These children can't hear or speak, but they dance to the beat
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, December 04 2018: Sanarembi Thorakle, a Thougal jagoi of children of Government Deaf and Mute School, Takyel Imphal won the hearts of the audience yesterday during the International Day of Persons with Disabilities observance at Kangsang, Khumkan Lampak, Imphal.

The 10 deaf and mute children who were taught the dance by Kongbrailatpam Nilachandra and Rahul of Guru Kula Cultural Academy performed the dance (Thougal jagoi) with great enthusiasm and care.

Despite the fact that they could not hear the beat of the Pung, they presented the dance with perfect moves and body movements.

The International Day of Persons with Disabilities was observed under the theme "Empowering Persons with Disabilities and Ensuring Inclusiveness and Equality", organised by Social Welfare Department.

This reporter visited the Government Deaf and Mute School, Takyel and interacted with the students who danced at the observance.

These children can't hear or speak, but they dance to the beat

This reporter met Rita - a Class X student of the school.

She moved her hands and fingers trying to communicate with this reporter, the things that she has been missing as a child and as a human being.

Her teacher interpreted the story.

"I was born deaf and mute.

My parents enrolled me in this school and now I am studying in Class X," she said with with the language of the hands.

When asked how they were able to dance so perfect, she again used the sign language she has learned over the years and said that it was all because of the dedicated teachers who taught them and the love for the dance they have.

"We performed on our school annual day/foundation day.

At times, I used to imitate/copy the moves of other people dancing," said Rita who values and appreciates the gift of sight more than other people does.

"We could not hear the beat of the pung.

We kept our focus on the steps (numbers) and movements," she said.

For Rita, dance is something that gives her the chance to feel normal as everybody else and she gave all the credits for their success yesterday to the two teachers-'Oja Nilachandra' and 'Oja Rahul' who guided and encouraged them.

When this reporter met their guru - Oja Kongbrailatpam Nilachandra, a Sangkritan artist of Guru Kula Academy, Khurai Sajor Leikai, the teacher immediately acknowledged the talent of the deaf and mute children and said they are 'gifted' .

"At first, I could not think of any way to teach the children.

The task was not an easy one as they were all deaf and mute," said Nilachandra, who has been teaching the children of the school for about two years now.

"These children have very good manners.

They are gifted," he said and continued that the selected 10 children who performed Sanarembi Thorakle yesterday were taught the dance for two days only.

"They are good observer and they learn very fast.

To be precise...

they were taught for about 4 hours total/ 2 hours a day," he said.

Speaking to this reporter, Headmistress of the Government Deaf and Mute School Takyel, : Nongmaithem Kalpana said that the school currently has no dance teacher.

The school hire teachers from time to time to teach the children, she said.

The dance yesterday was performed by N Rita, K Thoibi, M Tampha, K Sofia, K Alina, H Sajimi Poumai, S Anjali, L Twinkle, K Priyanka and Alexia.

The performance yesterday speaks volume about these children and the applause they were showered with are proof that they are gifted indeed.