Burkina Faso’s Fientan Company, a contemporary dance troupe composed entirely of deaf and hard-of-hearing performers, has garnered international recognition for its innovative “Vibra-Signe” technique. Founded in 2018 by choreographer Yaya Sanou in Bobo-Dioulasso, the company recently won the gold medal for dance creation at the 9th Francophone Games in Kinshasa with its production “Adepte de mon être” (Devotee of My Being).
The performance showcases the dancers’ experiences and their struggle to reclaim their place in society. At first glance, audiences might assume the performers hear the traditional drums and djembes driving the rhythm. In reality, they synchronize through a method Sanou developed specifically for deaf and hard-of-hearing artists.
“Sign language allows us to ‘sign’ the dance, and sight allows us to see and execute the movements,” Sanou explains. “To coordinate with the music, I work with physical touch and the connection to the ground. When dancing barefoot on the floor or terrace, one feels specific vibrations — a resonance rising from the ground. I try to link that resonance with the music playing, the dance, and the sign language being used, all while tapping the dancer’s body, enabling them to feel and capture the musical tempo.”
The technique emerged from Sanou’s desire to include deaf individuals from his neighborhood in a cultural tradition he views as fundamental. “In my tradition, we’ve always danced; we grew up with music,” he says. “So I asked myself: what do I need right now to dance along with the music? Little by little, I started tuning in to the rhythm of the music, and that sparked ideas and reflections. Gradually, I began developing the technique that would eventually become known as ‘Vibra-Signe.'”
For the dancers, the impact extends beyond artistic achievement. “When I dance, I am very happy,” says company member Sanou Waramata. “Dance really helps me flourish, interact, communicate, and share my story; I feel truly free.”
The Kinshasa victory marks a significant milestone for a company built on redefining accessibility in performing arts. By translating rhythm into tactile and visual language, Fientan Company demonstrates how cultural traditions can evolve to embrace excluded communities without diluting their artistic integrity.
