A few weeks ago, I wrote about Strictly Come Dancing (link here) and how incredible this series has been. This post talks about the 2021 winner so if you haven’t watched it yet, don’t read this post!

I’ve just watched the final, and I have been close to tears all the way through. Because of injury, it was just Rose Ayling-Ellis and John Whaite in the final. Rose is a deaf actress, and an amazing dancer. She said in the final show that she doesn’t have any extra time than the other dancers, so her partner, Giovanni Pernice, and the other choreographers have to teach her in a way that she can learn – and she has to work incredibly hard. She won because she was an amazing dancer. She dances with such amazing joy and grace, and incredible timing. The partnership she has with Giovanni is something else – there is a unique connection and it is breath taking to watch. She didn’t win because she was given easy dances or simple routines. She won because she is an incredibly talented actress and dancer.

The other couple were the first all male partnership on Strictly. John Whaite and Johannes Radebe didn’t assume the lead and follower roles in their dances; they re-wrote the way the dances could be danced. They swapped leads, they both lifted and were lifted. They didn’t get to the final through pity or easy dances. Like Rose, they produced amazing dances that had been choreographed for them.

My life revolves around Skware Pegs, hidden disabilities and advocation, both at home and at work. I want my learners to do well because I adapt the way I teach so that they can succeed. I don’t expect them to do well ‘despite’ their disabilities/worries/barriers. I try my best to adapt my teaching so that they can get on with learning. I try my best to never use a ‘one size fits all’ approach. I try my best to ensure that every learner I have has the best teaching I can offer that is right for them.

I think part of the reason why I found this evening so emotional is that Strictly has done this for Rose. Yes, she has had to work harder than I can imagine, but the team put every adaptation that was needed to make the playing field as level as possible.

John Whaite has been very open about the struggles he had when he was younger, the issues he had when he came out, and mental health issues that he has had as an adult. Seeing an all male partnership has broken down barriers, and will have given people hope. In a time when suicide is the biggest killer in men under 50, it has also shown men expressing feelings and vulnerability.

I have loved this series, but the two couples in the final have moved me so much. They have shown positivity, joy, hope and the magic that can happen when everything that needs to be done has been done. I am inspired.