History of Gallaudet Dance Company

History of Gallaudet Dance Company

The story of the Gallaudet Dance Company began in 1955 when Dr. Peter Wisher, a professor in the Department of Physical Education, observed a student signing “The Lord’s Prayer” during a campus ceremony. Impressed by the beauty and movement of the signs, he saw the possibility of using signs as a foundation for dance movement and invited interested students to a meeting to explore this possibility.

At first, this was not a performing company but rather a recreational activity. Students got together two or three times a week for an hour of fun and social enjoyment. Word of the club spread, and the group began to be asked to perform-both on and off campus.

As requests for performances increased, informal practice became serious work. A set rehearsal schedule was developed. The Gallaudet Dance Company was born. Today the company performs a variety of dance forms, such as modern jazz, hip-hop, modern dance, lyrical ballet, and, of course, dances incorporating American Sign Language.

The dancers have performed across the United States, as well as in France, Israel, Canada, Denmark, Peru, Costa Rica, Barbados, Guatemala, the Bahamas, Brazil, St. Lucia, South Korea, and Egypt.

Over the years the Gallaudet Dance Company has evolved from its beginnings in modern dance with abstract signs to incorporating a wider repertoire of modern jazz, hip-hop, lyrical ballet, and dance incorporated with ASL. “The Lord’s Prayer” which was the first dance performed by the troupe still remains part of the repertoire as a reminder of the roots of dance at Gallaudet.