Singing with their hands: sign language interpreters became the stars of VK Fest in Moscow.
The large-scale VK Fest music festival concluded in Moscow on July 21. However, many will remember it not only for the artist performances but also for the charismatic work of sign language interpreters, who enabled deaf and hard of hearing people to experience the music.
How sign language interpreters captivated audiences
Translators Ekaterina and Margarita translated songs by Dima Bilan, Lolita, Dora, Vanya Dmitrienko, and other popular artists. As a result, social media users noted that watching them work was even more engaging than watching the musicians themselves perform.
Moreover, translating music tracks in real time requires a tremendous amount of preparation and knowledge of specific language features.
Each country has its own sign language, exactly the same as the spoken language. And of course, we prepare, requesting tracklists in advance. Preparation is necessary to ensure the translation is understandable to a deaf person, as sign language differs from Russian—it has its own logic and structure. For example, the negative at the end. We try not to work in sync, but if the artist changes a song or adds a new one, it's done in sync.
A unique profession and the public's reaction
Ekaterina Kononenko has known sign language since childhood, as she was born into a deaf family. However, translating songs still requires constant practice, skill, and extensive preparation. This is why specialists of this caliber are rare in Russia.
There aren't many translators, only two "singing" translators: myself and Margarita Startseva, who was also at VK Fest. We'll soon be going to Paris Fest in Nizhny Novgorod, then Fandom Fest, Comic Con, and two more festivals are in the works.
Nevertheless, their vibrant articulation and expressive gestures captivate even hearing audiences, revealing a completely new side to well-known hits. As a result, social media users are leaving numerous rave reviews of the girls' work:
"I followed the interpreter so closely, it was as if I understood sign language," "Sign language interpretation is mesmerizing as an art form in its own right," "This is simply a masterpiece, you make music accessible to everyone!" viewers write on social media.
