Denise Readgrew up in Montreal, Quebec, Canada and now live in Victoria, BC. She is a drama & ASL / LSQ teacher, actress, artist director, filmmaker and also composes songs in the Langue Des Signes Québeçois (LSQ) and American Sign Language (ASL). For more than thirty years, her commitment has had a major impact on the Deaf Community Culture in Quebec, in Ontario and in BC. First known as an author, composer and performer of rhythmic songs in sign language, she is now recognized as a multi-talented artist. She has written, produced and performed in shows and films where hand poetry, mime and drama are put together to create an original and singular mode of expression.
Experienced Professionals She studied in communication and dramatic arts and obtained her Bachelor Arts of Science degree at the prestigious Gallaudet University in Washington, D.C. in 1989. She went on to the University of Ottawa, to take her second degree inTheater Arts in 1998 and at the same time completed her teaching certificate in Special Education in 2000. She took a Deaf interpretation course from theCanadian Hearing Society in Kingston, Ontario. In addition, in 2004, shereceived the artist agent certificate award from the school of Show Businessin Montreal, Quebec. Furthermore, in 2011, she received the Pacific Film &New Media Academy certificate and in 2013, she obtained the Victoria EntreActive entrepreneural training program and business plan certificate in Victoria, British Columbia.
Brief History
In 1997, Denise created the Théâtre des Mains company that is exclusively dedicated to promote the Deaf culture through scenic arts. The name, Théâtre des Mains, which means Theatre of the Hands, is directly related to the importance of hands every Deaf comedian's performance. In 2012, the Théâtre des Mains has been transformed into the new name of the company as Silent Partnership Productions (SPP) and transform into the another new name of the company as ASLSQ Entertainment in the fall 2017.
Brief Description
As for ASLSQ Entertainment, the music, theater, film and Open Hands Live events are similar with "foursome" into one production. Every production is presented in sign language and is supported by simultaneous translation in French, for LSQ sentences, and in English, for ASL sentences. This technique allows reaching of a larger audience in both the deaf and hearing world to be reached. The two sign languages, the Langue des Signes Québeçois (LSQ) and the American Sign Language (ASL) are at the heart of company's artistic mission. Productions are not limited to classical theatre and film either. All kinds of performances are presented dance, poetry, mime, stand-up, tragedy, monologue, LSQ & ASL storytellings and comedy are all disciplines that are experimented through elements used by the company, percussions synchronized with the action on the stage can become strong supporting element.
Mission
On top of the stage creation activities, Denise provides educative programs for young and mature students of all ages. Drama, interpretation, mime, body language, rhythmic and film creation are part of the program Sign Language is used as a dramatic expression media in the experimentation of artistic expression.