Miss-Delectable
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Living the dream: Prof to sign anthem for deaf
For this year's Super Bowl, the NFL didn't look to a deaf celebrity to sign the national anthem alongside Glendale's own Jordin Sparks. Instead, it turned to A Dreamer, a Phoenix man who has been able to hear his entire life.
Dreamer, 43, is a professor of sign-language interpretation at Phoenix College. In an interview with The Arizona Republic, he explains how he scored the gig, what he's been doing to prepare and how he got his name.
Question: So, tell me how this all happened.
Answer: When the people from the Super Bowl called our secretary to see if she could recommend agencies, she said we also have an instructor here who has a theatrical interpreting background. They contacted me and asked me to send them my credits, photo and credentials. I was just happy to be on the list of people they were considering.
A couple of weeks ago, I was flying to Oakland and left a message on my voicemail saying, "I'm out of range, but if this is the Super Bowl people, I accept." The lady from the NFL was just laughing on the message and she said, "Yes, this is the Super Bowl and we've narrowed the list to you. We want you, Dreamer." I was giddy like a schoolgirl for four days.
Q: You've been selected as the sign interpreter for the national anthem, but you have your hearing. Do you think that will create any controversy in the deaf community?
A: Deaf people have interpreted the national anthem before, but I spent a year at Gallaudet, an all-deaf college in Washington, D.C. And I toured with a national theater for the deaf for two years. Those credits add up. I've paid my dues to the deaf community. I definitely incorporate the tone and spirit of the person who is singing as well as interpret the meaning of the song.
Q: Most of us don't understand the difference between signing and interpreting. Can you explain it?
A: Instead of signing, "Oh, say can you see, by the dawn's early light," first I see it, then I say, "Hey everybody! Did you see it as the sun was coming up, and the light was shining on the earth?" It's more iconic.
Q: Knowing that Jordin Sparks, another homegrown Super Bowl participant, will be singing the Star-Spangled Banner, how have you been preparing?
A: I pulled her up on YouTube and saw an example of her singing the national anthem, so I've been able to get a feel for her tone and vocal quality and can include that in the design of the interpretation.
Q: You have to tell me, how did you get the name Dreamer?
A: My name used to be Jon, and the way to sign is a J up by your forehead. That's called a name sign. When I went to Gallaudet, no one would sign a J by their forehead because it was an awkward movement. It was easier to sign "dreamer," so the name stuck with me.
Q: The NFL has selected deaf celebrities for this honor in the past. What will it mean for you to perform on such a big stage?
A: I fell to my knees and said, "Wow, God, all this work for all these years has boiled down to two minutes in front of a global audience to show the beauty of this language and to honor this country." I can't imagine a more beautiful song to interpret in the national spotlight.
For this year's Super Bowl, the NFL didn't look to a deaf celebrity to sign the national anthem alongside Glendale's own Jordin Sparks. Instead, it turned to A Dreamer, a Phoenix man who has been able to hear his entire life.
Dreamer, 43, is a professor of sign-language interpretation at Phoenix College. In an interview with The Arizona Republic, he explains how he scored the gig, what he's been doing to prepare and how he got his name.
Question: So, tell me how this all happened.
Answer: When the people from the Super Bowl called our secretary to see if she could recommend agencies, she said we also have an instructor here who has a theatrical interpreting background. They contacted me and asked me to send them my credits, photo and credentials. I was just happy to be on the list of people they were considering.
A couple of weeks ago, I was flying to Oakland and left a message on my voicemail saying, "I'm out of range, but if this is the Super Bowl people, I accept." The lady from the NFL was just laughing on the message and she said, "Yes, this is the Super Bowl and we've narrowed the list to you. We want you, Dreamer." I was giddy like a schoolgirl for four days.
Q: You've been selected as the sign interpreter for the national anthem, but you have your hearing. Do you think that will create any controversy in the deaf community?
A: Deaf people have interpreted the national anthem before, but I spent a year at Gallaudet, an all-deaf college in Washington, D.C. And I toured with a national theater for the deaf for two years. Those credits add up. I've paid my dues to the deaf community. I definitely incorporate the tone and spirit of the person who is singing as well as interpret the meaning of the song.
Q: Most of us don't understand the difference between signing and interpreting. Can you explain it?
A: Instead of signing, "Oh, say can you see, by the dawn's early light," first I see it, then I say, "Hey everybody! Did you see it as the sun was coming up, and the light was shining on the earth?" It's more iconic.
Q: Knowing that Jordin Sparks, another homegrown Super Bowl participant, will be singing the Star-Spangled Banner, how have you been preparing?
A: I pulled her up on YouTube and saw an example of her singing the national anthem, so I've been able to get a feel for her tone and vocal quality and can include that in the design of the interpretation.
Q: You have to tell me, how did you get the name Dreamer?
A: My name used to be Jon, and the way to sign is a J up by your forehead. That's called a name sign. When I went to Gallaudet, no one would sign a J by their forehead because it was an awkward movement. It was easier to sign "dreamer," so the name stuck with me.
Q: The NFL has selected deaf celebrities for this honor in the past. What will it mean for you to perform on such a big stage?
A: I fell to my knees and said, "Wow, God, all this work for all these years has boiled down to two minutes in front of a global audience to show the beauty of this language and to honor this country." I can't imagine a more beautiful song to interpret in the national spotlight.
