I actually overrated Strictly Come Dancing to my children this 12 months. Upfront of the launch present on Friday, we purchased popcorn, lit candles and piled the duvets on to the couch. Possibly this feels like overkill, however for those who had been watching a nationally televised dancing competitors that, for the primary time in its historical past, was that includes somebody who regarded such as you, wouldn’t you be a bit excited?
Because the present blasted on to our display screen with its acquainted upbeat theme tune, I used to be instantly reminded of the glitz and glamour of the manufacturing, and my coronary heart soared seeing Ellie Simmonds on display screen for the primary time, made as much as the nines and searching completely unbelievable. The genetic make-up of Strictly Come Dancing is closely rooted in the great thing about our bodies and their motion, and he or she so seamlessly fitted in from the second she appeared. It felt like an enormous second for folks like us, who aren’t usually celebrated for being stunning or rhythmic.
The shot switched to Simmonds talking to digicam and one of many first issues she stated was “I've dwarfism …” – the remainder of her sentence was obfuscated by my daughter excitedly yelling “I HAVE DWARFISM TOO!” Out of the blue my children had been transfixed, cheering each time she appeared, and so they haven’t stopped speaking about it since. It lit a fireplace of their bellies I've hardly ever seen earlier than.
Individuals prefer to play down the influence illustration has, however for these whose physique varieties are by no means proven in sure contexts, it may be extremely highly effective to see somebody like us collaborating in one thing we would have in any other case deemed unimaginable, as a result of there aren't any prior examples to attract from.
Strictly Come Dancing has traditionally been fairly good at inviting disabled folks on to the dancefloor. Lauren Steadman, JJ Chalmers and Jonnie Peacock all appeared on earlier collection. Final 12 months, Rose Ayling-Ellis went on to win the competitors, smashing any preconceptions folks might have beforehand had about Deaf folks dancing.
Already, Simmonds has stated that she has acquired abuse on social media from naysayers who seem to really feel threatened by her presence on the present and take umbrage that she needs to be allowed to take part in a nationwide competitors alongside folks of common top. These individuals are lacking the purpose. Sure, Strictly is a contest centred on how properly you may dance in keeping with a set of pre-existing guidelines and situations, which by nature robotically excludes many disabled folks just because our our bodies don’t work in the identical method. However it is usually – as dance needs to be – a celebration of the liberty of expression. Adapting dances for greater our bodies, disabled our bodies and our bodies that don’t transfer within the methods we count on them to is gorgeous, significant and so impactful to these watching who might really feel they don’t match the mould of how a dancer ought to look or carry out.
Talking as somebody with zero knowledgeable information of dance, Simmonds’ efficiency appeared distinctive. However even when I didn’t suppose that, I'd nonetheless really feel the identical sense of delight watching her. For me, it’s not about how properly she dances, it's about the truth that she is even there, having a go. The notice she brings in being a dancer that requires diversifications is unbelievable, and the inclusion she brings in being an individual who's in her personal proper utterly deserving of this area is lengthy overdue.
Good luck Ellie – so many people are rooting for you.
Cathy Reay is a disabled creator, editor and speaker on the themes of incapacity justice, accessibility, relationships and single parenthood
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