Landmark gala show for impaired fans

From hearing the swell of orchestra, to seeing the twirl of pirouette, and understanding the nuance of a playwright's joke — experiencing the thrills of a performance can be a daunting task for vision- and hearing-impaired audience members.

Chen Jing, who has had hearing damage since she was 2-and-a-half years old, knows this frustration well.

"I felt bored though the crowds on TV were roaring with excitement," she said, adding that she tried to sense the atmosphere at a show through people's expressions and body language, sudden changes in lighting and the intensity of the performers' gestures.

Humor is often conveyed through words and timing. But Chen found it hard to grasp the jokes in TV comedy sketches, often leaving her feeling isolated from the joy that filled the family home.

Despite these hurdles, Chen fell in love with dancing in 2005 when she was 8 years old when watching a dance performance aired during the China Media Group Spring Festival Gala. Titled The Thousand-handed Goddess of Mercy, the performance was given by 21 deaf and mute dancers from the China Disabled People's Performing Art Troupe.

Now, Chen, in her late 20s, is a member of the same troupe.