THIS YEAR’S PRESENTER: FRED MICHAEL BEAM
ASL Immersion Weekend 2007
April 13th, 14th, and 15th
Fred Michael Beam currently is an Executive Director of Invisible Hands, Inc. which promote deaf awareness through the Arts. He is also an actor, dancer, educator, choreographer and director, who was one of 2001 Linowes Leadership Award recipients for his leadership in community and performing arts.
Fred, a well-acclaimed actor, has appeared on many stages all over the world. In Metro Washington Area, He appeared in Mad Dancers and Miracle Worker at Arena Stage, Underachiever, Dirtmaker, and The Fallout Shelter at Kennedy Center, Harry The Dirty Dog at Bethesda Academy of Performing Arts, and Othello at Gallaudet University . Nationally, He recently appeared as Nicholas, a leading role in “The Music of the Spheres” in Goodman Theatre, Chicago. He has his one man shows , “Black Deaf Male: Who Am I?”, and “Fred Michael Beam: Sign Me A Story.” He is also a member of the “I Didn’t Hear That Color” troupe, the first Black Deaf play and Black and Deaf in America. His part in The New Kaptain Kangaroo, won the Media Access Award 2000 for best children’s show. He appeared in a groundbreaking music video, Lonely Little Monster, as the title role, which also won Media Access Award 2001 for Best New Media.
He is currently director/choreographer/dancer of the mainstreamed dance company, National Deaf Dance Theater and the all-deaf male dance company, The Wild Zappers. His companies were selected to perform at opening ceremonies of Deaf Way II and the International Association of Blacks In Dance, in Washington, D.C. He was a member of Rochester Institute of Technology Dance Company, DuPont Alley Dance Company, Penn Vision Dance Company and guest performer for the Gallaudet Dance Company. As a dancer, He has toured nationally to such places as Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. and the Bride Theater Philadelphia. His international tour included Cairo, Egypt; Senegal, Africa, Montego Bay, Jamaica, St. Thomas, Virgin Island, Sydney, Australia; and Japan. He worked as a choreographer for Bethesda Academy of Performing Arts, Quest for Arts, and Model Secondary School for the Deaf.
Fred also gave educational workshops and presentations and performances to deaf and hearing communities. He gave dance workshops to Imagination Celebration in Texas and California, San Antonio Deaf Dance Camp, Freemont School for the Deaf and many other places. He also has an educational dance theater program, Let=s Sign and Dance which performs in many hearing public schools in Metro Washington Area. He gave his presentation, Black Deaf Performing Artists and Their Contribution to Black Theater Conference in San Francisco, California, National Theater of the Deaf in Chester, Connecticut, Deaf Caribbean Conference in St. Thomas, Virgin Island, National Black Deaf Advocate Conference, Gallaudet University, National Association of Deaf and Deaf Way II in Washington, D.C.
He is also a board member of Quest for Arts, Inc., advisory board of Maryland Governor=s Arts Council of Disability, former president of District of Columbia Black Deaf Advocate for two terms. He is a recipient of Leader of The Year Award 2001 from D.C. Area Black Deaf Advocate, Humanitarian Award 2000 from National Black Deaf Advocate, and Excellence in Leadership Award 2001 from Maryland Association of Deaf