The "BassBath" club night in Shanghai recently brought together deaf and hearing clubbers for an inclusive and vibrant party experience. Organized by a group focused on bridging cultural divides, the event featured bass-heavy electronic music and employed sign language for communication, enhancing accessibility.

Alice Hu, a co-organizer who is deaf and a visual artist, emphasized the event's goal of breaking down barriers through play and body language. BassBath aims to foster mutual understanding between deaf and hearing communities, allowing each group to appreciate the other's culture and promoting integration.

The party included animated art and music videos featuring sign language artists, projections of Chinese sign language words, and performances by deaf professional dancers. DJs curated music with deep bass beats that could be felt as vibrations, creating an immersive experience for all attendees.

For participants like Xiaozhou, it was a rare opportunity to enjoy dancing in a setting tailored to their needs. Older attendees, such as 68-year-old Hu Jingqi, also enthusiastically joined in, highlighting the event's appeal across generations.

Attendees like Alice Liu, who is learning sign language, found the event educational and eye-opening about the richness of deaf culture. She noted that it challenged stereotypes and provided a deeper understanding of deaf artistic expression, particularly in dance.

Overall, BassBath exemplifies efforts to promote inclusivity in nightlife and cultural events in China, addressing gaps in opportunities for deaf individuals to participate fully in mainstream social activities. Organizers hope such events will continue to foster connections and mutual appreciation between deaf and hearing communities.