Emily Claire

Total: 37 (T3rd most, Season 7)

* I am really nervous about performing in front of Kelli and Judy again. I’m a little bit frazzled, right now.
* There were times when I felt like I knew it, but I just kind of lose my train of thought when I notice that they’re looking at me.
* [Before office] I think that they could cut a girl tonight and I’m just hoping it’s not me, but if it is, then I guess it’s better to get cut early than it is to get cut at the end of the summer after you’ve really felt like a part of the team.
* [After office, with Megan Marie] Megan: Getting called into the office is probably one of the most nerve-wracking things ever. But I feel really blessed that they were able to give us that type of information. Emily: I’m glad that it’s things that we can fix. Megan: Yeah, it’s time to buckle down.

**(7.3)**

* I haven’t really ever had somebody else mess around with my bra that much. That’s kind of something only I do.

**(7.4)**

* Last night’s rehearsal was pretty tough, I think, on everybody, so tonight I think I need to show them that I can be powerful and not make mistakes.
* Kelli and Judy can be very intimidating, and even if you practice it right a hundred times at home, when you get in front of them, sometimes you just freeze up.
* [Before office] This is my second time to get called in, and I’m nervous that this is my last night.
* [After office] I do still see the light at the end of the tunnel. I’m still her, my dream is still alive, so I can only be thankful for that.

**(7.6)**

* Dancing on the field is a little bit more challenging than in the studio just because you have to be ten times bigger, and you really got to perform for the people way up in the 300 section.
* [About being called into the office] Everybody’s put so much into it and been so dedicated, and it would be devastating if anybody went home at this point.
* [Before office] This is my third time being called in, so it’s definitely not a good thing, but hopefully it’s not the end of the road for me.
* [After office] You know, I’ve been called in three times, and every time, they’ve got something for me to work on, so I do think that they are pulling for me, I do think that they like me, so I just have to show them that I can do my part. I would hate to make it all the way to the end and not make the team.
* We’re a really tight-knit group, and we really depend on each other for support, and it really helps to be able to just talk through things, so we’re all nervous and excited and have no idea what’s going to happen tonight, so I think it helps us be more confident, too, even in practice.
* Honestly, I have no idea what’s going to happen tonight. It could be a cut night. They could announce the squad. Judy and Kelli said they were on the fence about me, so tonight I really have to show them that I can perform like they want me to.
* Sometimes I just feel like I’m gonna go crazy. A lot of the dances just, I know them, but they’re not in muscle memory, and then as soon as we get in front of Judy and Kelli, my nerves take over.
* It’s just tough knowing that every day could be your last and that they’re just watching for mistakes. It’s just tremendous pressure.
* [About being called into the office] There is a big line in the sand, and there’s those people who are going to make it and those people who aren’t. And I’m really proud of myself for making it this far.
* [Before office] This is my fourth time to be called in, and I don’t even know what to think. I feel like all of us are out there putting our heart and soul into it every day, and really putting everything we have and all of our energy into this, and it is really tough emotionally.
* [After office] I really thought that they would tell me that they couldn’t keep me any longer. I can perform as big as I can tomorrow, and hopefully, they’ll see something in me. This is the last chance I have.

**(7.7)**

* I tried to be as big as I can and not worry so much about the little details and tried to just relax and have fun.
* [Makes the team] Training camp was not easy. No words can describe this. It’s just a weight lifted off our shoulders. You know, I can’t wait to call my mom.
* Ten minutes ago, I was worried about watching myself on the board and worried about what mistakes they were going to catch. When I saw Kelli’s face come up, I didn’t know what to think. She said, “Congratulations,” and we just all lost it.
* It’s game day. We’re, as you can tell, everybody’s really excited to be here.
* I’m nervous about being big and powerful enough and making it to every single spot on time, because those are the things that really stick out.

**(7.8)**

* It’s terrifying. They could possibly still make cuts, even though the season’s already started. I would have to have that happen to me or to anybody.
* Kelli and Judy do have a lot of critiques for us. And when we’ve got 39 girls on the field, it’s gonna take a whole lot of work to get everybody to look like a team.
* [About being called into the office] I’m a little surprised that they’re calling people into the office, because that feels like training camp all over again. But they obviously have things that they need to correct.
* [Before office] Even though they’ve announced the team, Kelli and Judy still have a lot of feedback. There’s 39 girls out on the field, and there’s lots of things that can go wrong. So, there’s going to be something that they need to fix.
* [After office] I feel like it’s a better working relationship now with Judy and Kelli. I do feel a little bit more relaxed around them, but of course, it’s Judy and Kelli, and they still make me nervous.
* Seeing the rest of the girls in uniform and being in the same place as a team is just an awesome feeling.
* I’m so excited. I keep looking around and seeing all my friends in the uniform, and it’s an awesome feeling.

**(7.10)**

* As we’re watching ourselves on the world’s largest high-definition screen, we were so nervous that they were going to show us up close doing something silly. And, of course, they did. That may have been the largest close-up ever. It was terrifying watching it, and I didn’t realize how long it would be on, or I guess I was just making sure I was on the right count.
* I’m in heaven right now. This was what I’ve worked so hard for, and it was just… I’ve gotten teary-eyed several times today, just kind of overwhelmed with everything, but in a good way.

**(7.11)**

* We really only had one night of practice with our partners, so I’m really nervous about getting the stunts perfectly.
* This is the longest rehearsal we’ve had so far before our games, so I think that makes us nervous and we’re all kinda worried everything’s not gonna fit together. It’s almost like it’s gonna take a miracle for everything to hit perfectly.
* [Retrospective confessional about season with flashbacks] It’s been a very tough journey. Changing from the scared person I was at the beginning to a much more confident person now. This whole process has turned me into somebody who’s a lot stronger.

## **Commentary**

### **Season 7**

**(7.2)**

* Emily’s cute, but lost. – K
* You’re gonna be one of those “take home” girls, too, I think. – J
* She’s a mess. – J/ What’s her name? – K/ Emily. I mean, it’s bad. – J
* Emily surprised me. I thought she was gonna come into this a very strong dancer, and she had a really hard time tonight. – J
* Lots of mistakes, Emily. – J/ I agree with Judy; you just kinda… what’s the word? – K/ Messy? – J/ Not messy. Oh, messy, I guess. – K

**(7.4)**

* Emily’s not comfortable on this at all. – K/ She’s stiff. – J
* I don’t want to use the word “boring,” but you’re still not the most dynamic in this group. – K
* Emily is lacking that wow factor when she dances. She’s lacking what I call power and projection. – K
* Emily’s face is getting so red. – K
* Emily’s trying really hard and she’s better, but I don’t think she’s where we need her to be yet. – J
* I can tell you’re trying. Sometimes you get clunky, but you’re trying really hard and you’re trying to do things big. – J/ Just as a tendency, if you have a choice of doing three-quarters of a motion or totally full and exaggerated, I’d say just jump off that cliff and be more exaggerated. – K
* I’m trying to remember if your [kicks] were light. – J/ They’re a little bit slow in the beginning. Yes, ma’am. – Emily

**(7.5)**

* [Cameo shoot] She is stiff and she’s so pretty. We see just stiff, stiff, stiff. – K
* Emily doesn’t know this one very well.
* You were rushing. We said it before, you rush your steps together and you’re not clean anymore. – J
* [Comparing her to Amy] I look at Emily, that I feel like can get there. And to me, it’s kind of what you’re starting with. I don’t love her body, I don’t love her face. – Shelly Roper McCaslin

**(7.6)**

* What’s your first eight count? Don’t get the… you were there on three... She’s smart; she psyches herself out. – J/ I know. – K
* Emily’s nervous and anxious. She’s having sequence problems. Emily concerns me. – K
* Emily’s leaning over. – J/ She’s the weaker link. – K/ Oh, she’s horrible. – J
* Emily’s still making mistakes. – J/ She’s the weaker one down there. – K
* Emily had a nice strong ending. That shows me something. – K
* You had a cute style in it, but you had a lot of mistakes. – J
* You’re too fast, Emily. – J
* Do you know what your mistakes were? – J/ Yes, ma’am. – Emily/ You sure? – J
* Emily’s still being pastel. She’s still making some mistakes. I think the nerves are getting the best of Emily, but she’s trying. – K
* I could say goodbye to Teri, Kim, maybe Emily. And be at 36. – K
* Emily does not know this. – K
* I think if I’m a guy, I would say were crazy if we cut the pretty Emily. That’s what I’m having a problem with. Pretty face and a pretty body. – K/ Do you see her eyes? She doesn’t know what she’s doing. – J
* Emily, you don’t know it. – K
* [Judy has her dance by herself immediately after she turns on the music] She just doesn’t know it at all. – J
* I saw that you didn’t know it. If you had to do it right off the bat by yourself, I don’t think you could have. – J

**(7.7)**

* She does not have much life to her. – J/ No. The question is, can she find it? – K
* Emily’s been in my office four times. She has moments where there’s almost just kind of a vacancy in her expression. I did see some highlight moments tonight, and I’m wanting them so badly for her, it’s almost like your baby getting a first tooth. I was so excited to finally see it. – K
* Now Emily just did something big. – K
* You did a couple little mistakes, and one was right before the big squat. Do you know where you made mistakes? – J

**(7.8)**

* Olivia, Emily, and Jordan missed their yard line and didn’t stop on the right yard line. That was a big mistake that you’ve got to fix now. – J
* Emily’s just too low to the ground. She’s doing a drill team walk. Emily missed it again! No but, who was… oh, Danielle was way in front. - J
* Olivia, Emily, Jordan, don’t get labeled as a person I’m always going to say something to on the entrance. And I don’t trust you yet. But I need to trust you by the point. – J
* You’re doing the low drill team jazz run. – J

**(7.10)**

* Once you hit a spot of focus, don’t change your focus… but once you’ve landed, it’s to late to do anything anyway. – K

## **Office Visits**

### **Season 7**

**(7.2)**

* [End of episode, second of three, joint visit with Megan Marie] Kelli says they both have credentials that would make her expect them to be stronger performers. And she doesn’t know if it’s fear, or the choreography’s just kind of overwhelming them and they need to take it home. But they both kind of are fading, so she wanted to tell them not to fade. Get noticed and demand attention. Dance strong, big, bold. [They both say “yes, ma’am,” quietly] Kelli says they’re whispering right now. Don’t whisper out there, that’s kind of what she means: they’re whisper dancing. Kind of step up and commit these routines to memory so the sequence doesn’t overwhelm them so they can be really showy.

**(7.4)**

* [End of episode, second of three] Kelly opens that they want to reinforce and re-discuss what they’ve said enough that they’re probably tired of saying it, and Emily’s probably tired of hearing it. To continue, she needs more power. She’s probably one of the least dynamic performers in the room. But she is very pretty and her kicks are very pretty. She’s got most of the choreography, but there are less technical dancers in the room that are out-performing her with power and projection. She may have great potential, but this may not be her season. Kelli tells her to try to turn that potential into real power to shut them up.

**(7.6)**

* [Mid episode, first of three, at Cowboys Stadium] Kelli asks how she’s doing, and Emily says she’s good; she liked dancing on the field. Kelli says that in parts of her routines, she looked like she was having fun. They really had some concerns during the entrance. Basically, everything was wrong, and that is a huge part of what we’ll do. Kelli tells her she’s a beautiful girl, a good dancer, and on certain years, she probably would make this team. In this year… they don’t know. Emily feels like the entrance is something she can work on, and she just psyches herself out. Kelli says that’s to be expected, but warns her they don’t have time for that. She tells her they’re literally on the fence with her, and tells her to kick them to one side of it. Emily says, hopefully to this side, and Kelli agrees. [Emily leaves] Judy says Kelli scared her for a minute, surprising Kelli. Kelli expresses that it’s an exhaustive process, and they keep saying to be bold.
* [End of episode, third of four] Kelli tells Emily that she’s pretty, she’s soft, she’s delicate, and she’s fading. She doesn’t know how to help her – they’ve said and tried to encourage it, and now they’re kind of threatening. Emily says she knows it’s in her, there’s just a lot to think about when she’s out there. Kelli agrees about the pressure. Emily feels like she can handle it. Kelli just doesn’t want to push her to a place that just doesn’t exist right now; after all, they’ve been pushing her pretty hard. She’s tired of the same comments. If they do see memory mistakes, if they don’t see sequence, they don’t see power, they should just call it what it is. She’s not going to last here. So, they’ll see her tomorrow. [Emily leaves] Kelli asks Judy if she was mean, and Judy thinks so, but says it was tough love. Kelli just doesn’t want to break their spirit.

**(7.8)**

* [Mid episode, third of three, in stands of TCU stadium] Kelli asks how she feels being on a college field after being on an NFL field, and Emily responds that it feels a little different. She’s a afraid not having the same markers will make it a little different tomorrow, but she remembers where she’s supposed to be there. Kelli agrees that it’s important to make those adjustments for the game. Judy says that when she does the entrance usually loses it because she’s not hitting her lines. She has to be able to do it perfectly, because all eyes will be on her. They need to see that she feels good about it and can do it. Kelli says it has to be second nature that she knows what yard line she’s going to with complete confidence. They need to see veteran-type confidence from her, even though it’s a rookie season and it’s all new. It cannot look new to the fans.

## **End of journey**

### **Season 6**

**(6.2)**

* Made it to finals but isn’t chosen for training camp

## **Other**

### **Season 6**

**(6.1)**

* Shown performing during preliminary auditions

**(6.2)**

* Shown seated with other finalists as names are called for training camp

### **Season 7**

**(7.5)**

* She’s shown posing at cameo shoots right after Kelli gives a confessional that some of them will be stiff

**(7.6)**

* She’s one of four TCC’s that Judy makes repeat the entrance (with Whitney as a comparison)
* She’s one of the rookie TCC’s that meet up at a coffee shop before rehearsal

## **Misc.**

* Emily holds a record by being called in for 5 office visits over the course of a season in which she makes the team
* Former Dallas Stars Ice