Amanda (S14 Rookie)

* 23-years-old from New Jersey. She is a small town girl with big dreams. At 18, she moved to LA to pursue an acting career. Eventually, she got a pilot called “Chance to Dance.” She was excited and could taste success, but the pilot was not picked up. She wanted to give up on the industry, returned home, and thought it was over. However, she decided to keep going. She had a brother who had Down syndrome. He went into congestive heart failure and passed away when he was 3. He is her driving force, the reason she does what she does. She thinks the DCC can give her everything she’s been looking for. All she knows is dance, and it’s the stage that she wants to be on.

### **Season 14**

**(14.1)**

* It happened so quick. I was like, “Okay. We’re on. We’re dancing.” So I was really just trying to grab their attention and keep it the whole time.
* Biography

**(14.2)**

* It‘s day two, semi-finals, I’m so excited. I woke up crazy early. I was like I need to stretch and warm up. Today we are gonna be doing DCC style choreograph. We’ll be learning it on the field, followed by the kick line and then preforming it in front of the judges.
* Waiting is absolutely the hardest part. Even two minutes feels like an eternity. But dancing with Phil was just what I needed. Thank you, Phil.
* It’s stressful. It’s nervous butterflies. And you just want to know.

**(14.3)**

* Today’s finals. We’re back at AT&T Stadium.
* Today, I just want to send the message that I am a strong, independent woman and I’ve got some class and a little bit of sass in me.
* We are only getting started today. The hardest part comes now – dancing next to the vets. So, the nerves are real. When I was doing that combo, I was looking up at all the seats, just imagining them being filled, and it’s such an invigorating feeling. I have to have it.
* Sitting in the chair waiting is the most nerve-wracking thing of your life. You don’t know exactly what the judges are looking for. And if you have it…
* I drove all the way from New Jersey. I didn’t even know if I was in training camp. I got a lease to an apartment. I haven’t seen it. So, this has been a world of emotions. I’m going to sleep in forever tomorrow and let it all sink in.

**(14.4)**

* [Moving in] There’s a lot to do before tonight, but I’m lucky that my dad is here. I can’t wait for my bed to come, because I’ve been sleeping on an air mattress. I’m ready to get off of this thing. Anyone can be cut at any time. It’s really the craziest experience that you could be in. I’m sure stress in going to be high. I’m really competing for my life, at this point.
* I’ve done a lot of audition processes, been in a lot of different rehearsal rooms, and this is, by far, one of the hardest experiences. Just the sheer amount of choreography being thrown at you at a quick pace is hard.
* They’re so precise and accurate. It really shows you what we need to be like and why their standards are so high.
* I definitely amped up my game for today, and I’m so much happier with how today went.

**(14.5)**

* Seeing yourself in the uniform reminds you how much you want this and how much you need to work to get it.
* When Travis Wall walked in tonight, my heart just kind of exploded. My mom and I were obsessed with him when he was on So You Think You Can Dance.

**(14.6)**

* This is a hard one.

**(14.7)**

* [Makeovers] I am so excited, slightly nervous just because I have no idea what they’re going to do to me.

**(14.8)**

* We are now in week five of training camp, which is just crazy. Every time you walk in the studio, you’re dancing for your life, you’re dancing for a spot on the team, and you have to earn it.
* Tyce Diorio’s combo is hard; it’s challenging. I look like I just got out of the shower; I did not.

**(14.9)**

* We’re at AT&T Stadium and Phil is giving some of us rookie candidates a very exclusive tour.
* Tonight is the first time we’re wearing the boots for rehearsal. I don’t know exactly what we’re going to be doing in them. So, that’s nerve-wracking because my whole dream is at stake.

**(14.10)**

* Tonight is absolutely insane. Judy was talking so fast and teaching so fast.
* Every single rehearsal, every night, there’s more pressure. Dreams are on the line, and I feel it.
* So exhausting. So tiring. Really, the most exhausting three minutes and fifty seconds of your life, but it’s invigorating. Not many people get to do this.

**(14.11)**

* Looking good in the uniform is so important. If you want to be a DCC, you need to have the DCC look.
* There’s so much at stake. It’s so important to impress and to match every veteran that’s on the team. You want to be true to who you are, and that will shine through when they look at the monitor.
* Mexican food is my favorite, so I’m down for anything spicy, anything with guac.

**(14.12)**

* The stakes could not be higher tonight. We’re nearing the end. Every night that you’re dancing, you’re fighting for your dream.
* [Show group] I was so excited this morning putting on this warmup. It’s nerve-wracking. I haven’t even made the team, yet, so today will be a good little warm up.
* [Show group] Everything is moving so fast. I just had our uniform on, and now we’re switched.

**(14.13)**

* [Makes team] I can’t believe I have 36 sisters, so this is absolutely amazing.
* [Squad photo] All of us have worked so hard to be here. Today, it makes it real.
* It’s so amazing to show my family and friends. It’s still nerve-wracking. I know they love me no matter what. But you always want to do your best and show up and have your game face on.
* As last minute pre, I’m just kind of trying to relax, not get in my head too much. I don’t have any superstitions, but we’ll see if I need some by the end of the season.
* There’s so many distractions, so many cameras, so many players. It’s amazing though. I love it. This is the night of my life. I’ll never forget this.
* [Retrospective, with flashbacks] This summer has felt like the longest summer of my entire life. You know, you get to uniform fittings, it’s just so iconic. And the fact that they were tailoring it to my body made me say, “Amanda, you have to do this because there is a uniform with your name on it. It’s just waiting for you to do the work.” My family back home, they are the reason I keep pushing. There were nights when I was just like, “You know, Mom, I don’t know if I can do this. I really don’t know.” And she was like, “Just do it. What’s the worst that’s going to happen?” And she’s right. And I earned 15 stars and 36 sisters. It really shows women these days, you don’t have to be in competition with each other. As soon as you lift each other up, that’s when you all succeed.

## **Commentary**

### **Season 14**

**(14.1)**

* [Charm] Oh, check, check, check, check. Yes, I love her.
* [Judy] Wait a minute. Well, I didn’t give her a yes. I’m telling you my page is wrong. For real, this is a mistake. She was one of my favorites. Big mess up.

**(14.2)**

* [Semifinals judging] I sensed a real confidence with her. – Brenda/ Enjoyed watching her dance. I think she’s very engaging. She does pull a lot of faces though. She’s like [makes face], a lot all over. It’s like too many. – Scott

**(14.3)**

* She’s hot. – Charm
* I’m still impressed with Amanda. She showed up. She showed out. – Charm
* Wow, she’s a perfect mix of technique and power. – K
* Smile, Amanda. There we go. – K
* [Finals judging]  I really loved her solo, but she lost me on the field./ She won me over today. I thought her solo was really great. And when I saw her on the field, I actually thought, “She looks really good out there.” – Marshall

**(14.4)**

* Amanda had 11 judges say, “yes,” and 4 judges say, “maybe,” and one judge said, “no.” It’s interesting because you and I both have her as like one of our strongest dancing candidates of the day. – K/ Amanda has been one of my favorites. – J
* Amanda’s kind of quirkier than I would’ve thought. – K/ She’s got kind of bad posture. – J
* I did expect a little bit more out of you as a dancer because you had me so excited at finals. Try to be real clean on the beats. – K
* The only one right now that I’d put a uniform is Amanda. – K
* I really like your facial expressions because you use your eyes a lot, and I think that’s really good because you’re not always just smiling, and I think that draws people in. – Jennifer C
* I think Amanda is really adorable. I just think the camera is going to love her. – Jennifer C

**(14.5)**

* [*One of those selected by Travis Wall for standing out*]

**(14.6)**

* [Picking squad] For sure. – Charm

**(14.7)**

* Amanda’s kicks need to get better. – J
* There you go. – K
* [Show group judging] Who did get your attention? – K/ Daphne and Amanda. Especially Amanda. She’s very unique. There’s something about that rookie energy. It reminds me of like my first season. – Cheryl Burke/ Really fun to watch./ She got stronger as the night went on, too.
* Your face kind of was flat right from the beginning. And that first little bit is turning around and catching. So, even if it’s a somber look, still have something behind it. – KaShara

**(14.8)**

* Amanda... – K/ She’s making mistakes. – J
* Amanda made some mistakes. Those need to be cleaner now. – J
* She’s great. – Tyce Diorio
* From this one, I like this one. – Melanie
* [To her, Kat, Kelcey, and Victoria] All of you together are a force. Seriously. Like a force. – Tyce Diorio

**(14.10)**

* [Media training] Let’s think more than just flowers why they are the most valuable sports franchise. – K
* I love Amanda’s look on the board. – K/ Yeah. – J
* Kelcey’s strong, Amanda’s strong. They excite me compared to some of the others we’ve watched tonight. – K
* [Giving stickers] For me, definite yes. Fun to watch on the field. – Melissa Rycroft

**(14.11)**

* [Cameos] I think that she’s so different-looking than anyone else. – J

**(14.12)**

* I really like Amanda. – Charlotte/ Yeah, she’s adorable on camera. – K/ She looks like she belongs here. – Charlotte/ She does. – J

**(14.13)**

* Can we have 36 Amanda’s? She’s amazing. I thought she was great in every way. She’s a star. – Charlotte

## **Other**

### **Season 14**

**(14.1)**

* She tells Charm La’Donna that she’ll be doing some hair whips during preliminaries
* She’s shown introducing herself to the judges at preliminaries, saying that she moved to LA on her own when she was 18
* Shown dancing after Kelli mentions being excited seeing an incredible dancer that’s the total package

**(14.2)**

* Second-to-last shown being invited to finals

**(14.3)**

* Before finals, she shows Charm La’Donna the one move in her solo that she’s nervous about
* Highlighted (by name) performing her solo at finals
* Fourth-to-last shown being invited to training camp

**(14.4)**

* She’s shown moving into her apartment with the help of her father before training camp starts
* Shown introducing herself at the opening meeting: she was a special effects model on the show Face Off
* She’s revealed to be tied for 30th (with one other) based on how the TCC’s were scored at finals

**(14.5)**

* She is revealed to be a “commander” based on her personality test results
* At the uniform fitting, she tells Kelli she has German, Irish, and English heritage. Kelli also asks if she wants to do fitness and dance as a career. Amanda says she would go until her body’s done dancing.

**(14.7)**

* Makeover glamour shot (before and after)
* Shown being announced as a member of show group

**(14.9)**

* She is one of the six rookie TCC’s to go on the AT&T Stadium tour

**(14.10)**

* At media training, she’s asked why the Cowboys are the most valuable brand in the world (if it’s just football), and gives an answer relating to artwork and flowers at the stadium

**(14.11)**

* In the cooking competition, she’s added to the group 1 team to cook the guacamole, and they end up winning

**(14.12)**

* She performs in uniform for the first time for show group

Season 14 Stickers
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## **Misc.**

* She receives a confessional in every episode of Season 14.
* Former Philadelphia Flyers Ice Girl