A LARGE crowd of deaf, hearing and hard of hearing party revellers flocked to Bassline in Newtown, Johannesburg, to see, hear, feel, taste, smell and dance to the music of various artists from across the country during the Sencity Festival.

Sign language interpreters, video jockeys, sign dancers, aroma jockeys, light artists, taste jockeys and a vibrating dance floor made it possible for the deaf community to understand the sounds and the music.

Though the deaf people could not hear sounds of Soweto band Skin2Soul they danced to songs such as Loxion Super Model and Bana.

Deaf DJs such as Matty, Tappy and Lancelot also captivated the crowd with their performances.

While they entertained the audience with their melodious sounds, top South African sign language interpreters such as SABC sign language news presenter Fortune Madlala, Andiswa Gebashe, Tina Bothaand Sibusiso Mondlana narrated the music. Madlala and Gebashe, Phili Zangwa and Nelia Kruger were the sign dancers for the audience.

Sencity is a sensory experience organised by a team of deaf, hard of hearing and hearing people. The spectacular event formed part of the Johannesburg Arts Alive International Festival.

One of the coordinators of the event who is also deaf, Jabulile Ngwenya said the event brought the people together to experience the emotions of music.

Skin2Soul lead singer Tshidiso Setshogwe said the band enjoyed performing for the deaf community because they "could feel and see their attention".

The popular deaf actress, who featured in Muvhango as Kuki, Simphiwe Mkhize said: "I am very happy with how things turned out. This is also a perfect date because it forms part of the International Deaf Awareness Month."

• This article was first published in the printed newspaper and eEdition on 12 September 2012. Click on this link to view the eEdition