She brought the nation to a standstill on Strictly, but for the award-winning deaf actor it was ‘only the start’. As she embraces even greater stardom, her priority will always be to build change for disabled people
Yes, Rose Ayling-Ellis remembers the first time she saw the choreography for that Strictly dance. Her “couple’s choice” routine for the competition’s 2021 grand final. The one that won her the series – a Bafta, too – melting hearts, expanding minds, and briefly turning the sequin-heavy, primetime light-entertainment show into a deeply affecting, powerful platform for deaf visibility.
Midway through the number, the music faded out. For 20-ish seconds, Ayling-Ellis and her partner, Giovanni Pernice, danced both in total silence and synchronicity. It was a fleeting insight into how Strictly’s first deaf contestant experienced the show; a simple yet soul-stirring nod to the community she takes such pride in representing. So, of course, Ayling-Ellis recalls exactly how she felt when sitting down to watch those monumental moves being proposed. How could she forget? Continue reading...
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