South Korean boy band BTS’s use of sign language in their July 2021 “Permission to Dance” music video attained worldwide recognition. Specifically, the band was applauded for incorporating International Sign Language (ISL), American Sign Language (ASL and Korean Sign Language (KSL) into their performance. The video’s choreography incorporates signs for the words “enjoy,” “dance,” and “peace.”
The video is set within the post-pandemic world, where the band members are seen dancing in various locations including a laundromat, a sunny location, and a patio. The sign language use in “Permission to Dance” takes place at the end of the song, where every one of the members together sing out “na, na, na.”
To make sure that the interpretation of “Permission to Dance” was clear, BTS and their team of choreographers paid special attention to the details into their signing. BTS’ entertainment company representative Big Hit Music said, “After choosing keywords and symbolic gestures, we turned that into choreography. And we went through a process of holding many discussions with experts [including Deaf people and sign language interpreters] to make sure the meaning was coming across.”
The experts the band conferred with stressed the power of such expressions in performing sign language. As an example, the sign for “enjoy” also conveys “welcome.” So, to unambiguously communicate the lyric regarding “enjoy” to their Deaf and Hard-of-hearing fans, the band needed to clearly show happiness on their faces.
Reactions of Deaf Children Who Viewed the Music Video
The YouTube channel Deaf BTS just recently uploaded video clips of children’s responses to the “Permission to Dance” music video. In the past, the channel has published other videos where they have done sign language for a number of BTS songs. This time around, several Deaf children fluent in American Sign Language (ASL) were shown reacting to the music video while sitting on the floor.One particular girl was really stunned when she saw BTS member J-Hope performing in ASL, and shared a touching reaction. She signed, “I’m stunned. That’s ASL ‘dance!’ They signed ‘dance.’ How’d they do that?” She added, “They signed ‘dance’! Cool. They signed ‘dance’ twice. Just like here in the US. I’m gonna pass out.” The excited girl then pretended to faint by dramatically dropping forward on the floor.
When the other kids also noticed what the band was doing, they couldn’t believe that BTS had utilized American Sign Language within their performance. One girl wondered about when the band members had learned ASL.
The Video’s Positive Outcomes From Utilizing ASL
By using sign language within their choreography the group provided the youngsters and numerous other Deaf or Hard of hearing (D/HoH) sign language individuals world wide a feeling of greater inclusion in mainstream culture. Such considerate acts by celebrities and other public figures make members of the D/HoH community feel like they are being seen and heard by the larger society.BTS’s use of sign language is also increasing awareness of the D/HoH culture among hearing individuals. The fans were also tremendously astounded by the sign language incorporated into the “Permission to Dance” choreography.. One particular fan wrote on Twitter, “You know what’s cool? The motion that they were doing for ‘dance’ is the actual sign for ‘dance’ in American Sign Language.”
These kinds of comments suggest that “Permission to Dance” can definitely help to lessen the stigma regarding the Deaf and Hard of hearing in our culture. Additionally, they deliver hope to the D/HoH community by displaying that hearing people are willing to recognize them and their language as equals. In this manner, the music video is an important steppingstone toward greater acceptance and inclusion of D/HoH individuals mainstream modern society.