearing woman" teach  why not a Deaf mom teach!! I say unto you all... This is a start!!! Trust me my great beautiful Friend would love to find many ways for Birth Worker to learn ASL! PLus She is Client of TCBC meaning she had a beautiful baby with them... Also, I am Deaf and I am a good friend of Ms. Racha Lawler a hearing passionate loving woman,  let me tell you her intention is to make sure everyone in the community is not left out to get the best of the best in their own home birth! Gay, str-8, race, disable are not kicked out to have a beautiful home birth and I sure she want to learn more ASL herself... I stand tall and clap hand and then hand wave applauding for starting something that can support Deaf family.. Trust me i seen people turn away just beautiful family was Deaf or Gay... So let all my Deaf friends give Support to The Community Birth Center and APPLAUDE FOR DOING SUCH BEAUTIFUL THINGS.  

My only hope that I hope they show my video from Youtube called "How you communicate with a deaf person" Because as Ms Lawler know, ASL is not about just sign word it about communication - I only hope she will share what she learned about Deaf Culture because Sign without understand Deaf culture will lead to misunderstanding - as I said before it was beautiful when she learning ASL- she became so more aware about her body language- without sign without awareness lead to many wrong word which is why I am so happy the birth worker are going there - A place I trust ASL and birth to grow smooth in our Deaf and Hearing community!! 

Everyone Know ASL is very important to me for the reason why I have many ASL group in the Bay Area.  Here in L.A you got something wonderful so get it Birth Worker and Thank you MS Racha Lawler..

If you like to learn more about them The Community Birth Center please go to their web site- 

KNow this!! No one ask me to talk about them- No one knew anything about me writing about this- this is me going with my heart saying how much i love what the TCBC is giving to the community- this is what i feel need to know to our community!  The community need to know they have something wonderful right there. 

Here their web site 
http://lacommunitybirth.com/


All photo belong:
The Community Birth Center Web page! I do not own the photo! lol!!!

Antoine BABA Hunter
Psalm 46:1