Trix Bruce

Patricia (Trix) Bruce, from Seattle, Washington, is known nationwide as both a workshop presenter and an ASL performer. Trix's work has been warmly received everywhere, from local community centers, to state, regional and national RID conferences, Deaf Way II, interpreter conventions and more.  Wildly popular as a teacher of ASL storytelling and ASL interpretation, Trix impresses audiences at all levels of ASL skill, from novices to fluent experts.

            Trix has been profoundly deaf since she was 6 months old. She went through oral, mainstreaming, deaf classes, and online educational programs. Trix has been involved in the performing arts since 1980. After completing her college program, she became involved with interpreter training.

     Trix's main area of study has been ASL Linguistics with a focus on ASL Performance.  She is an approved sponsor for the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (RID) Certificate Maintenance Program, and has developed a popular website, www.trixbruce.com. Whether writing, creating, improvising or starring in her many productions, Trix's passion for the dramatic arts shines through.

ASL Idol! -- 2 hours Thursday night for all levels
Join the fun and show off your talents in “Trix’s ASL Idol”! Let the magic happen as you try out your improv signing skills at this creative event. Join in as Trix and event participants compose and present A to Z, number, and handshape stories, and all kinds of ASL entertainment. Deaf judges will determine contest winners. Don’t miss this sensational signing extravaganza!

Trix Upon A Time: An ASL Storytelling Handbook -- 1 hour for beginners
Create your own visual storytelling! Brainstorm the steps needed to put a story together. List all the details of the play that affect the body's senses ( vision, sound, smell, taste, and touch). Imagine yourself as a member of the audience ( both deaf & hearing). What do they really want to see?
      Exercises that help you learn how to make clearer body language, gesture, and signs. Finalizing the story and narration in ASL. Participants will learn the following aspects of ASL Storytelling: Role Shifting, Eye Gazing, Characterization, Classifier Usage, Building a story in ASL.

ASL Extreme Makeovers: The Art of Personification -- 2 hours for intermediates
Learn how to “change yourself” into someone or something else. In literature, the technique of “personification” gives an inanimate object, a plant, or animal characteristics that make it seem “human”. The object shows emotions and takes on person-like behaviors. You can use this technique in American Sign Language to “become” a flower, butterfly, or even a book! Trix will demonstrate how to personify characters and shift roles within your story. You’ll learn how to “become” a baseball, basketball, beach ball, bowling ball, football, marble, ping pong ball, racquetball, soccer ball, water polo ball,and more!

A Classifier is Born! -- 2 hours for intermediates
Some people believe in limiting language creativity, but world-wide and throughout history, languages have emerged and evolved through communication and storytelling. When a unique predicate classifier is created within a story, and ASL users adopt it naturally, a new classifier is born. Come to this workshop to see the process in action.

"Think Deaf"!  Visual Gestural Communication Skills -- 1 hour for beginners
No more searching desperately through books or depending on teachers to tell you how to sign something.  You can learn to "Think Deaf"!  Visual gestural skills will get your point across with or without traditional sign.  Build your confidence in communicating with Deaf communities.

ASL SEMANTICS: Precision of Expression Series Focus Word: TAKE -- 2 hours for advanced/interpreters
Semantics is defined as the study of meanings expressed by the elements of a language or a combination of the elements. A concept expressed in an ASL sign often cannot be conveyed by a single all-purpose English word. Likewise, English words and phrases may have variations in meaning, which require translations using different ASL signs. This workshop helps the student advance skills in translating the languages of ASL and English. This workshop will focus the word of RUN.

SIGNS GONE WRONG: ASL BLOOPERS -- 2 hours for advanced/interpreters
Over the years, interpreters, students and teachers have shared with Trix some of the unintentionally funny things they’ve signed. We’ve all had this kind of experience. Let’s help each other make it through as we laugh at our ASL bloopers!