Breaking Barriers
Ballet is a challenging art form, and it becomes even harder when you can't hear the music. This makes the recent performance by 11 deaf refugee and migrant students from City Lit all the more remarkable. In April, these students performed in front of a full house of 400 at the Paul Hamlyn Hall, part of the Royal Ballet and Opera.
Hailing from diverse countries such as Ukraine, Iran, Nepal, Indonesia, India, Poland, Somaliland, and Ecuador, the students delivered a deeply moving routine. Their performance was a beautiful blend of ballet, traditional dances, and sign language from their home countries.
The 'Live at Lunch' event marked the culmination of six weeks of intensive training. Throughout this period, the students collaborated closely with members of the Royal Ballet and Opera to craft their unique dance. Their dedication and hard work certainly shone through, making the performance a truly unforgettable experience.
The Process
The dance was inspired by the ballet ‘Light of Passage’. The dancers used stills from the ballet to create parts of their routine. The ballet includes themes of escape and protection, which resonate with their experiences as refugees and migrants.
Elements of sign language were also woven into the routine. The dancers signed the name of their country of origin and performed traditional dances from their homelands.
Much of this routine was developed by the Royal Opera and Ballet’s David Pickering, Liz Foster and Chris Benstead. With the help of City Lit’s expert interpreters, they guided the dancers and brought out the best in them. The relationship was reciprocal; while they taught the students ballet, the students taught them about Deaf culture and experiences.
“The [Creative Exchange] project is really an exchange of knowledge,” David told the crowd after the final performance. “Yes, we teach ballet, but we also learn from communities and enrich our understanding.” He continued, “They embraced the project with open arms. It’s been fabulous to work with them.”
“In Honour of Ukraine”
For the dancers, the performance provided a platform to freely express themselves. They gave the audience insight not only into the Deaf experience but also that of refugees.
Laura Kalashnik, a Ukrainian dancer, lived in Sweden for a year before coming to the UK in 2019. “When the war began, my mother and grandmother came here as refugees,” she explained. “That’s why I danced – in honour of Ukraine and its people, to remind everyone that the war is still ongoing.”
The experience left a lasting impact on her. “Performing at the Royal Ballet was an incredible experience,” she told City Lit. “I was lucky enough to dance at such a legendary venue. It was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”
Ahmad Bashirigoodarzi, another dancer, fled Iran for his safety in 2023. He took on the responsibility of ensuring the safe passage of a group of Deaf women, along with himself, to the UK.
“I was a little nervous at the start of the dance, but once we began, I felt powerful and confident,” he shared. “My friends were there, and they all loved it. It was amazing to see so many people.”
City Lit would like to thank our friends at the Royal Ballet and Opera for this fantastic partnership and event.
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