I admit it, I was late to the Strictly Come Dancing party, but now I love it! My autumnal Saturday nights are spent watching orange celebrities (sometimes in the broadest sense of the word) dressed in sequins dancing with their professional partners. In the same way that X-Factor was ‘the’ Saturday night show of my 30’s, Strictly has become the show of my 40’s.

This year, however, Strictly has done something truly remarkable. Strictly has shown that if things are adapted, taught and/or choreographed in a way that is accessible to the learner, the playing field is levelled, and people can showcase their ability and potential.

Rose Ayling-Ellis is an amazing dancer. She has grace, poise and is (in my opinion) beautiful to watch. She and her partner Giovanni deserve the high scores they are getting each week because their dances are breath-taking. Rose is a deaf actress. She feels vibrations through her feet, but cannot hear the words to songs. She dances, on time and with amazing natural skill, through muscle memory and counting. Her professional partner, Giovanni Pernice has said in interviews that being partnered with Rose has made him a better teacher. He has adapted how he teaches her, and the result is just…..well, have a look at the dance from 13th November, a couple’s choice dance with an incredibly emotional and suprising part in the middle that was choreographed as a tribute to the deaf community. Click here to watch.

Maybe not in the same way as Rose, but John Whaite and Johannes Radebe, who are the show’s first all-male partnership, are also incredible to watch. Boxer Nicola Adams was part of an all-female partnership in 2020, but had to drop out because of a positive Covid test. This year’s partnership has been seen as being controversial at times, with many negative comments on social media. For me, though, this is another example of how the right choreography can be inclusive. I love watching them dance because either or neither of them may lead (and it may change throughout the dance), and it is a fabulous example of how something that is ‘ground-breaking’ in terms of prime time TV can look so natural and right. The dances have been choreographed for them, a same sex couple, with a dance where they are both equal and it just feels right.

I just have to mention Dan Walker here too – another one who’s had a few nasty comments because others have been voted off and he’s still in (get a grip, it’s a TV show!). I think Dan is fab. He’s a journalist and TV presenter. He admits he’s not a dancer – but he is! He might not be the best, he might not be a natural, but he is a bit of a Skware Peg in the world of Strictly, and his joy of dancing inspires me to keep kitchen dancing. He probably won’t make the final, but who knows? His smile as he dances and his happiness when he gets high scores is lovely to watch.

Yes, Strictly is a light entertainment show. Yes, Strictly is ‘just’ a dance show. However, this year, in my opinion, it is a little bit more than that. This year Strictly is showing us all the magic that can happen when adaptations, understanding and accessibility are in place.