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We’re about to do Rising Star and – FIRE ALARM! FIRE ALARM! FIRE ALARM!

Royston’s like “Okay was that an actual fire alarm? because we don’t want to start danci – OH THERE IT IS AGAIN!”

And the fire alarm goes off a second time followed by an announcement which sounds like “BUH GRGR WALK TO THE PHFFFF BRBUG RRNN” and Royston’s like “First they give us a fire alarm and now she’s going to whisper at us?”

So Louis, because he can, then plays a very LOUD fire alarm and hits the smoke machines a few times. And somehow the entire ballroom and all the practice rooms and the lobby floor and the vendors and the registration table folks – the whole event – stops what they’re doing at the same moment, like it was choreographed, and starts moving outside where it is FREEZING! BITTER COLD! ICY WIND WHIPPING AROUND, and there are clumps of shivering dancers in huddles to keep warm in our skimpy dance clothes and open sandals all over the front drive groups of 20 laughing hugging dancers and then someone says hey wait why are we out here? Look at all those people waiting in the lobby where it’s warm.

So a sea of shivering dancers moves inside all together – we’re good at following – like a school of deep water fish – and back into the lobby we go where we blend into a larger school of fish and all swim back to our practice rooms and the shoe hall and the ballroom.

To warm us up Louis plays five songs about fire and smoke, and during the breaks between divisions more songs about fire and smoke and alarms, and fire and smoke songs for the half hour before Awards … a whole afternoon of songs about fire and smoke.

And then finally a water song at the very end to put out all that fire.

I love Louis he’s hilarious.

RISING STAR

What an audience for Rising Star! WOW was this audience supportive! Cheering, whistling, jumping up and down, the Russian contingent waving flags … rowdy loud crowd all afternoon. I think the fire drill helped.

1. Levi Larocco and Melissa Moy to “Arms” (Christina Perri) lovely in white and silver and diamonds, both actually laughing throughout the performance the way couples do when they make a mistake only they didn’t make any mistakes they were just giggling the entire time either from nerves or embarrassment but they did look genuinely relaxed and having a blast. I asked Levi afterwards and he said yeah they have fun doing this routine. What is wrong with them? I thought you’re supposed to be miserable and end up hating each other getting divorced and becoming mortal enemies for life.

2. Chris Edwards and Amy Lee to “Hazy” (Rosi Golan and William Fitzsimmons) in soft yellow and gray – these are Marker babies (students of Jason and Annmarie Marker) and man oh man oh man the Markers do SUCH a good job training their community! In body and mind. Their students have such a good attitude and workmanlike approach. And joy. And mutual support for their fellow competitors.

3. Frank Blakemore and Faith Musko to “Love Struck” (Vs. Factory) in slashy hot pink and neon yellow (Faith hand-made the costumes)

4. Jonathan Regan and Stevie Bliss to “Crazy” (Ray LaMontagne) in green and black, sleeveless on one side, the other a long sleeve unattached to the rest of the top. Very cool.

5. Scott Mehlberg and Tatiana Zavyalova to “I Want You Back” (Glee Cast) in matching charcoal gray vests over white shirts (hers a white tank, his a dress shirt) with red belt and tie

6. Scott Michielli and Gayle Reed to “More” (usher) she in black netting over a dazzling, sparkling, silver-sequined, rhinestoned major bra, and black jeans with zippers and hardware; he in a white t-shirt under a black leather jacket, also in black jeans with chains and hardware.

7. Brian and Pam Bennett to “Bright Lights Big City” in black and teal sparkle

8. Billy Marti and Veronica Castilla in an awesome bright orange top slashed and tied in bows maybe 15 slashes worth, down her entire back, with butterfly wings and draping in the front which flew when she spun (which she does a lot of – this girl is fast)

9. Tze Ming Wee and Dalena Lee (from Singapore!) to “For Your Entertainment” (Adam Lambert) – she is the skinniest tiniest itty bitty curvy sexy thing she looks like a spoon – in a metallic red, pink, gray and black bikini top and itty bitty bad ass low-rider jeans in the same colors, and the longest coolest eye-lashes with long white feathers at the end of each lash (I actually own a pair of these myself they’re crazy great); he in a matching t-shirt with large slashy shapes in the same metallic colors and matching hipster jeans – total in-your-face attitude outfits and a total in-your-face-attitude routine, loved it loved them.

What a fun division!

CORRECTIONS! CORRECTIONS!

1. I forgot to mention an important Classic couple! Rebecca and Kris! I was so excited to see this new routine, and so touched by it, that I got all choked up when they walked onto the floor, put my pen down and didn’t write a thing and then forgot to include them in the list of Classic couples. I LOVE their new routine! Rebecca is a ballerina and this lovely choreography shows off her lines, control, grace, strength and power … and Kris’ too! … “More Than Words” an acoustic remix of this beautiful slow song.

2. Brennar is an awesome dancer, so awesome that he danced with Torri last night in Showcase and looked and moved EXACTLY like Benji and I mean exactly you wouldn’t be able to tell them apart if you were their own mothers. Brennar is amazing.

Okay no just kidding it really was Benji who danced that mind-blowing amazingly astonishing Showcase with Torri, not Brennar like I said in the last Update. I can’t tell them apart what can I say.

3. I watched Ronnie and Laureen’s awesome Showcase routine on dvd and there actually is no one-handed over-the-head lift of Laureen high above Ronnie’s head. I can see why I thought there was – they are so fast and effortless it feels like there are tons of these lifts, like she’s constantly flying through the air above his head. My mind must have invented this image of her sitting up there with that dazzling smile of hers.

Sometimes I read what I wrote the night before and I wonder if I have undiagnosed mental problems.

4. Santino tells me “In Advanced strictly, Jérôme has danced with Irina, not with Olga. So 2nd in advanced strictly : Jérôme and Irina!” – Santino is that correct? Cause it was announced again at Sunday Night Awards that Jérôme and Olga won second place.

Any other corrections?

So much more to tell about MadJam, but in the meantime here’s a FALL-DOWN BORING list of competitors for all those people asking me who was there who did this who won that who what where prelims finalists my friend my sister ex-boyfriend names please …

Any corrections? Let me know. Not that I ever make any mistakes. I’m usually 347% accurate.

Jack and Jill Contestants

JUNIORS Finals (no Prelim):

Akil Boatwright
Andrew Hazlett
Wesley Brown
Byron Brunerie
Josh Williamson
Chris Dumond
Chris Wrigley

Alexis Garrish
Whitney Brown
Ashley Brown
Nicole Clonch
Hannah Clonch
Anyssa Olivares

CHAMPION Prelims

Tybaldt
Myles
Dean
Luis
Markus
Kris
Arjay
Maxence
Greg
Jordan
Brent
Stephen
Jason Marker
Chuck
Brennar
Benji
Robert Royston
Kyle
Parker

Sabrina
Deborah
Nicola
Taletha
Trendolyn
Rebecca
Tessa
Torri
Lemery
Tatiana
Kellese
Deonna
Melissa Rutz
Annmarie
Katie
Sarah
Laureen
Brandi
Jill Demarco

ALLSTAR Prelims

Matt Nichols
Akil Boatwright
Alfred Lee
Keith Stremmel
Hugo Miguez
Kurt Senser
James H
David Ward
Kumar Ningashetty
Doug Rousar
Reginald Bleeson
Josh Sturgeon
Chris Lo
Raj Hotchandani
PJ Turner
Bruce Baker
Kyle IndianSantaClaus Patel
Brad Whelan
Chris Dumond
Don Herron
Stephane Dominguez
Michael Diener
Erik Novoa
Jerome Subey
Gary Uaner

Her Awesomeness of DJtitude Helen Tocco
Melissa Greene
Linda Cuccio
Angie Bryan
Kay Newhouse
Erica Smith
Kendra Zara
Lori Rousar
Melissa Rollins
Jennifer Pasetes
Virginie Grondin
Nicole Clonch
Elyse Valdez
Jamie Callahan
Sascha Newberg
Anyssa Olivares
Jen Diener
Melissa Moy
Yuna Davtyan

ALLSTAR Finalist Couples:
Akil and Melissa Rollins
Hugo and Virginie
Doug and Nicole
Reginald and Elise
Josh Sturgeon and Anyssa
PJ and Yuna
Brad and Linda
Chris Dumond and Erica
Stephane and Kendra
Jerome Subey and Lori
(Alternates: Erik, Alfred Lee, Chris Lo, Melissa Moy, Jen Diener, Helen Tocco)

ADVANCED Prelims:

Steven Wilder
Adam Sanborn
Jerome Fernandez
Matthew Smith
Stephane Schneider
Roberto Villamarin
Genieboy Collins
Ed Francell
Andy Vanosdale
JC Bryant
Eric Byers
Randy Payne
Grigory Lebedev
Jay Tsai
Jasson Phillips
Brian Bennett
Jeff Mumford
Scott Mehlberg
Evan Schwartz
Patricia Berlanga
Alan Annicella
Wesley Brown
Koichi Tsunoda
Ying Chi Chow
Ken Negley
Justin Wolcotts
Josh Williamson
Sean Ryan
Chris Moy
Bradley Wheeler
Levi Laroco
Josh Macdonald
Brian Kidd
Aaron Batista

Kristen Humphrey
Irina Puzanova
Sue Lambell
Alina Entin
Whitney Brown
Robin Grimsby
Stephanie Risser
Stacy Kay
Heather Powers
Maria Ford
Faith Pangilinan
Nadedra Higgins
Veronique Dupont
Kristin Wenger
Victoria Andromalos-Dale
Irina Avdeeva
Svetlana Moskaleva
Shari Huggett
Pam Bennett
Marine Fabre
Leah Burkman
Taylor Bechtold
Abby Stone
Marilyn Hall
Larysa Krasij
Lorraine Rolik
Daria Mikloukhina
Laura DeShano
Tara Hayden
Alaina Sisley
Lindsey Nastos
Kimiko Lashley
Hannah Clonch
Dawn Sgarlata
Ekaterina Avlasevich
Beverly Brunerie
Tamar Rosen
Sonya Dessureault
Whitney Bartlett
Katia Grigoriants
Sarah Wheeler
Anna Novoa
Bonnie Cannon Subey
Dori Eden

INTERMEDIATE Prelims:

Derek Koh
Will Burbage
Mein Samala
Bernard Phua
Chris Wrigley
Christopher Sizelove
Arthur Yuen
Myat Nyunt
Kyler Byrum
Billy Marti
David Goldenberg
Ian Slattery
Franck Nativel-Fontaine
Trae Anderson
Scott Chilstedt
Sammy Powers
Ryan Shead
Scott Pulling
Yu Sun
Kevin Wright
Jeremy Govert
Philip Spinka
Alexsey Grigoriev
Casey Miller
Cory Flowers
Louis Schreiber
Jonathan Rogul
Roger Batista
Vence Harbuck
Chris Brown
Matt Maddin
Matt Boehm
Donnie Neron
Jean-Paul Marchand
Alfredo Meledez
Michael Blackburn
Aaron Williams
Edward Maddox
Roy Legaspi
Curt Kothera
Jason Ng
Doug Morgan
Jillian Boyett
Frank Blakemore
Chris Edwards
Sebastien Gervais
Miguel Valle
Phouvanh Mackhasinh
Stephane Roy
Nicolas Besnier
Frilan Mate
Aaron Frier
Joe Arasin
Robb Bryan
Lawrence Bunde
Jesse Ping

Abby Hare
Amanda Metcalfe
Wren Newman
Sophie Caseneuve
Jena Mabrey
Jacqueline Gutierrez
Ty Thomas
Alison Strong
Rebecca Savoca
Melissa Pylant
Jenna Shimek
Gwendoline Bugnot
Jessie Rosenberg
Elaine Morgan
Katie Fallon
Jacqueline Joyner
Stephanie Courtemanche
Faith Musko
Ashley Riddick
Jenjy Layug
Cali Buntin
Karen Cai
Erica Riddick
Nicole Szulc
Lina Longo
Nicole Stottlemyer
Adela Su
Tiffany Tran
Dalena Lee
Raquel Williams
Christy Kam
Emilie Dubault
Olga Usmanova
Kiona Leah
Amber Hicks
Dani Mullin
Melissa Mcrobbie
Tracy Gauthier
Kelli Kilgore
Melody Sturdivant
Mary Beth Lane
Veronica Castilla
Ashley Brown
Margaret Tuttle
Marie Remigereau
Lura Johnson
Evgenia Dudukina
Alyssa Lundgren
Vivian Glucksman-Weiss
Nadya Serova
Sara Hilbrich
Meredith Jones
Natasha Veal
Shelby Thorne

INTERMEDIATE FINALIST COUPLES:
Trae Anderson with Abby Hare
Yu Sun with Sophie Caseneuve
Casey Miller with Ty Thomas
Cory Flowers with Jaqueline Joyner
Louis Schreiber with Jenny Layug
Roger Batista with Dalena Lee
Vence Harbuck with Raquel Williams
Alfredo Meledez with Olga Usmanova
Roy Legaspi with Veronica Castilla
Frank Blakemore with Ashley Brown
Miguel Valle with Margaret Tuttle
Nicolas Besnier with Evgenia Dudukina
Froilan Mate with Nadya Serova
Jeremy Govert with Shelby Thorne
(Alternates: Phillip Spinka, Bernard Phua, Jeremy Govert, Rebecca Savoca, Faith Musko, Cali Buntin)

SOPHISTICATED
Prelims:   38 Leaders, 34 Followers
Finalist Couples:
Will Burbage with Dori Eden
Donnie Neron with Leslie Mallory
Kurt Senser and Robin Grimsby
Matt Nichols with Sue Lambell
Phil Bradfield with Tracy Gauthier
Ken Negley with Lorraine Rolik
Bruce Baker with Kristin Wenger
Lawrence Bunde with Jamie Callahan
Vence Harbuck with Wren Newman
Gary Jobst with Vivian Glucksman-Weiss

NEWCOMER
Prelims: 39 Leaders, 52 Followers
Finalist Couples:
Craig Myamoto with Karen Villamarin
Thomas Gomez with Kristine Riemer
James Kong with Gayle Allen
Paul Gersch with Audrey Bermejo
Jonathan Norton with Noble Schroeder
Hal Greenwald with Lynn Heyden
Dan Sweet with Lauren Stoffer
Ian O’Gorman with Rebecca Tree
Keoni Denison with Rebecca Thiele
Phillip Decker with Carolin Mattox
Jonathan Regan with April Northcutt
Matt Eddy with Simona Gizdarska
(Alternates: Bob Carleone, Harlan Messenger, Eugene Golbourne, Blair Stanford, Rose Goff, Michelle Schafman)

NOVICE Prelims: 82 Leaders, 103 Followers
NOVICE Semi-Finals: 50 Leaders, 50 Followers
NOVICE Finalist Couples:
Christopher Muise with Christelle Ouvrard
Angelo Maniquis with Brittany Baker
Victor Hernandez with Gina Murata
Chris McCormick with Lia Brown
Tony Walker with Lauren Nelson
Tze Ming Wee with Blandine Goudou
Brian Richards with Hanna Tuominen
Jean-Pierre Sachs with Lori Fielder
Mairon Batista with Carrie Smith
Chris Cusick with Micki Schultz
Pavel Pavlov with Thea Musantry
Aran Pelly with Ramune Sv
(Alternates: Minh-Tam Tran, Dave Mu, Roy Rafter, Allysa Rees, Serah Hare, Emma Cormie)