Angeles, where the entire competition would be filmed. In those three weeks, she and Daniel had worked hard on their routines for every genre of music, not quite sure what to expect once they got to California and started the competition.
Together they walked inside the auditorium building and handed their remaining paperwork to the waiting production team members. From there they were ushered into the auditorium and told to take a seat among the other competitors, who only filled up about five rows in the massive auditorium.
“Not many competitors, are there?” Daniel muttered as they took the last two seats on the fifth row.
“No, which means it will be tight competition with less people to kick off,” Cara replied, remembering her near disastrous audition. She had nearly messed it up for the both of them and that thought still haunted her at night.
It wasn’t long before the judges from their audition walked out on stage, the group breaking out into a smattering of applause.
“Welcome, contestants, to ‘America’s Best Dancer,’ couples edition,” the choreographer announced. “I am Marie and will be one of the judges for this competition. I will be critiquing your choices in routines and how well you work together. As you probably already know we will be nationally televised during a four-week period with five couples going home at the end of every week. Each couple will be given their challenge on day one, with two days to perfect it before all couples will dance. We will then pick our favorites and our least favorites. The least favorites will dance off in a genre of our choosing that you will not know ahead of time.” She then smiled as the group whispered around Cara. “This is to see how well you think on your feet as partners. If your partner does poorly, then you both go home.”
Cara swallowed hard and gripped Daniel’s hand, thinking of how she almost failed them both. There would be no second chances this time. She would have to compete at the same level as he did since she struggled in the audition or they both could be going home.
Marie continued, “I hope you chose your partners well. Your accommodations are with the hotel directly across from here. All of the practices and routines will happen right here on this very stage. All of you have signed disclosures preventing you from talking to anyone outside of this production. If you do, you will not only be sued for breach of contract, you will be asked to leave the competition immediately. Do you understand?”
The second judge stepped up and Cara recognized him as a premier name in the ballroom industry, appearing on numerous dance shows as a mentor to the dancers. “I am John. I will be critiquing your dancing styles as we go through the competition. Do not be late, do not be sick, and do not try to dance injured. If you do anything to embarrass this production or your fellow competitors you will be gone. We expect professionalism out of you all.”
The last judge stepped forward, a wry smile on his handsome face. “I’m Mike and I will be judging your music selections and the way your entire routine comes together. I expect excitement, fun, and something unique in your dancing. We have all seen what you can do, now blow us away with what we haven’t seen. Push yourself and your partner to the limits. That will get you in the finale.”
“Now,” Marie announced, clapping her hands. “This is your first test. Two days to practice and prepare, one day to consult with a judge then you perform. We will make the first week easy for you. Prepare a two-minute hip-hop routine. No other dancing types, no routines that you have already shown us. We don’t want transitions, we don’t want mainstream dance routines. We want unique, got it? See you on Wednesday.”
A collective groan went through the crowd as the judges walked off stage and Cara turned to Daniel, an edge of panic in her
Together they walked inside the auditorium building and handed their remaining paperwork to the waiting production team members. From there they were ushered into the auditorium and told to take a seat among the other competitors, who only filled up about five rows in the massive auditorium.
“Not many competitors, are there?” Daniel muttered as they took the last two seats on the fifth row.
“No, which means it will be tight competition with less people to kick off,” Cara replied, remembering her near disastrous audition. She had nearly messed it up for the both of them and that thought still haunted her at night.
It wasn’t long before the judges from their audition walked out on stage, the group breaking out into a smattering of applause.
“Welcome, contestants, to ‘America’s Best Dancer,’ couples edition,” the choreographer announced. “I am Marie and will be one of the judges for this competition. I will be critiquing your choices in routines and how well you work together. As you probably already know we will be nationally televised during a four-week period with five couples going home at the end of every week. Each couple will be given their challenge on day one, with two days to perfect it before all couples will dance. We will then pick our favorites and our least favorites. The least favorites will dance off in a genre of our choosing that you will not know ahead of time.” She then smiled as the group whispered around Cara. “This is to see how well you think on your feet as partners. If your partner does poorly, then you both go home.”
Cara swallowed hard and gripped Daniel’s hand, thinking of how she almost failed them both. There would be no second chances this time. She would have to compete at the same level as he did since she struggled in the audition or they both could be going home.
Marie continued, “I hope you chose your partners well. Your accommodations are with the hotel directly across from here. All of the practices and routines will happen right here on this very stage. All of you have signed disclosures preventing you from talking to anyone outside of this production. If you do, you will not only be sued for breach of contract, you will be asked to leave the competition immediately. Do you understand?”
The second judge stepped up and Cara recognized him as a premier name in the ballroom industry, appearing on numerous dance shows as a mentor to the dancers. “I am John. I will be critiquing your dancing styles as we go through the competition. Do not be late, do not be sick, and do not try to dance injured. If you do anything to embarrass this production or your fellow competitors you will be gone. We expect professionalism out of you all.”
The last judge stepped forward, a wry smile on his handsome face. “I’m Mike and I will be judging your music selections and the way your entire routine comes together. I expect excitement, fun, and something unique in your dancing. We have all seen what you can do, now blow us away with what we haven’t seen. Push yourself and your partner to the limits. That will get you in the finale.”
“Now,” Marie announced, clapping her hands. “This is your first test. Two days to practice and prepare, one day to consult with a judge then you perform. We will make the first week easy for you. Prepare a two-minute hip-hop routine. No other dancing types, no routines that you have already shown us. We don’t want transitions, we don’t want mainstream dance routines. We want unique, got it? See you on Wednesday.”
A collective groan went through the crowd as the judges walked off stage and Cara turned to Daniel, an edge of panic in her
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