In the summer of 1980, 10-month-old Liu Xin was struck by the measles and lost hearing after a high fever of 41.5 ℃. Ever since then, he has been living in a soundless world.
At the age of nine, Liu Xin began to receive special education at the Lanzhou School for the Deaf and Blind, and there began his dance career. Later he joined the provincial performing arts troupe for disabled people. Liu said that since his ears could never hear the beautiful music, for each dance his sign language teacher would use gestures to convey the rhythm of the music. He would capture the rhythm with his eyes and feel the music in his heart, and then voice the language of dance through
his body as only a deaf person could.
His constant efforts paid off. When he was 18, the dance "Joy and Hope", in which he was the main performer, won the first prize for dance in the Fourth National Art Show for the Disabled. Encouraged by this success, Liu became even more determined to realize his dream of becoming a dancer. Four years later, he won the first prize for dance in the Fifth National Art Show for the Disabled with his solo performance "Return to the Sky".
In recent years, Liu Xin has toured with China Disabled People's Performing Art Troupe and performed in more than 200 shows in over 40 countries and regions in Asia, Europe and America. He has performed on stage at the top two world class theatres of Carnegie Hall in the United States and La Scala in Italy. As a special dancer, Liu also performed in the closing ceremony of the Athens 2004 Paralympic Games, the 2005 CCTV Spring Festival Gala, and the Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games.
In the spring of 2010, Liu Xin learned that the Gansu Radio and TV University School for the Disabled was officially established and open for enrollment. He decided to enroll in the Digital Media Design and Production programme. It is extremely difficult for a student with a hearing disability to study this programme, but Liu Xin's tenacity helped him succeed and even outshine his peers. Though busy with many rehearsals and performances, Liu seldom missed the face-to-face tutorials arranged by the school and always came prepared with questions. Because of his excellent preparation and review of course material, Liu also helped interpret for the sign language teachers. He would explain in writing for his peers when they could not understand the teachers' signing. In face-to-face tutorials, he was the most active student in interacting with teachers and fellow classmates.
Furthermore, Liu also served as spokesperson for the Student Union at the School for the Disabled, and class monitor for the Digital Media Design and Production class. Liu's teacher Fei Shuhuan said that since Liu Xin could not speak or hear, their best means of communication was text messaging. In everyday class activities, Liu was a great assistant, leading the class to work together to complete the assigned task on time. "Liu Xin is a role model for everyone at the School for the Disabled," said Fei. "It is because of students like Liu Xin who strive hard despite of disadvantages that more disabled people can be encouraged and get involved in distance and open education."