PUPILS and staff at a school for the deaf were thrilled to appear on Strictly Come Dancing following an emotional performance dedicated to the deaf community.

Hamilton Lodge School and College in Walpole Road, Brighton recorded a video message for actress Rose Ayling-Ellis, who is the first deaf contestant in the show’s history.

Rose performed a contemporary dance to Symphony by Clean Bandit featuring Zara Larsson alongside her partner Giovanni Pernice, which scored them 39 out of a possible 40.

During the middle of the performance, the music was paused as the couple continued to dance in silence as a tribute to the deaf community.

In a video message conveyed in sign language, pupils and staff from Hamilton Lodge thanked the couple for representing the deaf community and for inspiring others.

Samantha Caiels, British Sign Language and deaf studies teacher and coordinator at the school, said she was delighted to see the message broadcast on the live show.

She said: “Rose and Giovanni have been amazing, and such exceptional role models for our children at Hamilton Lodge and show exactly what a deaf person is capable of.

“Not only that, the partnership between Rose and Giovanni has shown really, really clearly how deaf and hearing people can work together.

“Giovanni himself has been such a fantastic role model for our children’s families and friends as well.

“It’s an incredible example of how deaf people can produce something that’s really beautiful in dance and with hard work and discipline, they can achieve the same things as their hearing peers.”

Juliet Grant, head of Hamilton Lodge, said Rose and Giovanni have shown that deaf and hearing people can work together to achieve anything.

She said: “It’s so important for our pupils to see deaf role models on the television and help them to realise that they can achieve anything that they set their minds to.

“To have some of the children on the television and linked to Rose has just been amazing.

“We’ve been following her story in school and in our assemblies and we have been following her progress. She’s just an exceptional role model for all of our deaf learners.”

Rose and Giovanni were given three tens for the performance, with judges Motsi Mabuse and Anton Du Beke moved to tears.

Samantha and Juliet said the school will continue to support Rose in the competition and that everyone at Hamilton Lodge is willing them to the final.

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