Edna Manley College Visual and Performing Arts

From Silence to Centre Stage: EDNA Alum Damany Hughes Makes NDTC History as First D/deaf Dancer

From Silence to Centre Stage: EDNA alum Damany Hughes Makes NDTC History as First D/deaf Dancer

When Damany Hughes dances, you don’t just see the movement—you feel it. The 2025 graduate of the Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts (EMCVPA) has made history as the first D/deaf performer to join Jamaica’s National Dance Theatre Company (NDTC) in its 63-year legacy. His debut marks not only a personal triumph but a powerful step towards inclusivity in the Caribbean’s performing arts sector.  But long before the spotlight, the national stage, and the standing ovations, Damany was a young boy learning the world his own way—through vibration, energy, and silence. Discovering Dance Without Sound – 0588 Growing up hard-of-hearing, Damany didn’t experience rhythm through melody or lyrics. Instead, he felt it. “I would watch dancers in silence and feel everything they were expressing. That’s when I realised dance isn’t just about music—it’s about connection, expression, and freedom. They inspired me to believe dance could belong to me, too,” he recalls. For Damany, dance, much like sign language, became a powerful form of non-verbal storytelling. It allowed him to communicate emotions and ideas beyond words, using his body as the ultimate translator. “Dance is my expression of art. It is how I am able to express myself. I had to find ways to adapt, to feel the music in my bones, read subtle visual cues, and trust my body’s internal rhythm. That pushed me to explore movement in deeper, more emotional ways.” Facing His Fears – Image 1413 Damany’s path to professional dance was far from typical. He attended the Lister Mair/Gilby High School for the Deaf, where his passion for performance was nurtured. Supported by his principal, he applied to EMCVPA’s School of Dance—becoming one of the first D/deaf students to join its degree programme. What followed was four years of rigorous technical training, personal breakthroughs, and emotional resilience. “I came in with fears of not fitting in, being misunderstood, of struggling in a space built around sound, but EDNA taught me that art is about expression, not perfection.” Rather than being limited by his hearing difference, Damany developed alternative ways of learning choreography—relying on visual cues, muscle memory, and internal rhythm to create powerful performances. “It’s a different way of dancing, but it’s just as powerful—sometimes even more—because I dance with my whole being,” he explains. A Dream Realised – 1546 In July 2025, Damany made his official debut with the National Dance Theatre Company (NDTC) in their 63rd season, fulfilling a long-held dream and making national history in the process. “I dreamt of dancing with the NDTC. Getting into EDNA was the first step. I remember really struggling with ballet in the beginning to grasp it, but regardless of the challenges, I have continued to push through to realise my goals… and to now perform with Jamaica’s leading dance company… it’s such a remarkable thing, especially being the first D/deaf person to do so.” This achievement reflects not only Damany’s talent and determination but also the EMCVPA’s commitment to inclusive arts education, creating opportunities for differently abled students to thrive in professional spaces. His former Dean and NDTC’s Artistic Director, Marlon Simms, has been one of his biggest champions, crediting Damany’s success to both his raw talent and the School of Dance’s inclusive teaching model.  “I have learned much more from Damany than he has learned from us over the years. It’s so nice to see how much he has grown, how open and welcoming the school has been to someone with his challenges, and how differently they learn. That has been a part of our development process as faculty members.” Breaking Barriers for Future Creatives – 0675 Now a professional performer, Damany encourages other D/deaf persons and creatives with disabilities to pursue their passions, even when the path seems unclear. “To every young or differently abled artist out there who feels like the arts world wasn’t made for you, I want you to know this, the arts world needs you. You belong in every studio, on every stage, in every gallery. Your perspective, your story, and your way of expressing it are not only valid, they are vital. If you are interested [as a D/deaf dancer], you can find support to be included. Surround yourself with people who see your worth. Keep learning, keep expressing, and never let anyone define your limits.” Be Unapologetically You –  Image – Damany-Hughes headshot For young artists coming up behind him, Damany leaves this message: “You’re not just creating art, you’re creating change.  The beauty of art is that it grows and evolves when people who are different step in and challenge the norm. Your differences are not a weakness; they are your strength, your originality, your power.  Yes, the journey will be harder. You may have to fight to be seen or understood. You may even have to carve your own path where one doesn’t exist… but every step you take makes it easier for the next person like you. So be unapologetically you. That’s where the magic lives. A New Chapter for Jamaican Dance – Image 0690 Damany Hughes isn’t just a dancer, he represents endless possibilities for Jamaica’s creative industries to embrace a more inclusive future. His story sends a strong message about the need for accessible training opportunities, adaptive teaching methods and open-mindedness in the performing arts sector. It is also a testament to the power of inclusive arts education at EMCVPA.   As he takes his place on one of Jamaica’s most prestigious stages, Damany says simply: “My journey with dance has only just begun.”  With grace, grit, and guts, Damany is shifting narratives in Jamaican dance, proving that inclusion doesn’t dilute artistry—it deepens it. Congratulations, Damany! #EDNAnation couldn’t be prouder. ### If you’re having trouble with the embed links, try these instead:  Video 1 https://youtu.be/SFFOZO93i1s Video 2  https://youtu.be/3de1_lv8wjE

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