Sign language interpreter Holly Maniatty brings music to life for the deaf

Holly Maniatty, 33, helps bring music to life for the deaf by pairing American Sign Language with her enthusiastic dance moves.

The Portland, Maine, woman has become a bit of an online celebrity thanks to countless videos of her energetically signing for — and sometimes even upstaging — music superstars like Bruce Springsteen, Eminem, Mumford and Sons, U2, Beastie Boys and Wu-Tang Clan, sharing the experience of music with audience members who cannot hear.

Deaf actress Marlee Matlin tweeted a link of Maniatty rapping at Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival this summer.

"Wu tang interpreter is rapping in sign BIG time!!" she wrote.

To prepare for each concert, Maniatty, who holds degrees in both American Sign Language linguistics and brain science and has a first-degree black belt in taekwondo, studies her musician clients and learns their lyrics, dialect, posture and moves.

Why dialect?

"There are different dialects of American Sign Language based on the region the speaker is from. For example Killer Mike is from Atlanta and the way that he would sign 'brotha' is totally different from the way someone from New York City who is deaf would sign 'brotha,'" she told Jian Ghomeshi on Q.

"So in order to give the most authentic and realistic experience for the deaf patrons, my choice as an interpreter is to use as many local or dialectual signs from where the performer is from."

For Bonnaroo, she spent more than 50 hours studying Killer Mike's music before the show.

"After, he told the crowd, 'Yeahhh girl. I ain't never seen nothing like that. I've been all over the world, and all over this city, and all through these streets, I ain't never seen nothing like that.'" Maniatty told Slate.

She did more than 100 hours of research in advance of a Beastie Boys show.

"As much as you're able to study those movements and incorporate them into your interpretation," she told the Associated Press, "you really breathe that artist in, and it's more authentic for people."

Bruce Springsteen noticed her impressive moves and jumped down from the stage to join her.

"Deaf people were commenting, 'Oh, the Boss knows he has deaf fans. That's awesome,'" Maniatty said. "When artists connect with their interpreters, they also connect with their deaf fans."

Check out Maniatty's Facebook page for more videos of the interpreter in action.