Madi (S13 Semifinalist)

* 23-years-old from Texas. She grew up in a martial arts family – her dad owns a taekwondo school. She started it when she was about three. Now, she’s a second-degree black belt and won many championships. She thinks people underestimate her. Her dad jokes about punishing others by putting them in the ring with her. She started with dance training classes as a senior in high school, and then was a Dallas Stars Ice Girl for two seasons. As an Ice Girl, you’re on a very small platform, so that’s completely different than being all over the field as a DCC. This is her third year trying out, so she’s taken as many dance classes as she can to become more powerful, more fluid, and learn their style. It’s intimidating going alongside girls that’ve have a lot of dance training, but she’s learned courage and perseverance through taekwondo, and thinks that’s stuck with her. It’s helped her stick with her dream of being a DCC.

## **Confessionals**

Total: 18

Season 10: 1

Season 12: 1

Season 13: 11

Season 14: 5

### **Season 10**

**(10.1)**

* [Prelims] "I want my hair to be big and make sure it flows really well."

### **Season 12**

**(12.1)**

* [Prelims] "Seeing the panel of judges, I’m starstruck. You’re like, ‘Oh my gosh, is this really happening right now'?' "

### **Season 13**

**(13.1)**

* [Prelims] "I’m expecting there to be a lot of competition today, there’s a bunch of beautiful girls that are auditioning."
* "Trying to pin my outfit to my body, to make sure nothing goes anywhere, and ready to go for being in the lights and in front of the judges."
* *(Biography)*
* "So, right now we’re just waiting for the judges. They’re deliberating."
* "If I don’t see my number on that board (for semifinals), I’ll be devastated. I gave it 100% and I laid it out there and I saw smiles on the judges’ faces."
* [Sees number on board] "I’m going to the next round!"
* "It does not get easier from here; it means I need to work ten times harder than I did today, make sure I stretch, and just keep pushing through."

**(13.2)**

* "I’m about to go out there and perform the choreography that we just learned (on the field). I’m nervous, I’m excited. The judges have my future in their hands."
* "Having a dance party (with Phil Whitfield, while waiting for judges deliberations), it just lightens up the mood, and it gets everyone pumped up for the results."
* [One name left to call for finals] "You never know what the judges are looking for, so I hope and pray that I’ll be advancing to finals. If my number is not called, I would be devastated."
* [Not invited to finals]" You know, I worked so hard for it this year. It just wasn’t what the judges were looking for. You’ll see me again next year."

### **Season 14**

**(14.1)**

* I know I came back this year stronger than I did last year, so I hope the judges see that.

**(14.2)**

* We learn the routine really fast, within an hour and then you have to go out there and perform it, so it’s really hard.
* It’s semi-finals and I’m going out in front of the judges, I’m super nervous.
* This makes me emotional because it’s just been a dream of mine. And so, I’ve given up and sacrificed because I truly want to be on that field.
* [Not invited to finals] It’s going to be a great team, so… I’m sad I’m not going to be on it. [*She’s asked by the producer if she’ll be back next year*] I don’t think so. No. But there’s something else out there for me.

## **Commentary**

### **Season 13**

**(13.1)**

* [Preliminaries judging] "I had a “yes” on Madi." – Charlotte Jones Anderson/"I had a “no.” "– Kelli/"Well, we’re off to a really good start, aren’t we?" – Charlotte
* "Madi’s back and she doesn’t have a lot of motion in her hips, and her feet do not look like a trained dancer to me. She doesn’t excite me as a dancer." – Kelli

**(13.2)**

* "Really nice showmanship there."
* [Semifinals judging] "I thought she seemed kind of tense, but I still felt that she had enough there to work with."/"I thought there are a few changes that could be made with appearance. Literally, just taking the exact same haircut and adding some loose waves to it would spunk it up a little bit. And she’s tried out so many times. I figure, I’d like to see her up there against the veterans." – Marshall

## **End of Journey**

### **Season 10**

* Shown as a candidate for the DCC; unclear how far she progresses

### **Season 12**

* Shown as a candidate for the DCC; unclear how far she progresses

### **Season 13**

**(13.2)**

* Makes it to semifinals, but is not invited to finals

### **Season 14**

**(14.2)**

* Makes it to semifinals, but is not invited to finals

## **Other**

### **Season 12**

**(12.1)**

* Her picture is shown when Kelli mentions dancers coming from other hockey teams.

### **Season 13**

**(13.1)**

* Shown introducing herself to the judges at preliminaries: was a Dallas Stars Ice Girl for two seasons

### **Season 14**

**(14.1)**

* She introduces herself to the judges, saying she danced for the Dallas Stars for two seasons after Kelli is shown mentioning getting great dancers from other teams

**(14.2)**

* She’s one of those shown performing while Kelli gives a confessional about some people being lost and overwhelmed.

## **Misc.**

* Gets a random confessional in Season 10 and Season 12, but otherwise gets no significant focus those seasons.
* Former Dallas Stars Ice Girl
* Former Allen Americans Ice Girl