Taylor (S10 TCC)

* Anything with a motor than goes fast, she loves. She grew up involved in racing, and it’s grown into all types of racing, including NHRA drag racing and off-road racing. She has two different worlds going on. She loves performing and becoming a DCC would be a dream come true. [*Flashbacks*] Last year, she made it to finals. This is her third year. She’s been told to chase her dreams, and as long as she puts forth her best effort, she thinks she can make this. She’s hanging up the racing helmets and hopefully trading it for cheer poms.

### **Season 10**

**(10.1)**

* You know, I’m not the most flexible person, but I that I have what it takes to make those kicks where they want them to be.

**(10.2)**

* [Regarding Kitty Carter critique] At finals, you should see the tush up in the air, and hopefully the judges like that.
* It’s just nerve-wracking right now. This is the part where I got cut last year. Today, I’m planning on standing out with my solo, hopefully.
* Biography
* I think my kicks were definitely rough. I’ve got just a tighter body. I’m not built as flexible as other people are. All I could think was just, “Kick high. Kick high.”
* It’s not up to me anymore. I know that I’m on their radar for some bad things. I know I’m on their radar for some good things. It’s something you just want so bad, it’s terrifying.
* It’s terrifying sitting there and just hoping that it’s your year. If it’s not, I mean, that’s my third time being cut. So, nothing’s harder than rejection.
* I’m trying not to cry out of excitement. It’s a dream come true.

**(10.3)**

* The kick line is a huge part of the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders. I need to really get those kicks because that is going to be my weaker link.

**(10.4)**

* [After office] I’m a Barbie. I’m not Gumby. My body doesn’t move always the way that they want it to, so I’ve got to turn into Gumby now.

**(10.7)**

* I’m on the bubble. It’s not good to have any issues whatsoever, but my kicks still need work. It’s very clear.
* I’d rather tone it down a little bit than have to pump up the power and project to the stadium. So, that’s something I can work on really hard.
* [Before office] At this point, I just have to try to survive. I have to fight for it and fight for my spot, and that’s all I can do tonight. Well, it was definitely the kicks that’s the issue.
* [After cut, crying] My dream is over. I don’t know if I could… they said next year, but at this moment today, my spirit’s a little bit broken. So, coming back? I don’t know. I don’t know. It’s a lot to have a dream crushed. It’s a lot. It’s hard. Nobody’s dream should ever be crushed. You should be able to live out your dreams and have that happiness. Tonight, I don’t get that. It’s horrible. I’m so sorry [for crying].

## **Commentary**

### **Season 10**

**(10.1)**

* She’s pretty and has technique. – K/ Yeah. – Charlotte/ Finally. – K

* [Kickline] It’s straight. She just can’t get them up. – K
* [Semifinals judging] She was probably the most powerful performer of that group./ I graded her down on her kicks.

**(10.2)**

* I need to see booty. It needs to be like God grabbed your crack and went boom! – Kitty Carter
* Now she’s ignited. – K
* There’s something I really like about her. – J
* I’d say she held out attention. – K
* Taylor’s bubbly down there. – K
* Whoa, Taylor’s kicks. Wow. – K
* Taylor would be a yes for me right now, but these kicks are not even blending with everybody. – Melissa Rycroft
* [Finals deliberations] She was entertaining. She captivated me during her solo./ On the big screen, she was kinda off, nervous on the field. But I’ve seen her before, and I don’t think her kicks are going to get any better.

**(10.3)**

* Taylor’s [kicks] are tight. – K
* If a girl comes in and doesn’t have flexibility or strength in her kicks, that can be a deal-breaker. – K
* You know that you’re tight. – J

**(10.4)**

* Remember how important that count one is. – J
* Your kicks are a deal-breaker right now. – K/ Don’t bend your legs, Taylor. – J
* Yes, on personality. Yes, on power. Yes, on style. – K
* I love Taylor on this. – K
* You look like you were really having fun on this dance. And I think you were the third of my favorites. – K

**(10.5)**

* Kitty, Taylor is one of my favorites on choreography. – K/ Yeah, I agree. – Kitty Carter
* I just think you’re gonna have to give her some time to get that kick up. – Kitty Carter

**(10.6)**

* Taylor just got horsey and stompy. – K
* You were stompy, especially on this step. – K/ Who was making all that noise? – J/ It was Taylor. – K/ It was you! – J/ She’s in the stable on that one. – K

**(10.7)**

* Taylor is almost out of control. – K
* The clock is ticking for Taylor. We still have kicks to look at tonight, so we’ll see how she looks on that. – K
* Don’t let yourself go out of control. Sometimes you add so much that it changes the step a little bit. – J
* Taylor, so far in training camp, has been one of the best performers. But if she doesn’t improve in the kickline tonight, she’s dangerously close to being cut. – J
* Her right leg has gotten better, but her left is still tight. – K
* Kat being on the end, I’m real confident with. Taylor being close to the end, I’m very concerned about because Taylor’s kicks are not camera-ready. – K
* Low, your left one’s lower than you right. – J
* Once we’re on the field, I’m really seeing the difference in her kicks and the kicks of everybody else in the line. – K

## **Office Visits**

### **Season 10**

**(10.4)**

* [Mid episode, first of three] Kelli was going through her notes, and they’ve said strong power and strong projection. What’s concerning (and may be a deal-breaker) is her kicks. Taylor says she was working with a physical trainer, and did a lot of weights/dead lifts. She’s thinks she’s been doing the wrong things, so she’s going to stop all of that. Kelli says that with where Taylor’s kicks are currently, Kelli hasn’t seen many “miracles” in the time-span they’d need. If the team was selected tonight, she couldn’t be on it. She needs to do something for flexibility.

**(10.7)**

* [Mid episode, third of three, at AT&T Stadium] Kelli wants to go through her notes. At finals, two judges said yes to her, ten say maybe, and four say no, and she’s confident the no’s were in relation to her kicks. Taylor’s solo at finals was so strong that it captivated her. Kelli continues that she’s a great performer, and great conversationalist, a beautiful and small girl. They’ve said the kicks could be a deal breaker, and Kelli thinks they are. Taylor says she can work so much, and is doing everything possible, and will continue to do so. She thinks she has what it takes. Kelli says the kick is their most important movement. They’ve seen her in multiple locations and don’t think they need to drag it out. It’s always the same comment, and there’s been a little progress, but not enough to be game ready. [*Taylor gets teary*] They need to be game ready now. Taylor asks if there’s no way, and Kelli informs her the decision’s final. Taylor asks them not to say it’s not her last night – it will crush her spirit. Kelli knows this is tough, and that Taylor is one of her favorite performers. Taylor says she respects them for only accepting the best. [*Taylor leaves*] Kelli remarks that she’d have been good on the sidelines. Judy adds that she’d have been great on appearances.

## **End of Journey**

### **Season 9**

**(9.2)**

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

### **Season 10**

**(10.7)**

* Cut at the beginning of week 7 during training camp (8th of 12, 38 left afterwards)

^ Had tried out during an earlier season but no info on what season or how far she progressed short of training camp

## **Other**

### **Season 9**

**(9.1)**

* Shown being invited to finals

**(9.2)**

* Shown briefly at Kitty Kelly’s Dance Factory with other finalists
* At panel interviews, she says she drives an F-150 that’s lifted, and drove her sister’s car because she couldn’t get into her car today with the heels and dress

### **Season 10**

**(10.1)**

* Third-to-last one shown being invited to finals

**(10.2)**

* She’s shown performing her solo at finals
* Fourth-to-last shown being invited to training camp

**(10.5)**

* If you pause, you can see a list of the scores she received at auditions: she was ranked #44 and received 2 yeses, 10 maybes, and 4 no’s

**(10.6)**

* She’s shown doing a solo performance at show group auditions
* She’s shown singing the national anthem for show group auditions

## **Misc.**

* She makes occasional appearances in the audition process for Season 9, making it to finals