Madeline (S14 TCC)

* 21-years-old from Texas. She started dancing at 6, and loves performing. She’s a dance performance major at Oklahoma City University, which is a very strong at Broadway and vaudeville performing. This semester, she’s been learning more about the very talented choreographer, Bob Fosse. Her mom is her biggest inspiration – she was a former DCC from 1987 to 1990. She doesn’t consider herself to be a legacy, because she thinks to be a legacy, you need to earn your spot on the team. This is her biggest audition, and she hopes to be able to call herself a legacy.

### **Season 14**

**(14.2)**

* Breathe, just breathe. You got this.

**(14.3)**

* Biography
* I don’t think about competing with the veterans because I would love to be the, “I want her energy. How can I feed off that?”
* When Miss Kelli called my name, my heart was so happy. I can’t wait to come on Monday morning to show them that I’m very excited to be here.

**(14.4)**

* Walking with the alumni was something so emotional for me. When I saw my mom, it brought me to almost tears, but happy tears because this is the woman that has helped me get here.

**(14.6)**

* We got a correction. It took me back a little bit, but it’s honesty. It just pushes me harder.
* [Before office] Being called in the office, it could be good or bad. It could be anything. The best thing is to know that I go in there with open ears and listen to what they have to say.
* [After office] I’ve been through many things where I’ve been told “no” but I know I can do it. I believe I can do it.

**(14.8)**

* You never know if it’s a cut night or not, but you always come in knowing that you are here to show them what you got, and that is what I’m here to do today.
* This is something I’ve never done in college. This is something that’s a whole new stage for me, but I believe that I can progress into the dancer that I want to be.
* [Before office] Being called a second time, you never know if it’s good or if it’s bad. They may want to talk to me about style. I always want to go in there going, “You need to breathe; it’s okay.” But I’m scared to death.
* [After office] There’s not a lot of time left. And we’re getting down to the nitty-gritty. Fill up that tank, press on, and go.

**(14.9)**

* [In DCC locker room] I’m trying so hard to keep my emotions together because I want this. We all want this. And we’ve all put in the blood, and the sweat and the tears. And we know it’s close because we’re here today.
* So last night, dancing in those DCC boots, I felt that I was a little closer to my dream. No matter what happens tonight, I’ve made it this far, and I can even go further.
* [Before office] I’m scared to death but I’m going in with open ears and open heart.
* [After cut, teary] It was such a great conversation. I mean, yeah, it ended with bad news, but it was so nice hearing them saying that, “we see potential in you; you just got to work on it.” And they were talking great things about my parents and how proud they are. Even though today ends a journey, the dream isn’t over. We just got to take that extra step up that climb to get to that view.

## **Commentary**

### **Season 14**

**(14.1)**

* [Preliminaries judging] I was really taken by her height, her hair, her technique. And I didn’t realize it until she was dancing that she was actually a legacy. Her mother cheered with me. – K/ I didn’t know. – Charm/ I don’t know if she has the power. Her kicks are beautiful, but they’re really soft. – J/ Fair enough. – K

**(14.3)**

* I think she’s very pretty and she’s getting her accents. – K
* Woo, Madeline! – K/ I just think she’s going to be really moldable. – J

**(14.4)**

* She scored, for me personally, disappointingly low. The technique, she already has. Transitioning that technique into power that translates on the field… – K/ That’s a different ballgame. – J

**(14.6)**

* Way off tempo. – K
* [To her, Alexandra, Lily, and Meredith] Now, you all know that was not acceptable. You’re the last group and the entire group messed up. I will cut this entire group. – Charm La’Donna
* [Picking squad] These are strong nos. Meredith, Lauren, Bret, Kristin, Madeline, strong nos. And Madeline is only a strong no because I don’t think she’s ready. Like, next year, I think she’ll come and be fire. – Charm / Yeah, it’s not power yet. – K/ Oh, one hundred percent. – Charm
* This routine does not like Madeline. It’s weird. – K
* [Giving stickers] She’s got a lot going for her, but… – Denise Dicharry [*not giving a sticker*]
* Meredith just blew Madeline and Lily out of the water. – Denise Dicharry
* I didn’t give a sticker to Kristin, Alexandra, Kat, Madeline, and Lily. It’s painful to do. – Denise Dicharry
* [End of episode confessional] I still think Madeline is on the bubble, but she’s beautiful and I think she has the dance technique that exceeds some of the ladies on our squad. – K

**(14.7)**

* We’re having a slightly serious discussion about taking her to pigtails, like one of our most famous cheerleaders in the ‘70s, Tami Barber. Everybody knows her. She was kind of all game for it, even though we were really teasing. – K
* We’ve been asking for more power from Madeline. If she really likes the way she looks, she might possibly be able to translate that into more powerful dancing. I hope so, for her. – K
* I like Madeline in this. – K/ Yeah, this is a good start for her. – J
* This routine is kind of setting Madeline back, for me. – K/ She needs to smile a little bit. – J
* You have great moments where you have real flirty eyes. But you never took it to a smile. – J
* Madeline’s a little better on this one. I think she blends. – K

**(14.8)**

* When you do head rolls, you never get your head back up. You just kind of get halfway there, and it makes you look really sloppy. – J
* [To her, Lily, and Meredith] Were you guys nervous? I could tell a little bit. It happens, but you can’t let them see you sweat. Something has to come over you, then when it’s go time, you’re like, “I got this.” – Melanie/ You’re all good dancers but there’s some frayed ends. Just somethings technically, I think could be better. – Tyce Diorio
* Madeline had no strength in that. – K
* On the beginning, there’s an arch, and you had this… that’s flimsy. Give us some oomph. – K
* [To her, Lily, and Meredith] You are all three good dancers. But I felt like I was watching three different dances. – J/ The best dancer knows how to work as a unit. So, you take a piece from Madeline, a piece from Meredith, a part from… put the puzzle together as one. – Melanie/ I think there’s definite room for improvement. So, try to focus on those things to really elevate the craft. – Tyce Diorio
* [To her, Lily, and Meredith] The three of those girls, they’re not at the level that I can see. – Tyce Diorio/ I think they’re the weakest. – Melanie/ They’re the weakest. – Diorio/ That’s concerning. – K
* [Giving stickers] Madeline, I’m going to pass on as well. (Lily, Madeline S, and Meredith) specifically all have the same issue. They do the movement, but it’s not polished. It’s not understood. It’s all possible for these girls; it’s just that they need to do a little more work, I think. – Tyce Diorio
* There weren’t any surprises with who Tyce and Melanie didn’t pick. It’s been the same set of rookies that have had a lot of discussion. So, these are not new comments and not surprising comments. – K

**(14.9)**

* Some of you are trying so hard to do that jump, that you look like tarantulas. – J/ Madeline, that’s exactly what I saw in you. – K
* I do feel like Madeline doesn’t look purposeful coming out and she may be just learning it. – K
* Make sure that you lean back. It feels weird when you think about it, but if not, you start leading over with your head. – J
* [Giving stickers] So, I can relate obviously because we went to the same university and I think she would be a way stronger of a dancer graduating from that program than leaving it early. – Amy/ I think it’s just a dance maturity. – Tess
* Madeline basically just needs to power up at this point. – Melissa Rycroft
* I can see the struggle with power that she’s having. She’s got to basically re-teach her body how to move. Move it powerfully, but not be sharp. That’s a lot to think about while she has to look like she’s not thinking about it. – Melissa Rycroft
* Having they told you when you’re dancing that you’re like loosey and late, and you need to strengthen and get stronger? And I think it’s getting misconstrued of like be strong and powerful. – Melissa Rycroft/ The key is controlling that power. – Gina/ You can be powerful. – Melissa/ And all of your limbs are powerful with all your movement. But if you don’t know where they’re supposed to hit, when they’re supposed to hit, and controlling it in that quality, that’s the key. – Gina
* I think Madeline’s doing good. She does have a challenge ahead of her though and that she needs to get her body now dancing like everybody else in the group. – Melissa Rycroft
* Madeline’s kicks are really low. Oh, and her passé is early. – J
* Mistakes on the arms on the entrance. – K
* You missed your arms twice. Do you understand the choreography on the arms? – K/ And you passed up your line almost every time. Really concentrate on how far you’re traveling. – J
* Madeline is having a lot of memory issues tonight. If she’s making mistakes, it’s all they’re going to look at. – J
* Madeline did a weird head roll. – J
* Make sure your head rolls get it back up to center. – J

## **Office Visits**

### **Season 14**

**(14.6)**

* [End of episode, during rehearsal, second of two] Kelli thinks she has beautiful and highly-developed technique. In the views of the judges at finals and the guest choreographers, she isn’t convincing with her power. They’re at the point where they’re not sure if they talk to her, will it help her, or should they just cut the cord on this year? [*Commercial break*] Madeline thinks going from a stage performer to a field performer is very different. Finals was an entirely new stage for her. However, she’s working to increase her punctuation and power. Kelli says this is just talk, and Madeline needs to feel it and make it into habit. Madeline thanks them for letting her hear this, and allows her to go home and figure out who she is in her performance. Kelli states that if she’s a perform, then perform, adding she’d love to see her make the squad. [*Madeline leaves*] Judy says she’s smart, and Kelli agrees, adding that she’s very well-spoken. Judy adds that she didn’t get rattled, and Kelli says that she’s convincing. She jokes that Madeline should be a lawyer.

**(14.8)**

* [End of episode, during rehearsal, first of two] Kelli says she’s appearing softer in placement and getting outpowered rather than getting stronger/more powerful. She’s not getting noticed enough. Kelli shows her that she’s only received two stickers to date, which is the lowest of anyone left in training camp. Kelli mentions that some legacies try out only because of their moms, and asks Madeline what her dream is. Madeline says she loves performing, which is why she’s trying out, and she wants to get the ball rolling. Kelli says they used to be offended if someone considered DCC as a stepping stone, and Madeline denies she is. Kelli says that despite her looks and technique, she doesn’t think that she’s developed in the DCC style. She thinks Madeline will have a defining moment, which will start next rehearsal. The field will either help her or hurt her. She tells Madeline she needs to put the pedal to the metal, or she’ll need to decide whether she has the dedication and desire to come back next year.

**(14.9)**

* [End of episode, during rehearsal, second of two] Kelli went over their training camp notes, which reinforced that she still needs to grow in stamina, kicks, power. She’s shown improvement, but she’s not game day ready. [*Commercial break*] She won’t be ready in their opinion. They don’t want to say and she won’t want to hear it, but tonight will be her last night. [*Madeline starts crying*] Madeline thanks them for allow her the opportunity to do what she loves: dance. She’d never done this style, but she’s learned to love it, especially with those here that have helped her. Kelli says everyone thinks she needs more time to develop, but that she should be proud of making it here and how she’s handled herself. Her mother would be proud with how she’s done here. Madeline says her mom’s the strongest person, and she’d love to have the happiness her mom got from the DCC for herself. She’d love to come back next year. Judy encourages her, but says it’ll be hard work to get there.

## **End of Journey**

### **Season 14**

**(14.9)**

* Cut during the end of week six of training camp (6th of 8, 39 left afterwards)

## **Other**

### **Season 14**

**(14.1)**

* Shown dancing after Kelli mentions being excited seeing an incredible dancer that’s the total package

**(14.2)**

* Charm La’Donna asks her if she feels any pressure as a legacy, and Madeline says she’ll always do the best she can
* Fourth-to-last shown being invited to finals

**(14.3)**

* Shown being introduced by Kelli for, and then performing her solo [*after her biography*] at finals
* Shown being invited to training camp

**(14.4)**

* Shown introducing herself at the opening meeting: she listens to Christmas music year-round, which freaks out her family
* She’s revealed to be ranked last (at 45th) based on how the TCC’s were scored at finals

**(14.7)**

* Makeover glamour shot (before and after)

**(14.9)**

* She is one of the six rookie TCC’s to go on the AT&T Stadium tour
* Alongside Lily and Meredith, she participates in a Melissa Rycroft mentoring session

Season 14 Stickers

## **Post Season 16**

* For the 2023 season, she is a three-year veteran
* For the 2022 season, she is a second-year veteran