Those Roots Within: The interceptions of Deaf and hearing cultures
By Desirée Zagbai Exploring the intersection of minority identities and immigration, “Those Roots Within” is a contemporary dance duet that creates a unique dialogue between Deaf and Hearing experiences. Co-created by Alida Esmail, Hodan Youssouf, and Sophia Wright, the performance featured Youssouf, a Deaf theatre artist, and Esmail, a hearing dance and theatre artist, as they navigate the complexities of shared stage and divergent truths. Youssouf explained that they wanted the show to be as visually accessible as possible without needing subtitles, captioning, or interpreters on stage. She added that they ensured the performance would be fully simultaneously accessible to …