Using facial expressions, dramatic movements and a strong sense of humor, mime, artist and actor; Ricky Smith showed over 200 American Sign, French, Spanish language senior and junior high students that you don't need your voice to communicate. During his presentation, Smith encouraged students to be a part of his performance. He coaxed Churchville-Chili Senior High School (CCSHS) student Emily Rowe to be a part of his act and using mime motions and acting, Smith asked her to dance. At the conclusion of his performance, Smith asked if any students had any questions. Nicole Robertson, a CCSHS student, fingerspelled her question to Smith. "How long have you been a mime?" Finger spelling is a method by which a person uses hand movements to spell and shape each letter in a word. Smith responded, "Thirty-two years! I went to Paris and studied many, many months with the famous mime Marcel Marceau. Every year I travel and have been to many countries throughout Europe." While sign language is sometimes considered a universal language, different signs can mean different things in other countries. Through his interpreter, Smith explained a story about how he waited in Japan for his laundry to be washed. And he waited and waited. The Japanese woman signed to Smith that his laundry was still wet. Smith signed that he would wait. The Japanese laundry woman was confused and so was Smith. Unfortunately for Smith, the Japanese sign for finished in American Sign language means wet. This created much confusion over his laundry, however Smith eventually did get his laundry, clean, dry and finished. This program was presented in cooperation with BOCES #1 American Sign Language Program. |
