Two Worlds of Dance Collide

[Amnon Damti, Dancer & Choreographer]: 

“When I began dancing I felt the music in my body, and I realized that I am a universal dancer, and that it doesn’t matter whether I can hear or not!!” 

So tells us dancer Amnon Damti, who is deaf from birth. His wife Jill translates his words literally and also by sign language.

They live together as a couple and have two children. They are also partners in dancing. When Jill first met Amnon she was curious to learn sign language, and picked it up very quickly.

At the age of 15, Amnon joined a group of deaf dancers, something that was unique in Israel. Being extremely talented as a dancer, he became the lead dancer of the group. Amnon has had a love for dance all his life.

[Amnon Damti, Dancer & Choreographer]:

“At the age of ten I loved art, and all of a sudden I saw the Bolshoi from Russia performing on TV. Amazing! Strong! I was completely taken by Pirouette spins. I wanted to dance with all my heart. Although I am unable to hear music, I can feel it!! It is even stronger.”

Jill Damti was born in the U.S., studied acrobatics and worked as an art swimmer with dolphins. She also studied film. Jill is the host of the show, which conveys not only verbal messages, but also physical messages, and so the audience becomes an active participant in the show.

[Jill Damti, Feingold Dancer]: 

“At first, Amnon told me that I should study ballet, and we will raise a show together. But then he changed his mind and said, ‘no, no, stick to your special acrobatic style, and we will combine both worlds!’ We called it ‘Two Worlds’ because of the dancing styles, but later it became linked to hearing and deafness.”

In order to keep pace in dancing, Amnon uses the vibrations from the speakers transferred to the floor of the stage and to his legs, and also by physical and eye contact between him and the dancers on stage. Sign language is part of the show.

In 1990, he won the title “The Best Deaf Dancer in the World” from Gallaudet University for deaf artists in Washington, D.C. In 1990, the couple performed in the White House for President George Bush.

Their message to the audience: cooperation is everything. If you choose to dance or perform in front of an audience, there are no limits - anything is possible!

Reporter: Lee Rom      Photographers: Michael Ash, Anat Markram

NTD News, Tel Aviv, Israel.