What is Half-N-Half?
Sherry Hicks and Michael Velez are Children of Deaf Adults (CODA) performers that collaborate and tour around the world. This dynamic duo delights audiences with their original multimedia American Sign Language (ASL) performances combining Music and storytelling. Using improvisation and various poetic styles, they perform entertaining excerpts of Deaf and Coda life.
In 1994, Half-N-Half was originally formed by four CODA members: Sherry Hicks, Sheila Jacobs, Pam Johnson, and Michael Velez. They were called the Bay Area Coda Performers.
The first performance was for students at California School for the Deaf at Fremont’s awards banquet. For the entertainment, musical selections were choreographed and presented in ASL. The crowd went wild with students jumping onto the stage and joining in with the rhythm and beat.
Since then, Half-N-Half has put together almost two decades of work that is CODA based material. Signing songs and performing for mixed audiences, they share the gift of ASL that their families, community, and culture have instilled in them. In addition, they produce sign language videos and offer workshops as well as theater interpreting.
