Learning to Dance While Deaf | The Express Way with Dulé Hill

Official website: https://to.pbs.org/3TwQDsm | #ExpressWayPBS

In Los Angeles, Dulé Hill meets deaf dancer Shaheem Sanchez. As a dancer himself, Dulé never considered it would be possible for someone to move to a beat they could not hear, but Shaheem is showing the world that the “deaf can dance.” Shaheem is a self-taught dancer who went deaf at the age of four. He always loved to dance, and his inability to hear music was not enough to stop him. Shaheem physically connects to songs by placing his hands on a speaker and memorizing the beats. He even choreographs by studying the music’s lyrics.

Shaheem is on a mission to ensure that deaf people aren’t limited by their disability. By combining dance with American Sign Language (ASL), he entices hearing people to learn how to communicate with the deaf community. He also teaches deaf people how to dance, allowing them to express themselves through movement.

Shaheem is also a member of the dance company Infinite Flow, which celebrates dancers with disabilities and empowers children to take part in creating a more inclusive world. Dulé discovers a renewed faith in art’s capacity to reshape lives and create space for everyone in society.

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The Express Way with Dulé Hill
Multi-talented actor and performer Dulé Hill (“The Wonder Years,” “The West Wing”) and director Danny Lee (“Who Is Stan Smith?”) take audiences on an emotional and celebratory road trip across the nation to explore the transformative power of the arts. Along his journey, Hill travels to California, the Appalachian region, Texas and Chicago to connect with local visionaries, activists, changemakers and pioneers who are using their artistic passions to foster connection, deepen empathy, and create meaningful change within their communities.