Strictly same-sex pairings have everything man-woman ones have to offer

I began dancing after I was two years outdated. Properly, in case you can name twirling round till dizzy and falling over ‘dancing’.

As I obtained older, I grew to become a part of an all-girls dance group and it was nothing however pleasure every time we danced collectively. That’s why the same-sex pairings on Strictly Come Dancing imply a lot to me.

Strictly historical past was made in 2020 when boxer Nicola Adams joined the present’s first same-sex coupling with Katya Jones. Then final 12 months, chef John Whaite and Johannes Radebe took issues up a notch as the primary male-male pairing, ending in second place.

And for 2022, in one other Strictly first, the glitzy dance present will see not one, however two same-sex couples take to the dancefloor – comic Jayde Adams with longest-serving professional Karen Hauer, and radio presenter Richie Anderson with reigning champ Giovanni Pernice.

Once I first learnt that this collection would characteristic two same-sex partnerships, I felt a mix of feelings – together with sheer pleasure that same-sex dancing is now nicely and actually a part of mainstream media, disbelief that that is lastly a actuality, but in addition unhappiness that numerous LGBTQ+ individuals by no means obtained to witness this occurring prior to now.

As a queer particular person myself, there isn’t any denying that same-sex partnerships have an effect on me deeply, and I don’t doubt that the contestants and professionals in these partnerships are conscious of the burden their actions maintain. You see, while you’ve grown up not as soon as seeing your self represented on display, and feeling ‘othered’ for being who you’re, to have that genuine illustration lastly is so liberating.

There’ll at all times be individuals who model same-sex couples a ‘novelty’ or who declare that Strictly bosses are simply ‘field ticking’, however loud and proud same-sex dancing on prime-time Saturday night time TV sends an essential message to thousands and thousands of households across the nation – not solely that that is regular, however it’s lovely.

Identical-sex pairings have the whole lot mixed-sex pairings have to supply – if no more. It’s because the probabilities of what they’ll do are infinite, which is one thing we noticed in collection 19 when John and Johannes repeatedly switched leads and lifted each other.

They continued to amaze us with their creativity, week in, week out, all whereas going through the problem of determining how their our bodies have been supposed to suit collectively.

Identical-sex pairings can do passionate tangos, elegant rumbas, cheeky Charlestons, and fiery Paso Dobles. They will convey romance to the waltz, electrical energy to the jive, and magnificence to the foxtrot.

However, similar to opposite-sex partnerships, same-sex dancers may also be messy. They will fall over whereas failing to maintain up with a fast step, or stand on their associate’s toes whereas trying to grasp a salsa – however that’s as a result of they’re human.

The LGBTQ+ neighborhood has come a great distance over the a long time and it’s due to the tireless work of trailblazers of the previous that we will dance beneath a glitter ball in sequin-encrusted outfits in the present day. That is one thing that appears like an actual celebration of the battles which have been fought, in addition to a promise to in the present day’s youngsters that we are going to preserve them protected.

All through my childhood, I did ballet, faucet, jazz, and road dance. I danced all over the place from county festivals to high school halls to theatre levels, performing routines to songs from Oliver, Excessive Faculty Musical, and even the Cheeky Ladies (a private favorite). Not as soon as was it a problem that I used to be dancing with ladies. 

Identical-sex dancing isn’t some new phenomenon. It isn’t a brand new craze ‘woke’ youth try to push. Do you know that when the tango originated across the 1870s, males danced collectively? Then equally, within the Nineteen Twenties, girls have been typically seen dancing the Charleston collectively. Throughout this time, there was additionally a rise in gay-only nightlife.

So, if something, Strictly is extraordinarily late to the social gathering, and in case you have a problem with same-sex couples, it begs the query, do you actually perceive dance?

I at all times cherished dancing in female-female pairings. I cherished how our vitality bounced off each other’s, how we might commerce concepts for choreography and be so creative. There was at all times a comradery, to not point out amusing a minute backstage as we shared lipsticks and did one another’s hair.

Dance is an actual neighborhood – it’s a household – and also you bond along with your companions whereas every routine takes you on a journey. Dancing with one other particular person requires you to belief them utterly, whereas additionally providing them the highlight to shine. It requires collaboration and consideration for different individuals’s wants, in addition to dedication to placed on the efficiency of your life each time.

I’ll at all times have the very best respect for dancers and the artwork kind that’s dance, which is why seeing it honoured in its most genuine kinds on Strictly for 3 consecutive years means a lot. Is it lengthy overdue? In fact. However that’s all of the extra motive to shout about it now.

I’m not saying that same-sex pairings ought to obtain particular remedy from different couples – they too must be judged on their dancing and chemistry alone. Nonetheless, the heteronormativity of ballroom is outdated. Why does it at all times have to be about who’s the ‘man’ and who’s the ‘girl?’ Why not embrace one thing completely different and attempt to see the sweetness in it?

There is no such thing as a rule guide in terms of dancing – it could possibly take any kind you need it to. So to lastly see same-sex dancing flourishing on a nationwide stage is each heartwarming and thrilling.

It’s a marker of the progress we’ve made since queerness has lengthy been considered as perverse or filthy, or far too ‘inappropriate’ for youngsters to bear witness to.

Nevertheless it’s additionally a taster of the place this may go. The chances are infinite.

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