Ashley P.

10 - Cut

Total: 45

Season 8: 13 (T11th most)

Season 9: 28 (T3rd most)

Season 10: 4

* “Going into tonight’s rehearsal now, after this, this has been helpful, but I think also it’s kind of scared me more. Like, “Oh, I’m not as good as I thought I was“.”

**(8.4)**

* [Falls during kickline] “I didn’t really know what had happened. I just got back up and kept going.
* “Obviously, that’s not something I want to happen for my first kickline in front of Kelli and Judy."
* "I honestly don’t know if tonight’s a cut night yet, so it just makes it more thinking that, “Oh, this is probably a cut night“.”
* [Jordan Johnson] “I’d heard his style was pretty crazy, but I could tell it was hard for me to catch on.“

**(8.5)**

* “I told myself a million times, “Don’t worry about them,” but it’s so hard not to. It’s a mental game, and for me, it has mentally taken over.“
* [Called into the office] “If tonight is my last night, I’m definitely going to be sad, but I really want this, so, hopefully it’s not.“
* “Tonight was the first time that they’ve (Kelli and Judy) called my name to the office, and I was like, “Oh no, not this soon.” Hopefully it’s just a warning.“
* [After office] “I really hope I can let go of my nerves. I get in front of them, and I stiffen up. I guess just this is something you want so bad, and then you’re like, “Oh, I just want to do it right.” Hopefully, I’ll fix it.“
* “Last night was my first time called into Kelli and Judy’s office, so now I am hoping to loosen up, relax, and just treat it as if they weren’t there.“

**(8.6)**

* “It can be frustrating for Kitty to pick us apart in front of Judy and Kelli just because you don’t want her to say things that could get into their head.“
* [Before office] “I’m the only rookie called in, so I’m kind of shocked. If it’s my last night, I mean, there are so many different reasons that’s sad. Obviously, it’s a big dream and the work that I’ve put into it.“
* [Cut] “Tonight, (Kelli and Judy) said, is my last night. I mean, obviously I’m upset, it’s a sad thing, but the pressure’s off for a while. It’s a breather.“ [*Flashbacks shown*] “I don’t know if I’m going to come back. Training camp is a lot harder than I think a lot of people realize. Obviously, it’s not God’s plan, and as hard as it is, you just have to realize that he doesn’t want you here.“

### **Season 9**

**(9.1)**

* [Prelims] “So, we’re about to go out there and perform.“
* “I had mistakes last year in training camp. It was a mental game. I would get inside my head. [*Flashback*] From the moment I got cut last year, I just felt like, I’m gonna come back and I’m gonna prove to them that I can be on the team. You know, I know I have what it takes. I just have to show them.“
* “Of course, I’m worried about remembering the routine; some of the movements are difficult. I don’t want to have a mistake. I want to show ‘em that I can remember the material, even when there’s pressure.“
* “If I hear my name today for finals, I’m just… I’m gonna be so relieved. Probably tears of joy, of course.“

**(9.2)**

* [Finals]“Knowing the judges are judging us on the world’s largest screen, it’s kind of nerve-wracking, because you’re going to look like a big giant, but you want to look like a good big giant. A skinny giant, you know.“
* [*Teary*] “I just really know what it takes to get into training camp, and I’m just trying to fight to get my spot back because I know that if I get there, I can be a million times better.“
* [Names being called] “There’s more on the line because I’ve been here. We all want it. It’s just frustrating.“
* [Selected for training camp] “Some of these people don’t know what’s ahead of them. I know what’s ahead of me, and it’s not going to be easy.“

**(9.3)**

* “I’m most certainly feeling the pressure, of course. But it’s a pressure that I want to come back and I want to be better. I don’t want to be the same girl that they saw last year. I want them to be like, “this is a different Ashley Michelle“.”
* “(Melissa Rycroft)’s been there and she knows it’s tough. And I think that it’s good to hear it coming from people that have been there.“

**(9.5)**

* “Stephanie (DiBiase-Wheat)’s choreography is really fast paced. You don’t really have time to think.“
* [Office visits announced]“Yes, I’m worried, but I felt like everyone was out there kind of messing up the choreography, so I obviously didn’t want to hear my name, but yeah.“
* [Before office] “Tonight, Kelli and Judy called me into the office. They do have higher expectations for me. I was here last year, so this year they want me to be better. Learning a new routine that was a little fast paced and hard, I did get a little overwhelmed.“
* [After office, teary] “Kelli and Judy were just giving me feedback. Definitely, I’m worried about being cut from this team. Just because I made the training camp twice doesn’t mean, “Oh, it’s in the bag.” So, it’s definitely scary. Brings back memories.“
* “I think if you don’t have the appropriate DCC look, it can hurt your chances to make the team.“
* [Modeling] “I’m nervous. I don’t want to fall. Hopefully nothing goes wrong.“
* “My entire life I grew up being a gymnast and then a cheerleader, so it’s a complete 180 from my entire life to this whole year.“

**(9.6)**

* “When I first saw DJ (Guthrie), I was like, “Oh, yes.” But I knew his style is very contemporary, definitely not my style.“
* “I think I definitely could’ve done better. I was messing up on choreography that I knew last year, and I was like, “What the heck?” I feel the pressure.“

**(9.7)**

* “I really want to make the team this year and prove to not only everyone around me, but myself that I have it.“
* “Tonight’s a big night. It’s one of our last rehearsals. There’s still two cuts left, so the pressure is on, and it’s ready to just explode.“

**(9.8)**

* “I’ve learned being here in training camp, that you always have to expect the unexpected. You just never know.“
* [After office] “I’ve never been so shocked and scared at the same time. I hope that they do believe me and my group leaders whenever they say that that’s not the type of person I am.“
* [Makes team] “I have literally tears of joy right now. It’s the best feeling. It’s the best day of my life.“
* “As I walked into the photoshoot today, I was so excited. I couldn’t wait to go stand in my spot.“
* [Meet the Team event] “I feel so honored to be able to represent the best in the business. Being a part of this squad and with these amazing girls is just a dream come true.“
* [Tent-building] “We’re trying to hurry and get things together. And we all want the trophy and we’re going to do it for the pig.“
* [End-of-season retrospective with flashbacks] “It’s been a two-year journey for me. Last year was very devastating. I have made almost every cheer team that I’ve ever tried out for. I had to realize, at that moment, God didn’t want me there. And I had to find the confidence to come back. At training camp this year, I would hear my name a lot. The girls were really good with trying to help me be positive, and I think that drove me all year to work hard. I really found myself and was able to just stand tall and really believe I have what it takes to be on this team. And it’s the most rewarding feeling.“

### **Season 10**

**(10.2)**

* [Finals] “I’m coming to fight for my spot back. Now I know exactly how it feels to be on the team, and it would be even worse to lose it now, because it’s been an amazing experience.“
* “On one of my tricks, I was almost going to kick the girls, because they were so close. So I had to shorten it. But luckily, I didn’t touch down. It was just a little unsteady-like.“
* [Before training camp announcement] “If I don’t hear my name called today, I’ll be sad. The thought of it is scary.“
* [Not invited back to training camp] “I’m really upset. There was a couple of us veterans cut. It’s depressing. I don’t really understand.“ [*Starts crying*]

## **Commentary**

### **Season 8**

**(8.3)**

* “She’s very lost.“ – Judy
* “I don’t think Ashley Michelle can handle it.“ – Kelli/“I know, I don’t think she can.“ – Judy
* “Ashley, don’t defeat yourself. I can see that you’re trying hard and you make a lot of mistakes. I’d say 98% of the time, you were wrong. So, you just need to get with a veteran; you need some one-on-one.“ – Judy
* “Is Ashley Michelle trying to hide way down there?“ – Judy/“Probably.“ – Kelli
* “You cheered at Baylor, yes? You’re way too delicate for a college cheerleader. And you’re chasing the sequence. And you’re lost.“ – Kelli

**(8.4)**

* [Ashley falls mid-kickline] “I’ve never had a cheerleader fall down during a performance.“ – Judy
* “Looks like she’s really just so confused she doesn’t know if she’s up, down, right, left in the kickline. – Kelli
* “That was like a mess.“ – Judy
* “She fell out of stupidity. It looks like she’s really just so confused in the kickline, then we’ve got big issues.“ – Kelli
* “I wrote tonight, “spunky“.” – Kelli
* “Very stiff in your neck.“ – Kelli

**(8.5)**

* “You’ve got to learn how to use your shoulders.“ – Kelli
* “You look, the entire time that you’re dancing, like you think we’re talking about you.“ – Judy/“You’re strong and you’re stiff, and we don’t like strong and stiff.“ – Kelli
* “Out of this group, I feel like, in time, Ashley M. would develop, but I don’t know if now is right for her.“ – DJ Guthrie

**(8.6)**

* “This one, right here in the center, she’s young and odd.“ – Kitty Carter
* “Tonight was Ashley’s night to enjoy the feedback of Kitty.“ – Kelli
* “Just FYI, you would not be the choice for the top of a triangle. You’re cute, you got a cute face, but that’s it.“ – Kitty

### **Season 9**

**(9.1)**

* [Semifinals judging] “She struggled. Kicks were poor. She has a pretty face.“/“I did write, “hot.” Hot, but needs work.“ – Neal McCoy/“I mean, she’s got a lot of work, but I think she’s got a lot of potential.“ – Charlotte

**(9.2)**

* “Ashley’s struggling with her kicks.“ – Kelli
* [Finals deliberation] “It’s like, I want to fight to see the potential in her, and I do see a bit. Maybe a little bit more training will help her out.“/“I had good looks, but I gave her a “no” because of the kicks.“/“Do you remember her from last year?“– Kelli/“I don’t want to say if we take them in a second time, she’s not going to get cut, because she’s one of those that might. She’s really that… bad to me.“ – Judy

**(9.3)**

* "Ashley’s ahead of the count a lot."

**(9.4)**

* “Why do you think you got cut last year?“ – Kitty Carter/“My lack of experience.“ – Ashley/“No, you were on the plank. I just pushed you off. Don’t allow anyone to determine your outcome, okay? So, that was halfway decent, what you just did.“ – Kitty
* “I’ve got my eye on Breelan, Ashley to name a few. Those are girls who almost have the perfect package, so I want to get with them and walk them through how to become a Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader.“ – Melissa Rycroft

**(9.5)**

* “Watch Ashley. It’s pretty bad style.“ – Judy
* “You guys have got to remember to look up. Like Ashley, you were looking like your moments were high, and then your moments were real low, okay? So you got to make sure you keep your consistency and look up.“ – Stephanie DiBiase-Wheat
* [After office] “I’m worried about Ashley. She’ll have to fight. She’s not the most talented rookie in the class, that’s for sure.“ – Kelli
* [Modeling] “She’s got a cute smile. But an awkward walk.“ – Kelli
* “I’ll be 100% honest with you; your name came up the other night. Judy needs to be sold on the fact that you’re not just a cheerleader. I think you’re programmed to be hard and stomping. And so, what we need to do is make your new muscle memory the soft and sexy movements, not the hard movements.“ – Melissa Rycroft
* “We’re definitely trying to soften things up a little bit.“ – Melissa
* “Something’s psyching you out.“– Kelli

**(9.6)**

* “That one, I like a lot. “– Tina Kalina/“Is that Ashley?“ – Kelli/“Yeah, it is.“ /“She hasn’t won Judy over.“ – Kelli
* [Cameos] “Her face is dynamite. Ashley, these are great.“ – Kelli/“This is a really important moment for Ashley. She won me over today.“ – Judy/“Let model Ashley meet dance Ashley in the middle.“ – Kelli/“So, I don’t have to yell at you all the time.“ – Judy
* [Cameos] “Ashley was one of the most photogenic girls of the day.“ – Judy
* “Ashley’s not distracting me.“ – Kelli/“Ashley, you’re a good faker, because what’s saving you is you’ve got a lot of power, and you have a lot of personality above your shoulders, if I just don’t look at your feet, because you’re stomping around.“– Judy/“She likes your face; she doesn’t like your feet.“ – Kelli

**(9.7)**

* [Field entrance] “You’re getting there too early. And a little choppy.“ – Judy
* “Ashley’s making a lot of mistakes.“– Judy/“I’m going to go Ashley over Chandler.“ – Kelli
* “Your kicks are really flexed and not very pretty. You look tight tonight.“ – Judy
* [Kickline] “Pump your head on the right count, please!“ – Judy
* [Kickline] “It’s easy to do the heads right. You need to really pop on the count.“ – Judy
* “Your arms are too fast.“ – Judy
* “I like watching Breelan more than Ashley because Ashley makes so many mistakes.“ – Judy
* “Vivian, Ashley, and Breelan, it was embarrassing.“ – Judy/“You were very flimsy, you were full of mistakes… Y’all are really confusing me, because if I was making cuts right now, none of you would make the team.“ – Kelli
* [End of episode confessional] “Ashley is a concern.“ – Kelli

**(9.8)**

* “Tonight, we’re really going to be paying close attention to Breelan and Ashley. They’ve been struggling the most towards the end of training camp.“ – Judy
* “Ashley doesn’t know this one very well. She knocks herself off.“ – Judy
* “You really made me nervous on that one, so I wouldn’t look at you. You were making so many mistakes that it wasn’t pleasant to watch anymore.“– Judy/“Do you think we should cut her?“ – Kelli/“I don’t know.“ – Judy/“My question to you is do you think she’s too much of a dance risk?“ – Kelli/ “She’s a dance risk. Yes. She will be all year.“ – Judy
* “I’m concerned about Ashley as a performer. I better make real certain we want Ashley on this team.“ – Kelli
* [Before office visit] “Ashley’s inconsistent. I’m not sure I want to cut her. I want to see how she responds to these questions I have for her, and that will help me make my decision.“ – Kelli
* [After team is announced] “We decided to keep Ashley because we trust that once the pressure’s lightened a little bit, she will become a stronger performer and a very popular cheerleader.“– Kelli

### **Season 10**

**(10.2)**

* [Solo] “Ashley Pro, does she realize that she’s on the bubble, at risk?“ – Kelli
* [On-field] “Ashley’s struggling.“ – Kelli/“I’m sorry, my mouth’s just hanging open. She’s the worst one here, and that’s what’s sad.“ – Judy
* [Finals deliberation] “I thought her solo performance was pretty good, and then on the screen, I thought she just didn’t come off. Looked out of shape.“ – Neal McCoy/“Am I wrong, didn’t she get a little lost on her combo?“ – Kristi Scales /“She was, yes.“ – Judy/“And that’s when I saw that, I’m like, Oh, my God, a veteran cannot get lost on the combo.“ – Kristi

## **Office Visits**

### **Season 8**

**(8.5)**

* [Mid episode, first of three] Kelli says their notes on Ashley say she’s stiff and she’s lost. They’re looking for more upper body/ribcage/shoulders. She asks how much dances she’s had. Ashley says no real dance. Judy confirms she’s had cheer, and Kelli thinks that explains it. They’re not getting a fluid dancer quotient. They’re not trying to find reasons to cut her – they’re trying to help her. However, she has to get it and if they don’t start seeing what they need, then they have to make a choice. Kelli asks if she can get on the fast track of style, and Ashley responds to the affirmative. [*Ashley leaves*] Kelli says she thinks she’d be a sweet teammate (Judy agrees... if she gets it), and says there’s nothing problematic except stiff style.

**(8.6)**

* [Mid episode, first of two] Kelli tells her that at auditions, she had nine “yeses”, one “maybe”, and five “nos.” Training camp is designed to bring people like her in, give them a few weeks, work on the choreography, and see if they can make the team. Judy says Ashley has a quality that’s special and unique, and she’s beautiful, but she’s just not picking up the material fast enough. Kelli tells her tonight’s her last night. She suggests Ashley takes intensive dance lessons from a lot of different styles of teachers, and be serious about introducing herself to the dance technique that many of the girls in this room had before her. [*Ashley leaves*] Kelli calls her a “poor little thing,” and says she held up as much as she could.

### **Season 9**

**(9.5)**

* [Mid episode, third of three] Kelli wanted to touch base and share what they’re seeing. She says that Judy views her as middle of the road in the studio. Kelli not sure she’d even put her in the middle. They noticed she has bright moments and then sloppy moments. Judy says she looks very young when she dances sometimes – like a 12-year-old instead of a mature adult. Kelli says some in the room were really having fun with the routine and really getting into it and delivering. She didn’t see that from Ashley, tonight. She thinks she’s struggling and not in the top 36, right now. They approaching that time, and wondering, “Do you want to keep trying?” Ashley absolutely wants to keep trying. Kelli informs her that she then has her work cut out for her. She’s beautiful, with a cute, unique, gorgeous look. Judy says she has to step it up. [*Ashley leaves*] Judy says she’s a nervous wreck, and Kelli starts to demure, but Judy says she always looks like that.

**(9.8)**

* (Emma’s office visit about Ashley) Kelli asks Emma, without being specific, what’s her opinion on Ashley in terms of how hard she works for her and will she work enough for the team? Emma says she has a great work ethic, everybody loves her, and she has an awesome, sweet attitude. She’s a great teammate. You want her to be here, and Emma wants her to be here. Judy asks if she’s misread because she’s so nervous. Emma thinks that she does try so hard because she wants it, that she sometimes gets frustrated. But it takes time, she has to build up strength and confidence. Kelli asks if Emma’s willing to give the extra time, and Emma responds, “Absolutely.”
* [Early episode, second of two] Kelli says this is a very serious conversation, and she’ll read what some of her previous dance directors have said, and she wants Ashley to explain it. She reads that Ashley has often come across standoffish, sometimes rude, disrespectful. She has issues with confidence and she freaks herself out in her own head. A teary Ashley says she’s not sure why someone would say that. Kelli continues that her two group leaders her have said they do believe in her, that she works hard, that she’s sweet, and more mature than last year. Kelli asks if she had good experiences with one team, and not-so-good with another? Ashley doesn’t think she’s had bad experiences with teams, but maybe she was just uncomfortable. Usually she’s very good with people. Kelli suggests it’s a protective mechanism for her. Ashley says she’s been told sometimes people think she’s intimidating, but then they talk to her and remark she’s very easy to talk to. She hates that she has that kind of recommendation. Kelli says she understands, and that people think that she, personally, is one way when it’s the farthest thing from the truth, but it’s how she comes across it certain scenarios. She doesn’t think it’s who Ashley is, but it can make a difference between landing jobs, promotions, and making this team. Kelli tells her to show them her maturity as a performer out there. [*Ashley leaves*] Kelli starts mentioning that if she hadn’t been a victim of misunderstanding herself…

## **End of Journey**

### **Season 8**

**(8.6)**

* Cut at the start of week 6 of training camp (5th of 8 to leave, 42 left afterwards).

### **Season 10**

**(10.2)**

* Not invited back to training camp for a potential second season as a DCC.

## **Other**

### **Season 8**

**(8.4)**

* She falls down while performing the kickline in rehearsal.
* At uniform fittings, Kelli asks her if she was in a sorority, and she responds to the affirmative.

### **Season 9**

**(9.1)**

* She’s shown introducing herself to the judges at preliminaries: she works as a physical therapy technician.
* Kelli mentions being excited to see some of the girls back from training camp last year, and then there’s a segment on Ashley, Vivian, and Tessa.
* She’s shown being invited to finals.

**(9.2)**

* At panel interviews, she’s asked to give a fun fact about herself: she’s deathly afraid of blood and has passed out three times from it. However, she knows when she’s passing out, so it’s like, “I’ll be back!”
* She’s shown performing her solo at finals.
* She’s shown introducing herself to the judges for the field portion of finals (she’s 23-years-old, from Arkansas).
* She’s in the top 3 for the fan vote at the time of the finals judging.
* Second-to-last shown being invited to training camp.

**(9.4)**

* Melissa Rycroft personally invites her to a class she’ll be having with a small group in the future.

**(9.5)**

* Makeover glamour shot (no “before”).
* Shown walking the runway at the Belk fashion show.
* She attends the Melissa Rycroft mentoring session at the Verandah Club (along with Breelan and Chandler).

**(9.7)**

* She cries in front of Melissa Rycroft after the “girl talk” get together.

### **Season 10**

**(10.2)**

* At panel interviews, she says her favorite recent Cowboys pick is Darren McFadden.
* She’s shown performing her solo in the “disappointing veterans” segment, and stumbles during it.

**(10.5)**

* As part of Shelbi’s impromptu office visit, when she’s listing her friends that made the team last season, she mentions Ashley, Caila, and Breelan.

## **Misc.**

* During Season 9, despite switching to a first name only scheme for the cheerleaders, the show still refers to her as "Ashley Michelle" frequently.
* Former Texas Star Dancer