BAY AREA DEAF ARTS

BAY AREA DEAF ARTS

BAY AREA DEAF ARTS

BAY AREA DEAF ARTS

BAY AREA DEAF ARTS
January 14–February 21, 2021
Curated by Antoine Hunter
Curatorial Residency Exhibition
Upcoming Programs | Virtual Gallery Experience | Safety Plan


Bay Area Deaf Arts celebrate and center the art forms and cultural expression historically rooted in the Deaf community, raising Deaf awareness in non-Deaf populations, and inviting collaboration between Hearing and Deaf artists. Curated by renowned performer and activist Antoine Hunter for SOMArts’ Curatorial Residency program, this exhibition asks us: Where are the voices of Deaf and Deaf people of color? What truths are we willing to listen to? Do you know they have more to show than just talk about Deaf culture itself?

This exhibition celebrates the shared language of the Bay Area Deaf community, American Sign Language (ASL). Hunter invites audiences to listen and learn about Deaf arts, Deaf Queer arts, Deaf BIPOC arts, Deaf women arts, Deaf with disabilities and more. The virtual gallery and accompanying programs are open to both Deaf and Hearing community members in any location around the world.



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​EXHIBITING ARTISTS Antoine Hunter ASL Love clare cassidy Deepa Agarwal Drago Renteria Gungaa Tuvshinbat Jon Kastrup Orkid Sassouni CURATOR Antoine Hunter

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Click Here to VIEW UPCOMING PROGRAMS

Grand Opening Night with Bay Area Deaf Arts (Click play to watch) 

Tune in via Facebook or YouTube live for
Bay Area Deaf Arts virtual programs!
​Don't forget to subscribe.
Programs are subject to change and we invite you to follow UJDC, Antoine Hunter and SOMArts on social media  .

ABOUT THE CURATOR
Bay Area native Antoine Hunter, also known Purple Fire Crow, is an award-winning Internationally-known African-American, Indigenous, Deaf, Disabled, choreographer, dancer, actor, instructor, speaker, Producer and Deaf advocate. He creates opportunities for Disable, Deaf and hearing artists and produces Deaf-friendly events, and founded the Urban Jazz Dance Company and Bay Area International Deaf Dance Festival.
Antoine has received numerous grants and awards including the inaugural Jeanette Lomujo Bremond Award for Humanity, Isadora Duncan (Izzie) for Bay Area International Deaf Dance Festival, and SF King of Carnaval.
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Antoine’s work has been performed globally, most recently in Turkey, the UK, and Russia. He has lectured across the U.S. including at Kennedy Center’s VSA, Harvard and Duke University, and the National Assembly of State Arts. In 2019 alone, his company, Urban Jazz Dance Company, an ensemble of professional Deaf and Hearing dancers, performed for and engaged more than 4,200 schoolchildren. His shoe company, DropLabs, and Susan Paley just released an innovative product to help people feel music through their shoes. He is Vice President of Deaf Counseling, Advocacy and Referral Agency (DCARA’s) Board. DCARA is a non-profit, community-based social service agency serving the Deaf community. Established in 1962 as one of the first Deaf-run agencies in the country.

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“A pattern of light emerges through my comprehension of a patina of understanding of my traumatic childhood, identity crisis and adulthood journey; though fragmented, vivid and without resolution. I seek to make the world brighter, more colorful, joyful and to give the viewer an optimistic outlook and help deal with the negativity in the world,”
​shares artist Jon Kastrup.

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News:

Internationally acclaimed deaf dancer Antoine Hunter is the curator of a virtual art exhibit in San Francisco called the “Bay Area Deaf Arts.” The exhibit is open to anyone online and continues until February 21. Website: https://somarts.org/event/bada
​Transcript: www.dailymoth.com/blog/bay-area-deaf-arts-festival

‘Bay Area Deaf Arts’ exhibition explores the diverse experiences of Deaf creators by Joe Dworetzky, Bay City News Foundation February 4, 2021 (Click Here to read the Full article!) 

THE trigger I SURVIVED AT 9 YEARS OLD by Antoine Hunter

Warning ⚠️ this artistic video may make you cry or triggered.... be patience with yourself..
(Story is below)
THE TRIGGER I SURIVEd AT 9 YEARS OLD-
I’m 9 years old and it 2020...

This video: Masculinity? Masculine (collective Black man) identity presence either threatens white privileged “authority” or triggers modern day lynching anxiety.

With every beat of a clock, video I watched that documents a black life being beaten, robbed, tricked, mocked, and stolen, my Black Deaf soul fades, fades, fades.

VIDEO: Stamped:
5 minute artistic video by Antoine Hunter. Antoine is a dark dark-skinned African American, Cherokee, and Blackfoot Native American man with long black dreadlocks and a full ebony beard. He is wearing a fitted black v-neck shirt and sitting in front of a solid blue background.

00:00-00:10 The video begins with a portrait-mode video centered over a black wide-screen background. Antoine looks directly into the camera, smiling, and rearranges his hair until he is pleased with how he looks. The audience views Antoine through the lens of his phone, alternating between interacting with the phone and directly addressing viewers.

00:10 Antoine signs PRECIOUS and swipes his hand across the camera suggesting a filter change. He then begins laughing hard and holds his left hand on his chest.

00:18 Antoine swipes across the camera again, purses his lips, and shakes his head in light disagreement with what he sees on his screen.

00:27 He swipes his finger across the screen and is empowered indeed beauty with his look. He snaps his fingers in a zig-zag across his chest.

00:31 Antoine swipes across his screen again and his facial expression slowly changes from happy to concerned to and he leans back from the camera.

00:42-01:15- Antoine watches the screen and begins to tear up.

01:15 Antoine’s left eye drifts to the side while his right eyes stare straight and white text appears at the bottom of the screen reading (Eyes Twisted). The camera zooms to a close up of Antoine’s eyes and a single tear spills over from his left eye.

01:47 The camera angle switches back to portrait mode and tears run down Antoine’s face. His eyes shift slightly to the right then return to the camera.

02:00 The video fades out and another portrait mode shot appears. Antoine brushes his beard and sings and signs I’m Black, Deaf and I’m Proud. Music notes and red, yellow and black calligraphy text appears: I’m Black, DEAF, and I’m proud.

02:00-2:15 Antoine snaps his fingers, brushes his beard, sings, and moves to the beat of his song and brushes his hair.

02:15- The clip fades out and another fades in of  Antoine crying, his left eye fully to the side. The camera slowly pans out.

02:23- Solid white flashes across the screen and a closeup widescreen shot of Antoine screaming appears.

02:23-2:41 Antoine screams and shakes. The camera pans out and the video slowly returns to portrait mode as Antoine, head down, raises clenched fists and continues to screen and shake in clear emotional agony. Antoine looks directly into the camera then looks down and

02:41-2:52 Tears roll down Antoine’s cheeks as he looks into the camera and lowers his fists.

02:54-2:58 A new clip fades in of Antoine wearing a red half-face mask. He struggles to breathe and uncovers his mouth and nose. He clenches his hands over his chest and removes the mask.

02:58 The portrait mode shot of Antoine with tears running down his cheeks reappears.

03:00-3:07 A new clip of Antoine, bare-chested, appears. He looks rapidly from left to right in terror, attempting to protect himself from unseen threats.

03:07-3:09 The screen flashes to Antoine in the black shirt tucking his hair behind his right ear.

03:09 The screen flashes back to Antoine bare-chested and protecting himself.

03:14 A brief flash of Antoine tucking his hair behind his right ear blends into a clip of him laughing with increasing intensity, both clips are transparent and can be seen simultaneously as they blend together. He appears to be holding his heart as he laughs and claps his hands together as if being told a hilarious joke.

03:30 Antoine signing gradually appears, transparent, behind the clip of him tilting his head back and laughing. He signs WHEN WILL THIS STOP?

03:33 Antoine yells and signs WOO and places his hands across his chest, his laughter verges on tears and he signs YES!

03:40 Two portrait shot clips of Antoine appear, juxtaposed. LEFT CLIP: Antoine’s palms are pressed together in prayer at his forehead. His eyes are closed as he says his prayers with all his heart.

RIGHT CLIP: Antoine signs, When will this STOP as he looks directly into the camera. He signs, When will we be able to grow together? SUBTITLE: When will this STOP.  When will we be able to grow together

04:09-4:25 LEFT CLIP: Antoine continues to pray and tears roll down his cheeks.
RIGHT CLIP: Antoine signs This MUST stop. The HATE MUST STOP. The RACISM and DISCRIMINATION MUST STOP. | SUBTITLES:  HATE MUST STOP. The RACISM and DISCRIMINATION MUST STOP

04:26 LEFT CLIP: Antoine signs love.

04:27-04:40 LEFT CLIP: Antoine lowers his hands, closes his eyes, and cries softly. He raises his left fist, palm out, in a sign of solidarity, resistance, and strength. He wipes his tears away and begins to braid his hair behind his head. RIGHT CLIP: Antoine signs STOP the KILLING and shifts his eyes down in a slow blink. He then looks straight into the camera. He leans forward, points into the camera, eyebrows raised, and signs you, STOP the KILLING | SUBTITLES: STOP the KILLING

04:40: LEFT CLIP: Antoine holds his hair behind his head with his right hand and wipes away tears with his left hand. He continues to braid his hair. RIGHT CLIP: Antoine taps his chest, his heart, and signs: WE HUMAN here, He takes deep breaths and slowly blinks his eyes. He signs WE ARE NOT GOING ANYWHERE! | SUBTITLES: WE HUMAN here. WE ARE NOT GOING ANYWHERE!

4:50: LEFT CLIP: Antoine looks directly into the camera and finishes braiding his hair. He raises his fist again in the sign for solidarity, resistance, and strength. RIGHT CLIP: He signs, STOP the KILLING. He looks off camera, to the right, then the left, then directly at the camera and nods. He signs a final time STOP the KILLING. | SUBTITLES: STOP the KILLING.

05:00: LEFT CLIP: goes out. RIGHT CLIP: Antoine looks into the camera one last time.]

Warning ⚠️ this artistic video may make you cry or triggered.... be patience with yourself..

THE TRIGGER I SURIVEd AT 9 YEARS OLD-
I’m 9 years old and it 2020...

This video: Masculinity? Masculine (collective Black man) identity presence either threatens white privileged “authority” or triggers modern day lynching anxiety.

With every beat of a clock, video I watched that documents a black life being beaten, robbed, tricked, mocked, and stolen, my Black Deaf soul fades, fades, fades.

https://vimeo.com/423479123/f98002b7f8

Video Description subtitles  - for Deaf -Description
https://youtu.be/lBkAflzBlj4
Ps We Aint WEAK!

Make your stomach sick?
Trigger the neuroendocrine mechanisms that produce inflammation and  Emotional Dysregulation of the immune system.

Kenya Downs from PBS wrote...
When black wrongful death goes viral, it can trigger PTSD-like trauma. It was written- people of color, frequent exposure to the shootings of black people can have long-term mental health effects.

A 2012 study found that black Americans reported experiencing discrimination at significantly higher rates than any other ethnic minority. The study, which surveyed thousands of African-Americans, Hispanics and Asian-Americans, also found that blacks who perceived discrimination the most, were more likely to report symptoms of PTSD. Although African-Americans have a lower risk for many anxiety disorders, the study reported a PTSD prevalence rate of 9.1 percent in blacks, compared to 6.8 percent in whites, 5.9 percent in Hispanics, and 1.8 percent in Asians.

QUESTION: What does this mean for BLACK Deaf people and BLACK Disable people?

Antoine Hunter and Urban Jazz Dance Company will be performing!! Green Show at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival in Ashland, Oregon.

Antoine Hunter and Urban Jazz Dance Company will be performing!!

Green Show at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival in Ashland, Oregon.

Friday July 22nd and Saturday July 23rd at 6:45 pm

Free admission located outside!!

Come support! We will be there with the whole company!

https://www.osfashland.org/artist-biographies/green-show/Urban-Jazz-Dance-Company.aspx

Urban Jazz Dance Company

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Performing in the 2016 Green Show on Friday, July 22 and Saturday, July 23   

This is their first season at the OSF Green Show.

Deaf, artistic, RAW-energy, FREEDOM, expressed, athletic-bODY, UNCONTROLLABLE, PASSIONATE dancers.

Founded in 2007 by pioneering Deaf dancer/choreographer Antoine Hunter, Urban Jazz Dance Company (UJD) consists of a mix of professional Deaf and Hearing dancers. UJD's mission is to provide opportunities for deaf and other-abled artists to contribute to the arts and larger society, increasing awareness around deaf issues via the performing arts. Featuring the syncopation of urban jazz rhythms, the company values the importance of play and performance to connect cultures of all races, ages, abilities, and backgrounds. UJD performs all over the Bay Area and beyond, including festival such as; the Black Choreographers Festival, CubaCaribe Festival, Art and Soul Festival, and the Ethnic Dance Festival. Its programs thrill deaf and hearing audiences alike. UJD is also the producer of the annual Bay Area Deaf Dance Festival and views deafness as a human experience with its own values, principles, and cultural norms – not a disability.

A Bay Area native, director Antoine Hunter is an award-winning African-American Deaf and Hard of Hearing choreographer, dancer, dance instructor, actor, poet, and deaf advocate. The founder and artistic director of Urban Jazz Dance, Hunter has performed with Savage Jazz Dance Company, Nuba Dance Theater, Alayo Dance Company, Robert Moses’ KIN, Man Dance, Sins Invalid, Amara Tabor-Smith, Kim Epifano, Push Dance Company, Fly Away Productions, Joanna Haigood, and the Lorraine Hansberry Theater. He has performed throughout the Bay Area and the world including Cuba, Rome, and Paris. Hunter is a faculty member at East Bay Center for the Performing Arts, Shawl-Anderson, Youth in Arts and Dance-A-Vision. He is the founder of Iron Tri-Angel Urban Ballet in Richmond, was an instructor and rehearsal director for the Ross Dance Company, and dance captain for Expedia.com commercials. His awards include the 2011 National Dance Week Dancer's Choice Award, Margaret Jenkin's CHIME award, the 2009 VRS Award (the international organization on arts and disabilities), and the 2000 Bay Area Star Award. He has been featured in Dance Spirit Magazine and Dance Magazine, and is the former president of the Bay Area Black Deaf Advocate and Director-at-Large for the Northern California chapter of the California Association of the Deaf. He has been featured in Oakland North and is a representative for Purple Technologies, which sells deaf services and products. Mr. Hunter is an active supporter of DeafHope, an organization whose mission is to end domestic and sexual violence in deaf communities through empowerment, education, and services. He teaches dance and ASL in both hearing and deaf communities, and is the founder and artistic director of Urban Jazz Dance Company, and has been producing the Bay Area Deaf Dance Festival since 2013. His projects have been awarded funding by both CA$H Theater Bay Area and the Zellerbach Family Foundation.

Deaf from birth, assistant director Zahna started her dance training with City Ballet School in San Francisco. She expanded her dance background when she was accepted to San Francisco School of the Arts (SOTA) by training with Elvia Marta in Modern, Jazz, African, Ballet, Hip Hop, and Choreography, as well as participating in Alonzo King’s LINES Pre-Professional Summer Programs. Upon graduating from SOTA in 2003, Zahna attended UCI to double major in Chemistry and Dance. At UCI she trained and performed in over 20 performances in various dance styles, working with fellow peers, graduate students, and distinguished faculty such as Lisa Naugle, David Allan, and Donald McKayle. In 2008, Zahna received a BS in Chemistry and a BFA in Dance performance and moved to San Diego to pursue her Chemistry career as a Senior Research Associate at Vertex Pharmaceuticals. In San Diego, Zahna performed with the Mesa College Dance Company, CAC Repertory Dance Theatre (CACRDT), Bite Dance Company, Visionary Dance Theatre and in Jean Isaac’s Trolley Dances 2013. In August of 2014, she relocated to Bay Area and immediately jumped into ODC’s Next Moves intensive and the Bay Area Deaf Dance Festival. 

Antoine and Zahna will be joined by two other deaf dancers from Isreal, who excel in modern dance, and recently joined the company four months ago. 

Urban Jazz Dance Company on Community:As a former Bay Area Black Deaf Advocate President and Northern California Association of Deaf Director, my company uses the artistic talents of our company members to educate audiences about what going on in the world; empowering the deaf community, advocating for deaf rights, and working to eliminate discrimination, prejudice, and more. We also use dance as an expression of healing after abuse.We host shows at the California School for the Deaf in Fremont and Riverside, California, and perform and offer workshops in London, Italy, Mexico, Peru, Africa, and all over USA. We also host an annual show at the Bay Area Deaf International Dance Festival in San Francisco, Ca.

urbanjazzdance.weebly.com

Love shouldn't be followed by fists

This picture is from the show "A Different World" Season 5, Episode 22. ("Love taps") Rapper Don abusing dorm friend Gina..Community step in to help..in various ways. This show episode was made April 1992 still important to share today 2015.. 

It's not very often I get to see a showcase that shows people how to protect each other by using the truth... By truth, I mean what's real. 

Is there an easy ways to talk about abuse at home or being raped by someone you love or you trusted? 

I believe it never easy.. Being victim, survivor, artist, community leader, father and so on...

I wanted to a take minute to inform the community.. 

Love shouldn't be abused.. 

Love shouldn't be followed by fists, shouldn't be followed by Verbal abuse, shouldn't be followed by Threats of violence or losing what is dear to you, shouldn't be followed by using the past mistake to be able move forward today or right now, shouldn't be followed by Rigid sex roles, shouldn't be followed by Unrealistic expectations plus blaming other for their own feeling or action shouldn't followed by fear..Love is not jealousy.. Yes, sometime we get jealous but it is not love.. Love shouldn't be followed by belittling someone by calling them names, insulting their religious freedom, tease about their health,  dehumanizing, love shouldn't be followed by the act or acts of hate! Again, I say love shouldn't be followed by fists. 

As a Deaf person I've learned that many Deaf people experiences these abusive treatment. Actually many of them never really knew they were being abused or knew a way out..sometimes, both individuals involved in a (partnership or as a couple), fail to realize they are  in an abusive situation or having an abusive relationship, since they're both being abusive towards each other.  

Truth, often time many Deaf people being brain wash to believe they(Deaf people) have to suffer and not tell anyone all because they're Deaf and believe no one would believe them, listen to them, believe values of their own life worth saving. It is said 1 out of 2 Deaf experience these abuse.. This the truth ! 

Deafhope foundation.. Provide victim the truth.. They will be heard, they don't need to suffer, theirs own life is worth saving,and they will be protected, and teach you how protect yourself and those you love .. It's time to inform community with the truth..

I went California School for the Deaf to see Theater show present about victims and survivors of abuse..

 Theme:" Dare to Utter"  Dare to Utter is a compilation of stories from Deaf survivors of Domestic Violence and Sexual Violence as shared through actors in American Sign Language on stage. Their stories are all true and the story-sharing serves to raise awareness about the cycles of abuse and sexual violence in our communities

Amazing cast, heart breaking stories and indeed also inspiring stories. There is so much I can't give out on here because the list will go on and on but I would say.. There is so much to give in our community, and nothing beat the truth..

My hat goes out

DeafHope ( http://www.deaf-hope.org) 

Their mission is to end violence in Deaf communities through empowerment, education and services. 

  Dare to Utter is a compilation of stories from Deaf survivors of Domestic Violence and Sexual Violence as shared through actors in American Sign Language on stage. Their stories are all true and the story-sharing serves to raise awareness about the cycles of abuse and sexual violence in our communities.

I'm writing  to say love shouldn't be followed by fists and it's our job to let our community and people of all age out there be informed about it...

My hat goes off for all "Dare to be utter"s ensemble and hope to see more..

©2015

Antoine Hunter

 

Thank you 💗🙏 and silent moments for all those who suffered and die from abuse..🌹

Ps..

Feel free post anything you want in comment. 

5 TIPS ON WITH WORKING WITH STUDENTS WHO ARE DEAF OR HAVE HEARING LOSS

Some of you asked where the written works that I've written for VSA..About working with Deaf people in classroom.

While I feel blessed to teach what I know- sometime having limit doesn't do justice on what I want to teach but I do hope that one will get something important rather than nothing.. Keep in mind i had to keep this under 300 words.. I really hope you all keep sharing your wisdom as I keep sharing mine. Please also share feedback if you want. 

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5 TIPS ON WITH WORKING WITH STUDENTS WHO ARE DEAF OR HAVE HEARING LOSS

By Mr. Antoine Hunter

The Deaf community exists in towns and in schools around the world. With a slowly increasing presence in popular media again (through television shows like Switched at Birth and actors like Marlee Matlin), this tight-knit community is currently receiving a bit more recognition. Here are five tips on working with Deaf students, which apply to school-age students and life-long learners!

1. You have to get my attention in order for us to communicate, right?
As a dance teacher, I know that just getting students’ attention can be a challenge sometimes. When working with a Deaf students or hearing lost students, you can first try calling their name; all levels of hearing are different and some have more than others. If that doesn’t work, and you are in the student’s line of vision, try waving. If all else fails, go to the student and LIGHTLY tap the person on the shoulder and wait. I’ll also ask my students, Deaf and hearing, to point at me, when I say pay attention and when that happens, it helps bring everyone’s attention to the center so we can begin.

2. Environment plays a big part in effective communication and comfort.
Are you in a well-lit classroom or are shadows running across your face and mouth? Is the room noisy or calm and quiet without lots of vibrations? Hearing aids help to amplify hearing, i.e. noise levels, which means ambient sounds are often increased to a confusing and uncomfortable level. Deaf can sometime find heavy background vibration distracting. Be sure your classroom and surroundings are peaceful.

3. Deaf students love music too!
People often ask me what music they should use in dance classes, and in 2010 I offered some suggestions in Dance Teacher Magazine. I suggest finding music that has a bit of something for everyone. For example, Miles Davis’ album Doo-Bop and James Brown’s "I Feel Good" both have heavy bass and high horn pitches happening at the same time. Explore all kinds of music and find something for everyone to enjoy. Be aware that musical vibration is easier to feel when holding still, so play a musical rhythm first and then get everyone moving, Or play that music SUPER LOUD! 

4. There are many ways to communicate.
If you understand sign language and can sign with a student who is Deaf, that’s great! But there are other forms of communication; find out what works best for the student in that situation. Some prefer writing things down, and others can read lips and prefer you to speak clearly as you normally would. Your body language and respect are most important when communicating with a Deaf student. Turn your body to face the students so they can see your lips move, and don’t put your head down. If something is happening or is said elsewhere, let the student know.

Oakland, California-based dancer Antoine Hunter is founder and director of Urban Jazz Dance Company and the Bay Area Deaf Dance Festival in California. He teaches ballet, hip hop, modern, jazz, African, and creative dance to students of all ages at 10 different schools and performing arts centers in California’s Bay Area and serves as Bay Area Black Deaf Advocate President

Thank you Oakland North reporting me as Deaf and not deaf..

http://antoinehunter.blogspot.com/2014/01/thank-you-oakland-north-reporting-me-as.html

Thank you Oakland North reporting me as Deaf and not deaf..

I wanna take the time to thanks By James Reddick and Jake Nicol

reporter students from Oakland North..

Oakland North is a news project of UC Berkeley’s Graduate School of Journalism.

These guys in my hometown decided to write about me and interview me about my work and working in my community.

Often time hearing people who interview always label me as deaf and not Deaf. 

Funny how it get. They asked to interview me and fight with me about the report of me as deaf...

These reporter not only took the time to interview me but come to a few of my spaces and watch me work and see me as a Deaf Artist and Deaf teacher. 

... 

Jame email me his final draft: 

Hey Antoine, here's a link to the video, which just went up today. Would love to know what you think. 

Merry Christmas! 

http://bit.ly/1gZZKeO <<- from="" lol="" many="" me-="" me="" note="" omgoodness="" p="" people="" so="" this="" tweet="" with="">

Dear James as I wrote back.. 

It was really good.. If you don't mind edit deaf into Deaf culture .. Even the Chef editor of Dance Mag had to learned that I am Deaf and not deaf.. she was surprised and said learn something new in the forms of writing or naming us .. If u say deaf it mean can't hear  If you're talking about him as a Deaf person you say Deaf .. Yes he is  Deaf African American  You can Google winki define Deaf culture.

(Click the picture to play the video- give it a minute to load)

He was shocked and change all the deaf into Deaf. This is why i put myself out so that people can use me.

Honestly James could had ignored me and deleted the video and interview report. It happen to me before. Other writer would ignored me and if i complain more, they would take it down and my work is not shown to learn to the community. Still today writer find my work amazing but some really fail to listen- Am I the one really deaf or those hearing people being deaf???

Sometime when people interview me they leave out the my hand- which is how I communicate or speak-

If one going to off them off ( my hands) then you must do what add Subtitle or Closed caption ! They did just that!!

I honor them for supporting our Deaf people. So again thank you James and Rick !! for making the report and captioned video!!

If you like to see their page and they wrote please go here and please share!!! 

http://oaklandnorth.net/2013/12/26/dancer-antoine-hunter-engages-deaf-culture-with-art/

Peace love and dancing blessing

- Antoine Hunter

Psalm46:1

Antoine Hunter in Dance Magazine 2013 "Why I Dance"

Hey
There everyone - I just want to take the time to give thanks to ONE OF MY FAVORATE WRITTER.. Wendy Perron !!!!
She took a minute with me to learn about Deaf culture.. As many of you know English is not my 1st language and an Editor job is to correct us  LOL!!!!

One day I wrote: "I am an African-American Deaf dance artist" She said, change Deaf to deaf...

Now I know my English is bad but I knew my culture, scary as it sound I almost couldn't reply back because who am I kidding it WENDY PARRON!!  Who am I to correct her lol !!

Yet!!

 I knew as President of Bay Area Black Deaf Adocate and CAD's Director at Large for Northern, CA.  

California Association of the Deaf

I had to be brave and explain our culture.

She was so beautiful and sweet and very direct. She say She learned something new in the forms of writing.

She change deaf into Deaf and I want to say THANK YOU MS WENDY PARRON!!!!!! FOR LISTENING TO MY STORY AND SEEING US AS DEAF AND NOT deaf..

Peace and Love

-Antoine Hunter

This written work is in Dance Magzine

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Why I Dance: Antoine Hunter

By Antoine Hunter

An award-winning dancer/choreographer and beloved figure in the Bay Area, Antoine Hunter has danced with Savage Jazz Dance Company, Nuba Dance Theatre, and Robert Moses’ Kin dance company. He founded Urban Jazz Dance Company and is co-director/founder of Iron Tri-Angel Urban Ballet. He teaches at the East Bay Center for the Performing Arts, Dance-A- Vision Entertainment, and Ross Dance Company, where he also serves as rehearsal director. Hunter has performed and taught in Rome, London, Cuba, and Africa.

Photo by Matt Haber, Courtesy Hunter.

I am an African-American Deaf dance artist. My desire for dance began at the age of 4. I can remember seeing everyone break dancing and I wanted to try. I got on the cardboard and did a spin and a kick—but then there was a bam!—I wound up in the hospital with an injured knee.

That knee injury was painful, but not as much as the idea of not ever being able to dance again. My passion for dance was put on hold until I was 5 and my mother took me to see Oakland Ballet. I was so in awe of the dancers’ poise, grace, and their ability to use their bodies to tell a story. They touched the hearts and souls of the audience—of me.

But my mother couldn’t afford to take me to any kind of dance class. We were very poor. At the same time, I found it harder and harder to fit in with the other kids—to be understood, to be heard.

I would want to play outside with the other kids, and their parents wouldn’t let them play with me. Maybe it was because I was black. I wanted to hang out with the other kids of color, but they didn’t want to play with me either. Maybe it was because I was Deaf. I tried to socialize with deaf people, and they didn’t want to hang out with me either.

I began to feel very alone and, at one point, suicidal. But soon, there was a beacon of hope. Dance. It wasn’t until I enrolled in Skyline High School in 1995 that my passion for dance was reignited. At first, the classes were very hard and I felt intimidated. And just like during my childhood years, no one wanted to dance with me. But then my dance teacher, Ms. Dawn James, approached me and told me to create a solo. I decided to dance to Whitney Houston’s “I Will Always Love You.”

 

When the music started, I began rocking my head side to side as if a boat were rocking me. I grabbed my shoulders as if I were cold and alone in the dark. Then, letting the music take me over, I was moving all over the room. During the instrumental break of the song, I began to dance as if lightning, fire, wind, water, and finally the earth were attacking me.

When I finished dancing, everyone had so many different expressions on their faces—even before they clapped. Many people told me that they could understand me and feel me.

From that day forward, I went on to learn other “languages of dance”—like African, ballet, and so much more. Soon I began to teach these languages to others. Dance is so powerful. Not only does it have the ability to bring people together, but it also has the power to heal.

 

I dance because I’m happy. I dance because I’m free. Lordy hallelujah, for the spirit of dance has saved me!

Copyright © 2014 DanceMedia, LLC. All Rights Reserved - See more at: http://dancemagazine.com/issues/September-2013/Why-i-dance-antoine-hunter#sthash.27owLDuv.dpuf

Dance is so powerful. Not only does it have the ability to bring people together, but it also has the power to heal. - Antoine Hunter

Thank you Ms Wendy Perron

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- See more at: http://dancemagazine.com/issues/September-2013/Why-i-dance-antoine-hunter#sthash.27owLDuv.dpuf

Deaf Culture is Present at the SF's Ethnic Dance Festival !!!!

For the 1st time history Deaf Culture will be present at Ethnic Dance Festival

Please be Sure to look our SF Chronicle New Paper and June/Aug InDANCE 

Please look out for Antoine Hunter Fan PAGE!!!
Please Share with other and come Support Deaf Culture!!!
I want to thanks Amazing Wanda Sabir! For she was the one who reminded me to audition!!
Antone Hunter will perform a SOLO!!!!! Come see the newest work!

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Read about the 35th Anniversary of the San Francisco Ethnic Dance Festival in this Sunday's San Francisco Chronicle Datebook Section Tickets for the 2013 San Francisco Ethnic Dance Festival are selling fast! “A glorious achievement... I heartily envy the Bay Area residents who can see the three programs I must miss” -Alastair Macaulay, chief dance critic for The New York Times Don't miss out on the celebration. Get your tickets here before they're all gone. ..........................................Urban Jazz Dance Company / Photo by RJ Muna ...................................... Come see Urban Jazz Dance Company  in the 35th Anniversary San Francisco Ethnic Dance Festival In this stunning solo, Antoine Hunter presents American Sign Dance, expressing felt syncopation through the athletic body. Hunter unites jazz, African, hip-hop, gospel, and signing as a poetic gestured language. The piece honors deafness as human experience. We will be performing June 29 & 30 at Yerba Buena Center's Lam Theater in San Francisco. Click here for tickets! This year's Festival features 35 extraordinary dance companies in a series of thrilling and inspiring performances honoring cultural legacies and highlighting the vibrancy of the Bay Area’s world dance community. For tickets and a full performance schedule, visit www.sfethnicdancefestival.org Urban Jazz Dance Company performs:  Saturday, June 29 at 2pm and 8pm Sunday, June 30 at 2pm Tickets are going fast, so don't wait! Tickets are $18 - $58; Subscriber discounts are available when purchasing tickets to three separate performances; Group discounts for 20 or more are available; Kids 12 and under receive half-price admission for all Saturday matinees. This e-mail was sent from World Arts West Immediate removal with PatronMail® SecureUnsubscribe. To forward this e-mail to a friend or colleague, use this link. To change your e-mail address or update preferences, use this link.