#203

Representation matters. Period. Always has.

Always does.

Always will.

Case in point is the actress Rose Ayling-Ellis who is currently participating in the UK’s Strictly Come Dancing with the professional dancer, Giovanni Pernice.

Not only giving pride to those from the deaf/hearing impaired community, Rose’s performance has raised awareness of and interest in deaf culture among the general public as exemplified by:

• British Sign Language (BSL) incorporated into a prime show both in her dances and through the use of a BSL interpreter. This is significant as the UK is not a country in which sign language is regularly seen on the TV as often happens, especially during the news and government press conferences, in other countries.

• Fellow competitors and audience members asked to use jazz hands, rather than clapping, when Rose dances so she can - in the absence of being able to hear - feel the vibrations whilst dancing.

• Reports of interest in BSL increasing substantially based on google searches and sign ups to classes.

Aside from breaking down barriers as the first Strictly Come Dancing celebrity who is deaf, she and Giovanni are the first to earn 40 (the perfect score) this series (series 19) and the earliest 40 in a series (in week six) with their Tango (see video) during Halloween Week (30 October 2021).

Representation matters. Always has.

Always does.

Always will.

Period.