Burkina Faso’s Fientan Company is composed of deaf and hard-of-hearing dancers. Founded in 2018 by choreographer Yaya Sanou, this unique Burkinabe contemporary dance troupe relies on "Vibra-Signe," a dance technique for the deaf and hard of hearing created by the company's founder.

To the beat of drums and djembes, these dancers keep time. At first glance, one might assume they can hear the traditional instruments, but in reality, they are deaf or hard of hearing.

Members of the Bobo-Dioulasso-based Fientan Company, they are able to dance thanks to the Vibra-Signe technique created by the company's founder.

"Sign language allows us to 'sign' the dance, and sight allows us to see and execute the movements," explains choreographer Yaya Sanou, founder of the Fientan Company.

"To coordinate with the music, I work with physical touch and the connection to the ground; when dancing barefoot on the floor or terrace, one feels specific vibrations—a resonance rising from the ground. I try to link that resonance with the music playing, the dance, and the sign language being used, all while tapping the dancer's body, enabling them to feel and capture the musical tempo."

This technique stemmed from Sanou's desire to give deaf and mute individuals in his neighborhood the chance to pursue their passion.

"Out of a need to have them dance to music, just as in my culture," Sanou says.

"In my tradition, we’ve always danced; we grew up with music. So I asked myself: what do I need right now to dance along with the music? Little by little, I started tuning in to the rhythm of the music, and that sparked ideas and reflections. Gradually, I began developing the technique that would eventually become known as ‘Vibra-Signe'."

Telling one’s story, communicating, and flourishing—a few words that sum up what dance means to these deaf and hard-of-hearing dancers.

"When I dance, I am very happy," says dancer Sanou Waramata. "Dance really helps me flourish, interact, communicate, and share my story; I feel truly free."

Thanks to the "Vibra-Signe" technique, the troupe has gained international acclaim—notably by winning the gold medal for dance creation at the 9th Francophone Games in Kinshasa with their show Adepte de mon être (Devotee of My Being), which highlights their experiences and their struggle to reclaim their place in society.