Battling Chris’ dream routine wows judges
CHRIS Fonseca doesn’t miss a beat during his audition on The Greatest Dancer. Not unusual for a dedicated dancer, but exceptional given that Chris is profoundly deaf.
Mastering a routine without hearing music takes months of practice. Chris first feels the rhythm of the music through vibration, then learns the timing of the lyrics by heart before choreographing moves.
Chris, 28, says: “At the start of my career, I experienced a lot of barriers because in a tough industry there is doubt because of my deafness.
“It really impacted on my motivation until I realised there was a way to overcome those doubts.
“Not giving up and working through every struggle and rejection moulded me into who I am now.”
Dance captain Matthew Morrison hails Chris’s routine to a rap song “beautiful”, Cheryl calls it “stunning” and Oti Mabuse says she loved every minute of it.
Chris, from South East London, lost his hearing as a toddler after contracting meningitis.
Now a dance teacher and choreographer, he wears a Subpac – a bluetooth backpack that translates sound to vibration – to help him devise routines. He learns lyrics from an app and incorporates sign language into his moves.
Chris, who wears a cochlear implant, says: “I’m proud to be deaf, it’s part of my identity and nothing will hold me back. I have to give my all, shine my light brighter and show what I can do to represent myself and the deaf dance community. My motto is, ‘dreams don’t work unless you do’.” ■ The Greatest Dancer, tonight on BBC1 at 8.10pm. Chris