TECHNO WORLDS
Diversity After Dark
2026.03.14 Saturday 19:00
Location
Groundless Factory, B06-2, 706 Road, 798 Art District, Chaoyang District, Beijing.
Guests: Calvin Khan (DE), Alice Hu, Cabrel Domche, Gangsta
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Club culture has largely been perceived as the domain of the hearing. Sound is, by default, assumed to be received through the ears, understood through melody, and identified by timbre—essentially, equating sound solely to what is audible. However, the true essence of sound is first and foremost vibration: physical waves traveling between air and objects, a form of energy that can be directly perceived. This is especially true for Techno. With its intense low-frequency vibrations, repetitive beats, and lighting that pulses with the soundwaves, Techno is never just for "listening"—it is an immersive, full-body experience.
For Deaf DJs, music does not enter through the eardrums; rather, it is "read" through the resonance between the body and the physical space. Their acute sensitivity to low frequencies and mastery of rhythmic structures do not rely on melodic details, but on the density of vibrations and the physical presence of the beat. Conversely, hearing DJs often build their narratives upon layers of timbre and melodic progressions. At Diversity After Dark, these two modes of perception are not opposed, but juxtaposed. On this night, we invite the local Deaf community in Beijing to join us. Within the exact same space, the hearing and the Deaf will use different senses to tap into the very same rhythm.
"From a Deaf perspective, observing the visual ripples of water responding to sound vibrations sparked the inspiration to transform 'listening to music' into a multi-sensory experience: music that can be seen, music that can be touched, and kinetic energy (vibrations) felt by the entire body... It shatters the traditional, narrow definition of hearing and reshapes the boundaries of society’s cognitive understanding of music." — Alice Hu
About the Program
Diversity After Dark is an accessible nightlife project co-initiated by Deaf artist and curator Alice Hu and Deaf Rave founder Troi Lee. Having previously been successfully hosted in cities like Shanghai to enthusiastic acclaim, the project is dedicated to creating an equal, shared party space for both the Deaf and hearing communities. This event marks the highly anticipated debut of Diversity After Dark in Beijing. To push the energy of this party to its absolute limits, we are thrilled to invite German Deaf DJ Calvin Khan and D-AFRO founder Cabrel Domche as our special guest artists.
About the Guest: Calvin Khan
The Deaf DJ Calvin Khan, born in BadSchwalbach (Germany), didn't have atypical path to becoming a musician. As achild, he already loved listening toelectronic music, but due to his deafness,he never thought about becoming a DJ.So he began his academic career in thesocial field as an educationalist andspecial needs teacher for deaf children.Things changed during COVID when thelockdown shut down the clubs inGermany. Because he could no longerattend to parties, he decided to try out toDJ at his home. What started as a hobby,later become more intense, as he startedplaying on some outdoor raves.In 2023 he started to play in famousunderground venues in Hamburg like“Rote Flora” and the “Fabrique”(Gängeviertel).
About the Guest: Cabrel Domche
Cabrel Domche（沙力） is the founder of D-AFRO and one of the leading Afro culture educators in China. Based in Beijing and originally from Cameroon, he has built a vibrant Afro movement community that brings together dancers, athletes, and creators from around the world.
Through large-scale cultural events, international collaborations, and multilingual performances in English, French, and Chinese, he bridges Africa and Asia through rhythm, storytelling, and shared human experience.
His work transforms dance floors into spaces of connection—where culture is not just seen or heard, but deeply felt.
About the Guest: Alice Hu
Alice has long been dedicated to breaking down the invisible barriers between the Deaf and hearing communities through artistic practices and community connection. Co-creating the Diversity After Dark series with Troi Lee, founder of Deaf Rave, she is not merely the curator behind the dance floor, but a powerful advocate deeply embedding "Accessibility Culture" into the local youth culture scene. For this event, she will introduce accessible interactive experiences tailor-made for the party environment, transforming conventional modes of communication into diverse, equal, and engaging interactions amidst the sound and lights of the dance floor.
About the Guest: Gangsta
His musical journey began by falling deep into the rabbit hole of 90s Hip-Hop, which eventually led him to dig extensively into roots music, including Soul, Funk, Jazz, Blues, Reggae, and Spiritual. In 2015, he officially launched his Hip-Hop DJ career under the moniker CrimeMasterG. With a long-standing obsession with 1970s music, he is particularly recognized for his striking, iconic producer tag featuring a Samuel L. Jackson sample.
