Image Description: Speaking Vibrations on stage in at SkirtsAfire Festival and SOUND OFF Deaf Theatre Festival in March 2024. The viewpoint is from the audience, and dark silhouettes of audience members can be seen. The four performers are standing on a brightly lit, light brown wood platform. Behind them is a screen with an image of crashing waves. Descriptions are from left to right. On the far left: a Filipina woman with long black hair, wearing black shirt, red pants and sash. Left of centre, is a Vietnamese woman with black hair tied in a high bun, wearing a dark blue robe. Right of centre is a Black woman, with short fro, wearing a bright green shirt and matching pants. Far right: a white woman with long brown hair in a ponytail, wearing a white, Grecian-style dress. Photo by Lindsey Tran. @understudystudio_
About Speaking Vibrations:
In 2019, four artists created the collective and performance work called Speaking Vibrations: ASL poet and storyteller Jo-Anne Bryan, percussive dance artist Carmelle Cachero, literary Hip Hop artist King Kimbit, and contemporary dance artist Jordan Samonas. For 5+ years we have performed live, digitally and on tour both in Ottawa and across Canada.
Our creative team:
creators & performers | Jo-Anne Bryan, Carmelle Cachero, King Kimbit, & Jordan Samonas producers | Carmelle Cachero & Jordan Samonas co-director/dramaturg & audio description voice talent | Jacqui Du Toit co-director/Deaf culture director | Pamela Witcher stage, technical & production manager | Kat Wong assistant stage manager & accessibility manager | Drea lead interpreter | Marianne Kelly lighting designer | Emilio Sebastiao projection & video designer | Lesley Marshall vibrotactile pillow designers | David Bobier & Jim Ruxton (VibraFusionLab)
Image Description: Three photos. Top: Ten Speaking Vibrations production team members standing on stage, smiling at the audience during a tech rehearsal at Great Canadian Theatre Company, in Ottawa, 2022. Middle: Speaking Vibrations performers and directors sitting in chairs on stage with interpreters during a post-show Q&A at SkirtsAfire Festival and SOUND OFF Deaf Theatre Festival in Edmonton, 2024. Bottom: Speaking Vibrations performers, directors, stage/production manager and interpreter standing on stage after receiving an award with the Ottawa Arts Council, 2023. Photos by Andrew Alexander and Lindsay Tran.
What we do:
Speaking Vibrations creates accessible, inclusive and immersive shows in 10+ different performance genres and languages. We are interested in blending and expanding access to different artforms and languages: how music can be seen, how captions can dance, and how ASL can be felt.
Speaking Vibrations works with ASL and Deaf interpreters during rehearsals, backstage, and for the audience (examples: pre-show announcements, post-show panel discussions). However, we do not have interpreters on stage with us while we perform. We perform in English and ASL.
Accessible Technology & Design:
We are interested in accessible and multi-sensory (visual, audial, kinesthetic and tactile) technology and design. For example, our shows feature:
Vibrotactile Technology: vibrotactile devices, built by VibraFusionLab, allow for select audience members to experience live sound as feeling and vibration. We build sub woofers into stage sets for Deaf performers to have better access to “hearing” cues and sound effects.
Creative Captions: appear on a video projection screen at the same time as they are signed, spoken or sung. They have animations with different fonts, colours, shapes and imagery.
Audio Description: offers verbal commentary outlining events happening onstage. Examples: set and costume descriptions, body language and non-verbal actions like dance, ASL, visual vernacular.
T-Coil Loops/Hearing Assistance: we work in venues with T-Coil loops and assistive hearing devices.
Tactile Demonstrations: during the pre-show, persons requiring protactile or other tactile interpretation services are offered tactile demonstrations of the major handshapes and iconic signs in our show.
Accessibility:
To learn more about this website’s accessibility features, click here.
Accessibility is a dynamic and constantly evolving area of expertise, a learning process, and a series of decisions and logistics that need to be considered from the beginning of producers and organizers artistic processes and activities.
As a group of Deaf and hearing artists, we are constantly negotiating with and learning more about accessibility. Planning for accessibility, for example in hiring interpreters or writing an audio description script, is not only a functional and necessary part of what we do, but also contributes positively to our creative choices and adds new and interesting dimensions to our work.
Accessibility is central to what we do, but our show is also about much more than that…
What is the show about?
Speaking Vibrations is a uniquely immersive and style-defying performance about four mythological women characters who, through finding and connecting with one another, discover their own stories.
Bridging together themes of identity, inter-culturalism, Deaf and disability justice, featuring 10+ performance genres (ex: visual vernacular, signed music, ASL song/poetry, rap, spoken word, contemporary, percussive and Filipino dance) and performed in ASL and English, with creative captions, vibrotactile devices, and audio description.
Speaking Vibrations seamlessly weaves together the stories of four culturally diverse characters and how, through conversation, curiosity, play, patience and understanding, they reach towards connection, belonging, acceptance and validation.
Our real-life identities inform the characters, costumes, expressions, songs and stories of the performance – the tensions between where we’re from, where we live, and the languages we speak, sign or have lost. Throughout various encounters and exchanges, we reveal our worlds and contradictions to each other and for the audience: Black and white – are we the same or different? Daughters and granddaughters of immigrants – where am I from, where do I belong? Deaf and hearing – How can we dance and make music together ?
Image Description: Six photos side by side. Top Left: Interpreter Andrea Konowalec and stage/production manager Kat Wong at work during a tech rehearsal. Top Middle: Close-up of a vibrotactile device on an audience seat. Top Right: Deaf Culture Director, Pamela Wither at work during a tech rehearsal. Bottom left: Interpreter Andrea Konowalec at work. Bottom middle: Director Jacqui Du Toit giving the performers directions during a tech rehearsal. Bottom Right: Speaking Vibrations performers on stage at SkirtsAfire and SOUND OFF Deaf Theatre Festival for their final bow. Photos by Lindsay Tran.
Speaking Vibrations History
2019
Speaking Vibrations evolved from an idea to create a piece with tap dance and ASL. Speaking Vibrations was created in 2019, where it first performed at Uproar Arts Festival in Ottawa, ON in August 2019. During this show, our audience was outfitted with balloons (low cost conductors of vibration and sound). This performance was a catalyst for our group in sparking their journey towards creating accessible and inclusive. performance events.
Image Description: Photos of Speaking Vibrations in performance at Uproar Arts Festival, 2019. Top left: Jo-Anne Bryan solo ASL song/poetry performance. Top Right: Dance artist Jordan Samonas dancing on a hardwood floor with a shotgun mic. Middle: King Kimbit (left) and Carmelle Cachero (right) face each other in a song/tap dance duet. Bottom Left: An artist’s cartoon rendition of Speaking Vibration’s performers. Bottom Right: King Kimbit (left) and Jo-Anne Bryan (right) perform at Uproar Arts Festival. Photo by Stéphanie Houle / @petite_camera_rouge.
2021
Speaking Vibrations Accessible Concert Film, Ottawa ON (May 2021). We self-produced an on-demand accessible concert film for Deaf and non-Deaf audiences. Funded and supported by the Ontario Arts Council, and Great Canadian Theatre Company (GCTC). Filmed at GCTC.
Ottawa Fringe Festival, Ottawa ON (June 2021) We performed in Ottawa Fringe Festival’s 2021 season and were awarded “Most Outstanding Ensemble.”
Video Description: A trailer for Speaking Vibrations 2021 Accessible Concert Film performed at Great Canadian Theatre Company. Contains clips of scenes from Speaking Vibrations, includes audio captions and rolling credits.
2022
Great Canadian Theatre Company, Ottawa ON (May, 2022) Presented as a part of GCTC’S 2021-2022 Mainstage season, featuring 75 vibrotactile devices and wheelchair accessible floorpads (VibraFusionLab) and a vibrotactile lobby installation titled VibroDrum/((( Gong ))) by interdisciplinary artist Jesse Stewart. Funded and supported by Canada Council for the Arts and GCTC. The installation used a special software and computer webcam to track audience movement and translate it into sound and vibration. Nominated for two Prix Rideau awards in Outstanding Direction and Outstanding Design.
Explanation of software: “The Adaptive Use Musical Instrument (AUMI) software detects motion and converts it into electrical impulses (known as MIDI signals) that are sent to mechanical strikers that play a series of frame drums in response to movements. The sound of the drums is sent to transducers attached to the underside of the carpeted platforms positioned in front of the installation. The transducers translate the sound of the drums into vibrations. By standing, sitting, or lying on the floors, a person is able to feel the vibrations of the drums in real time.” (Jesse Stewart, 2022).
Image Description: A fun and playful audience member engages with VibroDrum/((( Gong ))) at Speaking Vibrations, GCTC, 2022. Photo by Jordan Samonas.
Image Description: From left to right. Top left: Carmelle Cachero performing a traditional Filipino folk dance. Middle left: A close up of Jordan and Jo-Anne’s hands in the “connection” handshape. Top right: King Kimbit in prayer. Bottom left: Blurry photo of Jordan posing in a deep lunge in front of a bright blue background. Bottom right: Carmelle and Jo-Anne posing with variations of a “world/sphere” handshape.
2023
In 2023 we embarked on our first tour:
Halifax Fringe Festival, Halifax, NS (September 2023). We performed at Halifax Fringe and won the April Hubbard Creative Access Award. Funded by Canada Council and City of Ottawa. Funded by Canada Council and City of Ottawa.
Ta Da! Performing Arts Festival, Wakefield, QC (September 2023). We performed at Centre Wakefield la Pêche in Wakefield, Quebec.
2024
SkirtsAfire Festival & SOUND OFF Deaf Theatre Festival, Edmonton, AB (March 2024). Speaking Vibrations was co-presented by SkirtsAfire Festival and SOUND OFF Deaf Theatre Festival. Funded by Canada Council for the Arts and City of Ottawa.
TheSpeaking Vibrations MethodOttawa, ON (May 2024) We hosted 3-day workshop weekend about artmaking and accessibility. We facilitated panel discussions, workshops and lectures on topics such as: Deaf and hearing collaboration, working with interpreters, and accessible technology.
Image Description: Top Left: Carmelle and King performing at Halifax Fringe Festival. Middle and top right: Jo-Anne in solo performances. Middle left: Carmelle and Jordan during a tap and body percussion duet. Middle right: Four Speaking Vibrations performers during their final bow, standing in front of a screen with crashing waves. Bottom: Speaking Vibrations Method advertisement. Photos by Mitchell Jodrey and Lindsay Tran.
Awards and Recognition:
Speaking Vibrations has been nominated and granted several awards. In September 2023, we won the April Hubbard Creative Access Award (Halifax Fringe Festival). In May 2023, we won the Corel Endowment Fund for the Arts Award (Ottawa Arts Council). We were nominated for Best Direction (Jacqui Du Toit, Pamela Witcher) and Best Design (David Bobier, Jim Ruxton, Jesse Stewart at the 2022 Prix Rideau Awards). In 2021, we won Outstanding Ensemble Performance at the Ottawa Fringe Festival.
Our Supporters:
We extend our gratitude to our funders, supporters and collaborators. We are grateful for the City of Ottawa, Ontario Arts Council and Canada Council for the Arts, without whom our work would not be possible. We are deeply grateful for the essential work interpreters, technicians, designers and consultants who also make our work possible.
Over past 5 years, Speaking Vibrations attracted attention from many newspaper, radio, magazine and online publications. To learn more about past interviews, performances and awards click here.
Image Description: King and Carmelle pose in the GCTC lobby after the 2022 Prix Rideau Awards Ceremony. Bottom left: Carmelle, Emilio Sebastiao (lighting designer) and King smile and pose in front of a tropical background with a frisky swan. Bottom right: Jordan embraces King during a group conversation in at the Prix Rideau Awards.
The Artists
Carmelle Cachero
Co-Producer, Creator, Performer
Image Description: A photo of Filipina woman, she has long black hair and wears black shirt, red sash and red wrist ties. She is looking towards the camera and her hands are clasped together.
Carmelle Cachero tells her story through rhythm and her passion for the art form of rhythm tap is a driving force to her pursuits. In addition to Speaking Vibrations, she currently dances with the Ottawa Rhythm Initiative Ensemble and YOW City Tap. She co-founded the West Coast Tap Dance Collective and is a former member of The Urban Tap Squad, both based in Vancouver. Carmelle currently is a Producing Fellow in the ThisGen Fellowship under the partnership of Why Not Theatre and the National Arts Centre. Her love for the arts extends into other aspects of her life working as a Sign Language Interpreter for theatre and the performing arts.
Jordan Samonas
Co-Producer, Creator, Performer
Image Description: A white woman on stage posing in a lunge position in front of a blue background. She is looking down. Her palms are open in the shape of a book. She has long brown hair and wears a white draping fabric like a dress.
Jordan Samonas is a professional dance artist, creator and producer. Visionary and go-getter with over 10+ years experience in indie self-production, she has performed for over 25+ years on stages and at festivals across Canada and internationally. Jordan is co-producer and lead project manager of Speaking Vibrations, an award-winning, multi-disciplinary and accessibility-centering performance collective (SkirtsAfire Festival, SOUND OFF Deaf Theatre Festival, Halifax Fringe, Great Canadian Theatre Company, Ottawa Fringe). A dance “chameleon” with an eclectic movement background (contemporary/modern dance, rhythm tap, kizomba/semba, ballet, jazz, hip hop, musical theatre). Her movement style embodies sound, groove and feeling. She deeply values the rich cultures, traditions and histories of the dances she practices, and believes in dance as communication, community-building and collective joy.
Jo-Anne Bryan
Creator, Performer
Image Description: A photo of Black woman on stage in front of a black background. She has a short fro and is wearing a bright green shirt with wide sleeves. She is looking towards the camera. Her hands making the shape of a sphere or globe.
Jo-Anne Anita Bryan is an Ottawa-based Artist experiencing life through the intersections of being Black, Deaf, Queer, and Woman. Her artistry includes American Sign Language (ASL) storytelling and performance. Jo-Anne is one-quarter of the Speaking Vibrations group; they did their first performance at Uproar Arts Festival (2019). Jo-Anne performed her ASL storytelling Where You Come From (Phenomena Festival, 2019) and 400 years (Sound Off Festival, 2021). When not performing, she works as ASL consultant/Deaf interpreter to interpreters and Deaf theatre actors and creates illustrations in her spare time. She wants to ensure that theatre is accessible to Deaf communities.
King Kimbit
Creator, Performer
Image Description: A photo of a Vietnamese woman who has her black hair tied in a high bun. She is wearing a dark blue robe with draping sleeves. She has her palms open and her eyes closed.
King Kimbit is a literary and vocal Hip-Hop artist based on traditional land of the Algonquin Anishinaabeg. As a daughter of the Vietnamese Diaspora, King yearns to explore the roots of her journey as she expresses through art forms learned from an inner-city upbringing, some of which can be heard on her debut album, Life Lessons Poetically. King is passionate about empowering and encouraging youth, community care, and sharing love through writing, reciting, and the abolition of punitive, carceral institutions, and is currently working on her sophomore album, Healing Trauma From The Projects.
