Strictly’s Giovanni says partnership with Rose is ‘more than just about dancing’

Strictly Come Dancing star Giovanni Pernice has said that his partnership with Rose Ayling-Ellis is "more than just about dancing".

Rose is the dance competition’s first ever deaf contestant and has been wowing the judges with her talent in recent weeks, even picking up the first perfect score of the series.

Speaking on The One Show, Giovanni, 31, explained: “I think for me and Rose, it’s definitely from the beginning been more than just about dancing.”

And so far, they’ve stayed true to this.

Their Couples’ Choice routine was perhaps the most poignant moment in Strictly history, with the music disappearing halfway through and the pair dancing in silence.

It demonstrated what’s it’s really like for a deaf person when they dance. Rose has found her own ways to train and dance despite not being able to hear the music – although her training pattern is disrupted when it's raining.

The couple are the bookies’ favourites to win the show, but the Italian professional dancer admitted this wasn’t their main aim.

“I adapt myself a new way of teaching and obviously, Rose has a different way of learning,” Giovanni explained.

“But I think with the dance that we did, we definitely sent out a strong message to everybody in the deaf community and we both already feel like winners.”

Giovanni, who recently revealed the incredible blinking technique he uses with Rose, continued: “Obviously, winning the Glitterball would be nice, like the cherry on a cake. But we are very proud of what we are doing.”

The pair have developed a very close bond during the course of the series, with fans remarking how it has "changed" Giovanni.

“People on social media think that I’ve changed, that I’m a different person,” he told Radio Times.

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“It’s changed completely the way I teach and I make the choreography. It’s a different world, and I’m glad that I’m the one who’s discovering this…”

He continued: “What I’ve learnt from Rose is that you can be positive and happy every day.

“She comes to the studio, and if it’s a difficult or an easy dance, she’s positive. Whatever’s going on with my own life, I go to the studio and spend time with Rose, and I just relax.”

Strictly Come Dancing 2021

The Eastenders actress commented: “I had a gut feeling you were going to be a good partner for me because in the deaf community, we’re really, really expressive. We are very direct – and you are direct.”

“Also, you’ve got a record of being in the final so many times, and of turning a bad dancer into a good dancer, which you’ve done with me.”

This weekend, the couple are hoping to wow the audience and judges once again with an American Smooth-Foxtrot to Natalie Cole’s This Will Be An Everlasting Love.

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