Okay, admittedly I am not a regular viewer of Strictly Come Dancing. However, I have been keeping up to date with the latest news on its disabled contestants this year, Para-triathlete Lauren Steadman and acid attack victim Katie Piper. Last year there was Paralympian Jonnie Peacock, who was also featured in the top ten Shaw Trust Disability Power 100 (which I was also featured in eek).
Strictly Come Dancing is now in its tenth week and on Sunday night the Strictly professionals took to the dance floor once again, but this time joined by members of the Candoco dance company.
This inclusive dance company showcase a variety of disabled and non-disabled dancers. The dancers perform in same-sex pairs and performed an emotional routine choreographed by Arlene Phillips who is a former Strictly Come Dancing judge.
Social media went crazy with viewers tweeting their love, appreciation and praise for all the dancers and their stunning ‘inclusive and emotional’ routine, performed to Life On Mars by David Bowie. The viewers loved it so much they were in tears and many now want Arlene to permanently return to the BBC dance show.
One viewer took to Twitter and said “Love the same-sex couples dancing. And the fact they included the chap in the wheelchair, high praise tonight, well-done #Strictly @bbcstrictly.” Another tweeted “Amazing, the most moving and epically brilliant group dance this season. Congratulations all of you”.
I think this is fantastic and incredibly refreshing to see a massive hit BBC One show with such a broad reach showcasing disability in such a positive light. It clearly provoked a very emotional response from their viewers. It just goes to show that when it comes down to it, people are moved by other people, disability or not.
More of this on mainstream television, please.
There is no doubt about it, disability and diversity needs to be shown more positively in the media and this is absolutely helping push towards that.
What do you think about disability in the media? Is disability misrepresented and portrayed negatively? Did you enjoy this moving and inclusive dance routine by disabled and non-disabled dancers?
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