The 21-year-old student from the college of Special Education of Changchun University, Jilin Province, Zhan Junyi has been deaf since birth. But he has overcome great difficulties to achieve his dream of becoming a professional dancer, and is now able to hear music through an artificial cochlea (人工耳蜗).
When he was 2, his parents took him to some training courses, and he learned to understand people by reading lips (嘴唇). During the slow and hard process, not only his parents but also some teachers from the training center offered great help to him. Thanks to their lasting efforts and help, Zhan had the chance to achieve as much as someone who can hear. Zhan had an artificial cochlea implanted (移植) when he was 4 years old. Then he was able to better understand people with its help.
In the summer of 2008, Zhan watched a dance show of Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva(千手观音) by the China Disabled People' s Performing Art Troupe (剧团) at the closing ceremony of the Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games (残奥会) on TV. Deeply moved by their excellent skill and energy, he began to watch videos of performances and competitions, learned to copy the movements and dreamed of becoming a dancer like them.
After graduating from primary school in 2015, Zhan passed the exam for the troupe and began to learn dance with the other members. To help him keep up, his teacher repeatedly played the drum and told him where the beats and rhythm (节奏) points were. Then, the teacher also guided him by using sign language. What' s more, as his artificial cochlea could easily fall out, he had to wear a headband to help keep it in.
Through lasting efforts and hard work, Zhan came to be perfect at dancing and entered Changchun University to study dance in 2021. In recent years, Zhan has built up lots of experience performing at events such as the opening and closing ceremonies of the Beijing 2022 Winter Paralympic Games and the 2023 Spring Festival Gala (春晚).
After he graduates, Zhan wants to return to the troupe and become a national-level dancer. He hopes to help other children like him to learn how to dance and feel its joy.
