Can someone become a musician even if they’re deaf? The fact that the answer is yes may come as a surprise to many. Norwegian pianist and performing artist Rita Lindanger has defied all prejudices. As a deaf performer, she has developed an artistic practice where music is not only heard but also felt, seen, and experienced with the entire body.
I first met her in 2007 during Grusomhetens Teater’s production of The Ugly Duckling. She played a leading role as a cabaret pianist, and my understanding of what’s possible in this world was joyfully expanded.
That same year, while traveling in China, I met a woman named Nancy, who loved to dance, but she believed she lacked the qualities needed to become a professional. When I told her about the deaf pianist in Norway who performed professionally despite her profound hearing loss, Nancy immediately wanted to meet her. I thought, “That could be fun,” and included the idea in a project I was developing meant for Chinese television.
At the end of this article, you can watch an excerpt from a test shoot for a pilot. Nancy arrives first in Stockholm and then continues to Oslo to meet Rita Lindanger in 2008.
Since then, Rita Lindanger has created many noteworthy works. I will highlight just two that showcase both her artistic talent and her determination:
MEMBRAN – Beethoven’s Testament (2013) at the Norwegian National Opera & Ballet, where she performed as both musician and co-creating artist.
Tumble in the Jungle (2018 and 2019), a performance created especially for children with hearing loss, in which Lindanger performed alongside two dancers.
In Tumble in the Jungle, Rita communicates music and rhythm through movement, vibration, color, and light. The performance shows that music does not have to be sound. It can be rhythm in space, a connection between bodies, and emotional resonance. With this approach, she builds a bridge between deaf and hearing audiences, creating a shared experience that includes everyone. “Music isn’t just about hearing. It’s about feeling.” This is the principle on which Rita Lindanger has built her entire artistic practice.
She makes music accessible to both deaf and hearing-impaired children and adults. By blending theatre, music, dance, and movement in a uniquely inclusive way, she stands as a powerful example of what is possible, even when born with a significant disability.
Here is a nostalgic film retrospective from 2008, a sweet and playful encounter in which Rita plays the piano while Nancy performs traditional Chinese folk dances at the Royal Palace square, in a studio, and on the roof of the Oslo Opera House. This is not a finished film, but I still hope you enjoy it.
Featured image © Eldar Einarson
