THE RISE AND RISE OF ROSE
How Eastenders star stepped up to a perfect 40
EASTENDERS star Rose Ayling-ellis is taking Strictly by storm and after scoring the first perfect 40 of the series she’s hotly tipped to lift the coveted Glitterball Trophy.
But with six weeks to go until the grand final, the actress already feels like a winner because of the impact she’s having OFF the dance floor.
As the show’s first deaf contestant, the 26-year-old really felt she had something to prove.
And there is no denying that she has, having smashed the stigma that says deaf people cannot enjoy music and galvanising the BBC into making big changes behind the scenes.
All of the show’s stars, including the judges, have had deaf awareness training. And for the first time, deaf fans can enjoy Strictly on the BBC iplayer. Bosses added British Sign Language interpretation on catch-up after Rose revealed some people need more than just subtitles.
Influence
When she and professional partner Giovanni Pernice, 31, used sign language in their Viennese Waltz routine, it sparked a huge increase in online searches for courses.
Rose has been teaching Giovanni how to sign and her influence has extended to the other stars. She says: “I don’t want to come on the show and just be a deaf person. I want to make some changes.
“The other cast members and professionals are using captions on social media. And because they all have such big followings, so many people are realising the ability to add subtitles on social media is out there.
“Hopefully, it will spread. The problem with social media is if you don’t use captions, they won’t invest money to make it better. But the more people use it, the more they’ll invest and the more it will improve – and help the deaf community.
“So I just need everybody to do it. Little things like that make a real difference for the deaf community.”
Rose and Giovanni scored 32 for their samba last night and she said it was her hardest dance so far.
The star, who was born deaf, enjoys music by feeling the vibrations through her body, especially when she plays favourite
tracks by stars like Dolly Parton and Stevie Wonder loudly in her car. But while she can feel the beat, she can’t hear the lyrics. So Rose uses muscle memory to learn routines.
She explains: “We learn it in a way that we’re not relying on the music, so a lot of counting. We keep
practising so it becomes muscle memory. It almost becomes second nature. I don’t have to rely on the music like everyone else, I rely on myself to remember what to do. Maybe that makes it easier in a way.”
For Giovanni, who has been on Strictly since 2015, working with
Rose has tested his teaching skills. But he reckons her work ethic is the reason they regularly top the leaderboard. He says: “It’s my privilege to be dancing with somebody like Rose.
“I’ve never done anything like this before so I’m discovering new things, a new way to teach. And she’s doing a brilliant job. She transforms my information about the steps into her body – and that’s not an easy thing to do even when you are a hearing person.
“She wants to improve all the time. And that’s quite important every week that we stay in the competition.
“So far she’s been a fantastic student. I’m not complaining at all!”
The Strictly judges aren’t complaining either. Even the toughest, Craig Revel Horwood, was mesmerised by their tango last week. He gave the couple his first ten of the series – which meant they got that perfect 40.
Proud
Rose says: “I was really speechless, overwhelmed. I was just completely frozen. But now I am just so proud.”
With top marks, bucketloads of chemistry and a growing fan base watching their every move, Rose could be forgiven for feeling the pressure.
But the star – who plays Frankie Lewis in Eastenders – is adamant she won’t let nerves get in her way.
She says. “I feel like being nervous is just a waste of time. There’s two ways I could do it – get nervous and do a bad dance or remain calm and focus on the routine. So I’ve decided to stay calm!”
Rose adds: “I feel more ready now than I did in week one as then it was completely new. Now, it’s about pushing yourself every day. It’s eight hours, a long time to keep your energy high. Obviously, I’m losing weight, but I’m eating a lot and maintaining energy.
“It’s all about physical stamina, so I’m trying to get stronger – and the stronger you are, the less injuries you get. Luckily, I’ve been fine so far.”
And are they daring to dream about making the final?
“I think we are going to go as far as we can,” Gio says, diplomatically.
“It’s a very strong competition this year – I think everybody’s amazing. So we just have to focus on what we do and see how far that takes us.”
Rose adds: “I’m going to take it one week at a time – and just make sure I don’t leave this weekend!”
Nerves are just a waste of time... I’ve decided
to stay calm