Deaf
West Theatre is pleased to offer the educational
programming for Los Angeles schools with
award-winning sign language theater activities
From Spring '08, Aesop Who?
Dramatic
Gestures seeks to
positively impact the literacy and
communication skills of deaf, hard
of hearing and hearing students
through the analysis and creation
of theater. Through classroom communities,
all students, regardless of ability,
will experience confidence, teamwork
and self-expression through the
exploration of theater. We aim to
build students' artistic perception
through exposure to professional
performances and empower their creative
expression through the development
and performance of their own dramatic
scenes. With these activities, we
seek to provide deaf and hard of
hearing students with valuable role
models and to positively impact
the mainstream perception of deaf
culture and its contribution to
the arts. Deaf West Theatre is the
only organization in the Los Angeles
area offering schools authentic
arts education programming delivered
in both American Sign Language (ASL)
and spoken English, creating a unique
cross-cultural experience.
Read more
about our Programs
School Performances
are attended by local deaf and hard of hearing
students for each of Deaf West Theatre mainstage
productions. Production-specific, age-appropriate
Discovery Guides with resources for in-classroom
activities are also provided. This opportunity
reveals the capacity and beauty of the theatrical
arts while exposing students to a profound
cultural contributions. In Spring 2010,
we presented the ASL adaptation
of My Sister in This House and
inviting high school students with special
matinee performances.
(Below) View video
showcasing Fall 2009's educational outreach
activities including student attendance
at Children of A Lesser God at
Deaf West's North Hollywood theater and
In-School Workshop residency program.
Theater
Residency Programs exposes deaf and hard of hearing children
to literature and self-expression through
exposure to the performing arts. Deaf students,
along with their hearing classmates, experience
classroom instruction delivered in both
ASL and spoken English. Students participate
in classroom sessions with
Deaf West artists and explore theatre arts, literature,
American Sign Language and Deaf culture.
Classroom activities are designed to build
skills of artistic perception, literary
analysis and creative expression through
an interdisciplinary curriculum.
In-School
Performances are professional,
bi-lingual/bi-cultural children's productions
that allow for fluid interaction and idea
sharing between both hearing and deaf children.
It also provides an opportunity to develop
the capacity for artistic expression, which
in turn leads to improved self-esteem and
confidence for all participants. Through
this opportunity, Deaf West aims to deepen its
impact within underserved schools. In-depth
sign language translations, which accurately
preserve the tone, humor, rhythms and intentions
of the source material, will enable deaf
and hard of hearing students to engage in
literature in the same manner as their hearing
classmates. This program is currently on hold.
For more
information about booking a performance or
workshop at your school, please contact
us at
818-762-2998 or info@deafwest.org.
Dramatic Gestures is supported in part by
the Sheri and Les Biller Family Foundation,
a Department of Education congressionally-directed
grant, and the Thelma Pearl Howard Foundation.
5112
Lankershim Blvd., North Hollywood, California 91601
| Voice 818.762.2998 | VP 866.954.2986|
Fax 818.762.2981 | Email info@deafwest.org
