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Interpreter brings First Night fun to deaf audiences - WCAX.COM Local Vermont News, Weather and Sports-
Deaf and hard of hearing fans may not experience music performances as the rest of the audience does, but thanks to Dina Senesac, they can still enjoy many of the songs at First Night Burlington. "It's what I do!!" Senesac gleamed.
She's an interpreter who helps deaf audiences enjoy music. "They can usually feel the rhythm and the beat, and then they have me doing the lyrics and the other parts, so it becomes an entire enriched performance," she explained.
Senesac has extensive training in American Sign Language and spends weeks studying performers' lyrics and listening to their CDs to be able to deliver the music's full meaning. She has even traveled for advanced training in music interpretation. One of the nation's live music hotspots-- Austin, Texas-- is also a leader in music interpretation.
"You can't go in cold. You absolutely can't go in cold," she said of the need to prepare and practice.
Senesac signs at speeches, meetings, in doctor's appointments and other events all year long, but First Night Burlington is one of her busiest gigs. She sees herself as a conduit between the audience and artist. "If they're being happy, I'm being happy. If they're sad, I'm sad. I just take all their emotions and their performance-- and put it through me to the audience," she explained. "But nothing about it is me performing. It's their performance; I'm just there between the two."
First Night Burlington has been offering interpreting services for years, but the event says it's more devoted to it now than ever. It'll offer an interpreted show every hour at this year's celebration. "It's incredible to see the reactions on the deaf community's faces and to know that they're being accepted into the arts world, which a lot of people think they can't appreciate. But it's absolutely the opposite," said Jen Crowell of First Night Burlington.
Senesac expects anywhere from a handful to several dozen deaf or hard of hearing audience members at each of the shows Friday night. Word has gotten out through social media. "I think it's getting more popular and hope it gets more and more," Senesac said.
Dina Senesac is glad to help more people ring in the new year.
Deaf and hard of hearing fans may not experience music performances as the rest of the audience does, but thanks to Dina Senesac, they can still enjoy many of the songs at First Night Burlington. "It's what I do!!" Senesac gleamed.
She's an interpreter who helps deaf audiences enjoy music. "They can usually feel the rhythm and the beat, and then they have me doing the lyrics and the other parts, so it becomes an entire enriched performance," she explained.
Senesac has extensive training in American Sign Language and spends weeks studying performers' lyrics and listening to their CDs to be able to deliver the music's full meaning. She has even traveled for advanced training in music interpretation. One of the nation's live music hotspots-- Austin, Texas-- is also a leader in music interpretation.
"You can't go in cold. You absolutely can't go in cold," she said of the need to prepare and practice.
Senesac signs at speeches, meetings, in doctor's appointments and other events all year long, but First Night Burlington is one of her busiest gigs. She sees herself as a conduit between the audience and artist. "If they're being happy, I'm being happy. If they're sad, I'm sad. I just take all their emotions and their performance-- and put it through me to the audience," she explained. "But nothing about it is me performing. It's their performance; I'm just there between the two."
First Night Burlington has been offering interpreting services for years, but the event says it's more devoted to it now than ever. It'll offer an interpreted show every hour at this year's celebration. "It's incredible to see the reactions on the deaf community's faces and to know that they're being accepted into the arts world, which a lot of people think they can't appreciate. But it's absolutely the opposite," said Jen Crowell of First Night Burlington.
Senesac expects anywhere from a handful to several dozen deaf or hard of hearing audience members at each of the shows Friday night. Word has gotten out through social media. "I think it's getting more popular and hope it gets more and more," Senesac said.
Dina Senesac is glad to help more people ring in the new year.