03x05 - Strong and Wrong

[bunniefuu]

[intriguing music playing]

[Brenley] When it comes to dance,
like, everyone dreams to make this team.

I think everyone in training camp
would do anything to be on this team.

[Faith] It's getting
really real to me right now

that I've made it to the end
of training camp.

I see it. I literally have visions
of like Kelli handing me the uniform.

This is definitely beyond
the biggest dream I've had.

So I think confidence and having
that selling factor will come into play.

Now, you're still in front of them.

You gotta sell it to them
and show them how you are professional

and how you can come back
from those mistakes.

If you convince them here that it's right,
they're not gonna doubt you.

[Brianne] For the past almost two years,
I've been specifically training for this.

Growing up my whole life, I always knew
that I wanted to be an NFL cheerleader.

And once I came here,
danced with the girls,

I really locked in on DCC.

[Emily A] I mean, as much as
you try to mentally prepare for it,

you can't until you get here.

It's so much crazier than I expected.

We're all kind of like
scared little puppies.

It's hard to feel like you belong
when you're in a room full of gorgeous,

beautiful, talented women.

[Jenna] I mean, it has to click.
It has to click soon.

I could get cut right here,
whether I deserve to or not.

Like maybe I just don't have it.

We're just kind of guessing at this point,

and that's all you can do.

[Parker] I can't control
what happened before,

and I don't know what's gonna happen next.

It's terrifying, but it's also,
like, the best thing ever.

It's only scary because we care.

I try to just trust
that my plan is already written,

and I just need to go day by day
and experience it.

[intriguing music continues]

[Faith] There's 36 on the team,


I don't know what's gonna happen. [laughs]

- [Kelli] I think I would switch that.
- [Judy] Okay.

[Kelli] Because that would help
these two brunettes.

Speaking of rookies,
just to give you my stressors…

[Judy] Is everyone now.

We have five more still to cut, yeah.

[Judy] It's time to make the team.

We need to make the decision this week.

[Megan] Three, four,
five, and six, seven, eight, one.

[Kelli] Bri. Green on Bri.

- [Judy] Mm-hmm.
- [expectant music playing]

[Kelli] Great in uniform,
perfect dimensions,

smart, sweet, pleasant.

Bri is strong.

Tatum. Strong.

Great proportions,
pretty in a Kardashian way.

[expectant music continues]

Parker. Chatty, smart.

I graduated from UT Austin
with a Plan II honors degree in 2023.

[Kelli] She's very smart.

She went to nerd camp at Duke.

[Judy] Y'all did
the finger curls with her?

[Kelli] She said
she didn't know how to do it.

She goes, "It takes
my hair three hours to dry."

- "And I don't have the patience to do--"
- [Judy] No, I like the finger curls.

It's a look we don't have.

[Kelli] Amaya is not as polished.

She's a lot of energy.

A lot of energy, but a lot of…

- [Judy] Trying hard?
- Yes.

[Kelli] Brenley. Very friendly
and comfortable conversation.

Maddy's gorgeous eyes, gorgeous mouth.

Gorgeous, big features, good in uniform.

Morgan, same way.

Journi…

- She's named after the band Journey.
- Oh!

[Kelli] I loved Journi
in the Dallas audition.

[expectant music continues]

Faith.

Delightful, joyful.

She has contagious energy.
She's lean in the uniform.

She has a very pretty face.
She's very personable.

She is unique, and she's infectious.

You know I love me a project.

My project would be Emily.

Emily, she's just cool.

I'm just gonna hate
the fact that I think she's cool.

Jenna.

I mean, if you wanted a comeback girl
to come back, she's exotic.

Her complexion is gorgeous.
She's been stronger.

But, Judy, I can't…
I can't say about a beautiful, sexy Maddy.

- Unless we cut a veteran?
- [music fading]

I don't know how you'd…

cut any of the veterans.

[hesitates] It…

Well, the only veteran concern
would be a Karley injury.

In the past,
I feel like we've had big turnovers,

and every year, I'm like,

"Oh my gosh,
we're not gonna have enough veterans."

And now I'm like,
"Oh my gosh, they won't leave!"

[cheerleader] And five, six, seven, eight.

Go one, two, three,
line, five, six, seven, eight.

Go one, two.
Make sure your toe hits that line…

[Kelli] This is our largest
returning veteran class in history.

With this high-performing standard

that we expect, we want the veterans
to be better and better every year,

and they're proud, and they work hard,
and they're high-achievers.

[Reece] It's just kind of a hard balance
to figure out just how to be

injury free this season.

What's too much working out?

What's too little working out?
Trying to find that balance.

I'm currently experiencing
some hip problems.

I think that's just
like the things that we do

while also getting a little bit older.

I have, like, lower back pain.

And then I have a little bit
of impingement in both of my hips.

And I think
that's just been 22 years of dancing.

[laughs] What that looks like.

[Judy] Hey, Taylor is sick tonight.
She's not dancing.

[Kelli] What good does that do us,
about to announce a team?

Don't you just
kinda wanna say "join the club"?

Uh, yes.

I feel sick today when I'm dancing.
I just get really, really dizzy.

I'll be better next week.

[Kelli] It's very tricky to motivate,
and be honest, and be reasonable.

Karley, I can tell you're trying,
but don't let your efforts

rush the tempo of the kicks.

- [expectant music playing]
- [Kelli] Karley, point toes on kicks.

Go fast! They're in behind you.

It's like when we were kicking that time,
I felt, like, a pinched nerve in like…

right here where I have the g*n.

Oof!

- Yeah.
- Okay. Feel that.

- You hit the spot.
- [laughs] I try.

- [Kelli] Honesty check.
- [Karley] Yes, ma'am.

- [Kelli] We have to get your kicks fixed.
- [Karley] Yes, ma'am.

I don't feel like you still have it

to where you've got
a nice, good, straight kick.

- A straight pathway? Okay. Yes, ma'am.
- And I know how hard you've worked.

But my question is, or my
challenge is, is can you work harder?

Is there more that you can do?

Because at auditions,
if it weren't for me and Judy,

you wouldn't have made the team.

[Karley] Um…

[voice breaking] I feel like
I'm on the verge of a tear.

- Mm-hmm. Yeah, it's really scary.
- A tear on your right hip flexor?

[hoarsely] My right hip flexor,
which is such a common thing in DCC.

I know Anna Kate's
going through it. Reece is.

A lot of girls.
Chandi had to have surgery. And so… Um…

There's times it hurts
to walk, stand, um, sleep.

- Um, so…
- [Kelli] Hmm.

And this is coming
out of the quote "off season."

I mean, you have…
now the intensity is gonna get worse.

[crying softly] Right.
I mean, I try to take care of myself, and…

rest it, ice it,
and I'm willing to do anything

'cause I feel like
I haven't met my potential here.

I just feel like
I have so much to give still.

[crying] I just…
I want to be here and I want to thrive.

I mean, look, there's all kinds
of athletes that their careers suffer

from injuries or…

tears, so I hope…

[crying] I don't want my time
to be cut short here because of an injury.

- That would break my heart.
- Yeah, I understand.

- [Kelli] And nobody's perfect.
- I know.

So it sounds like you've got something
that needs some attention.

- Just some TLC.
- [hoarsely] Yes, ma'am.

[Kelli] When we cut a veteran,
there's tears

and awkwardnesses that are immediate.

Like, "Oh my gosh,
they just cut my roommate."

Or, "She's my bridesmaid,

and I'm going to practice,
and now she's not."

"And how do I handle this?" Um…

I've personally been in that situation.
It's not easy.

It's not a situation
we want to be in at all.

You don't have a choice,
so we gotta find the solution.

Yes, ma'am. We will.
I'm gonna work really hard.

- Stretching. Doing whatever I need to do.
- Okay.

As far as cuts go…

if they were to cut any of the veterans,
I would personally riot.

Everyone's too amazing.

There's no way that they
would have veteran cuts.

If our bodies are still, you know, intact,

and we still got
a little kick left in us, then…

we're still hanging on.

[Karley] I wanna dance forever,

but obviously
I won't be able to at this level forever.

But my main thing this year was like,

I don't want to be the girl
that retires early

or has to take a year off because of this.

So I'm at the point, it's kind of like,

"I'm gonna dance through the pain,
'cause one day it's gonna be over."

- [man] We good?
- Yep.

- [man] That's one.
- Okay.

- Oh!
- [man] Deep breaths.

[Karley] I'm just
trying to make the most of it.

Take care of myself,

but know that
I'll just have to deal with the pain.

- [producer] How old are you, Karley?
- Twenty-five.

My hips aren't the same
anymore as they were even at 22.

Ooh! I feel that one.

[Kelli] We sent out a survey
in the spring for end of year

asking the girls
who they would like to follow,

who they'd like to be their leaders.

Now that we've been through
a few weeks of training camp,

we sent out another survey
reassessing that.

The girls have voted,

and confirmed the selections,
and we're gonna announce them tonight.

So I don't think I need these glasses,
'cause my pages are big.

Okay.
So, group one, your first leader is Megan.

[all cheering and applauding]

[Judy] Group leaders
are my direct lifeline to the team.

There's a lot going on.

Not everyone can do it.

This will be the structure
and strength of our squad this season.

Her second leader is Karley.

[all cheering]

Group two, your first leader is Lea.

[cheering continues]

[Kleine] When you have
a group of women who prioritize this team

and put others first
in a really amazing and positive way,

you get sh*t done.

You do it well.

On her left,
her second leader is Anna Kate.

[all cheering]

[Kleine] I'm excited
for that to continue forward

so we can
keep having that positive change.

Group three, your first leader, Tori.

[cheering]

Her second leader is Marissa.

[loud cheering]

Group four, your first leader is Kelee.

[all cheering]

Your second leader is Kleine.

[all cheering]

[Kleine] When my name was called,
it was just really cool

to see that my team
not only had faith in me…

We earned it this time.

…but that Kelli and Judy
had that same faith.

[Megan in background] We just finished…

Here, we jump, one.

And hair whip on two.

Step back, three.

Together, four.

It's all about the lower body,
so that's what we're focusing on.

So again, back to one, two, three.

[Kleine] I think
we're really looking forward

to no longer having
the stress of training camp.

It just gets so hard on everyone involved,

because as soon as you make it
into training camp,

it already feels like a team.

They're gonna have to make
some really hard decisions here soon,

and a lot of people
are gonna get their hearts broken.

[tensely intriguing music playing]

[Faith humming]

All right! Scrambled eggs again
for the 30-somethingth day in a row.

[laughs]

Just looks ten out of ten.
A little bit dry.

But you know what?

[laughs] I'd rather
them overcooked than undercooked.

Also don't have
salt and pepper in my room,

so I'm gonna go steal that from Emily.

Bring a cheese stick for the road.

[knocking softly]

Guess who. [laughs]

- It's the usual!
- [laughing]

[Faith] Another day in paradise, girl!

- Have you had some lunch?
- No.

Ah! What are you making?
You need to eat something, girl!

I can get into like a rut,
and get in my head, and worry,

and Faith is here at my door, knocking.

In my head, things seem terrible,
and she pulls me out of that.

[Faith] Girl, we need to eat something.

- [Emily grumbling]
- Not sweetie treaties either.

- Something proper.
- I got some of these.

[Emily A] I had a serious confidence drop,

and I don't know where that came from,
if I'm being completely honest.

- None of this feels meant for me.
- [pensive music playing]

I think the word is "imposter syndrome."

You need something substantial.

- Peanut butter?
- [chuckles] With the biscuit?

- What if I put it…
- Girl dinner?

…in peanut butter?

I have yogurt.

[Emily A] I'm, like,
focusing on the terror of it all.

That's the one thing
holding me back the most, is the mental.

"You're not good enough.
You're gonna forget it."

I gotta get over that.

Because I'm not
the only one feeling like this.

[pensive music continues]

[Faith] It's been really nice to have
someone that understands how I'm feeling

with not getting the style
necessarily straightaway.

And the memory thing,
she feels a very similar way,

so we're able to bond over that.

I see everyone else moving.
I just know I gotta move.

Fake it till you make it, right?

- That's all you can do.
- [music fades]

[Kelli] I'm gonna go back,
look through their applications,

and I also want to see my notes.

The lowest scoring so far are Faith,
Journi, Emily A, Maddy U, and Amaya.

Most of our fans want to be entertained.

They want to see beauty.
They want to see dance.

I want to make sure that
when I put pen to paper or make a decision

that it's the best decision at this time.

And, you know,
if they don't make the team,

I want to be able…

for them to have had
a positive experience here,

and give them the right feedback for
a future here or a future somewhere else.

[anxious music playing]

Like in any competition,
there has to be a winner,

and we only have six candidates
that can be winners this year.

There have been years
where we can't decide,

so Charlotte comes to rehearsals,

and it's great,
'cause when we get kind of indecisive,

she'll come help us clarify things.

Charlotte's so smart, and she's savvy.

- There they all are.
- [Kelli] She'll weigh risk versus reward.

Yes, her feet are pretty,
but I need somebody

that can go do an appearance
on the Today show tomorrow, live.

- [Judy] Okay, y'all, nice and warm?
- [all] Yes, ma'am.

To where y'all can do
the kick line by thirds again?

- [all] Yes, ma'am.
- Then we'll do it at the end together.

- Can y'all say hello to Ms. Charlotte?
- Hi, ladies!

[cheerleaders] Hi!

["Thunderstruck"
by AC/DC playing on speakers]

♪ Thunderstruck! ♪

♪ Thunderstruck! ♪

[woman] Good!

♪ Thunderstruck! ♪

♪ Thunderstruck! ♪

♪ You've been thunderstruck! ♪

- [song finishes playing]
- [Charlotte] Ooh!

[cheerleaders clapping and cheering]

[Judy] Okay, y'all's ending was off.
Faith, y'all's arm was a little late.

- On the jump split?
- [Judy] Yes.

- Yes, ma'am.
- [Judy] Or that pose after.

Yes, ma'am.

[Kelli] Emily,
I was going through my notes.

Your first kick notes from me
were you weren't popping your head

on the two, and the four,
and the six, and you are now,

so thank you for being a smart dancer
and fixing that.

- Yeah.
- [cheerleaders clapping]

Yeah, you were…
you were sort of the highest out there.

Thank you so much, ma'am. Thank you.

[Judy] Okay, next group.
Then we'll do it all together.

[cheerleaders] Whoo!

- [Charlotte] You said she couldn't kick?
- [Kelli] Well, no.

[Charlotte] Okay.
'Cause she can really kick.

- And she kicked higher than Camille.
- For sure! Camille's…

Maybe her legs are longer.
I'm not sure, but she was definitely…

- Both that she's that trained…
- Yeah.

And if she wanted to,
she could kick it and hold it.

[Charlotte] Yes! Oh…

- Just like me.
- [both laughing]

- Except mine are--
- 'Cause we need those kind!

[laughing] They can just do that leg.

[Judy] At the very beginning, somebody
in the back row went the wrong way.

- It was me. Thank you.
- [Judy] Okay.

[Judy] And just make sure you remember,
we just talked about the one line,

and its halves, that you go back to that.

Yes, ma'am.

There was a couple of mistakes.
Do you know where they were, Emily?

[Emily A] On this part?

[Judy] There. Okay.

[Emily A] Oh!

[Kelli] Faith, I thought you had
an extra dose of confidence in that one.

- Thank you! Thank you, ma'am.
- Let's go, Faith.

- [Judy] Okay, let's see another one.
- [Faith] Let's do it, girlies.

[imitating Faith] Girlies…

And Faith, if we were
to go the ponytail route…

- [rock music playing loudly on speakers]
- …higher twisted fashion pony.

- Got it. That's fine. Nice look.
- I think it's kind of…

[rock music continues]

[music fades]

[Judy] Emily, it's two looks.

- Over your shoulder.
- Thank you.

- [Judy] All the way. All the way.
- [Kelli] Give us your face.

All the way around.
Eyeballs to that blue board.

- Hold, and hold.
- [Kelli] Yeah.

[Charlotte] It's almost like
some of it she's marking.

- [Kelli] Mm-hmm.
- She's tall. She's got stature.

She's statuesque.

But she doesn't dance her height.

But she is a beauty.

I think she's beautiful.
I think she's the sexiest.

- They are all very beautiful.
- [Judy] Yeah.

[Judy] She's… In training camp,
she's been one of my favorites.

You are certainly
having to really, really nitpick.

'Cause they are all great.

- Now I feel like I could throw up.
- Oi, I literally feel unwell.

- And once you dance, you feel lightheaded.
- Then you have to sit there…

- [Faith] I think I need some iron.
- I need iron too.

I think I need a steak tonight. Seriously.

[Emily A sighs] Despair.

[tense music playing]

- Okay, I've got a lot of thoughts.
- Mm-hmm.

[chuckles] I have a lot of thoughts.

A lot of thoughts.
They're all really good.

They're all really good.
And that's why we brought you in.

'Cause they're all really good.

Yeah.

[Charlotte] Tatum, y'all,
I didn't notice her at all in any of it.

- And the same with Amaya.
- [tense music continues]

I don't have anything to say
about either one of them

because everyone else got my attention.

And I kept like looking,

and I would look, and then
I would just look at somebody else.

'Cause it was not…
didn't hold my attention.

- [Judy] Right.
- [Charlotte] So I just moved off of 'em.

Jenna, it kind of blends.

She doesn't stand out.

[Kelli] She definitely stands out
more to me this year than last year.

She's a training camp cut last year,
so if it's a comeback again,

I don't think that she can
come back with much more. I think she's…

- [Judy] Right.
- [Charlotte] I think she's at her best.

But she also doesn't stand out.
You know, it's a numbers thing.

She's not getting up here because
her kicks are this, her dance is that.

You know, that's not her problem.

And then I thought
Emily kind of fell apart.

She's my favorite kicker, and then
she was one of my least favorite dancers.

- She has the best kicks on the field.
- [Judy] Yeah.

[Charlotte] By far.

[Judy] It's just
she hasn't mastered the style.

[Charlotte] And the rest is like…
'cause she's her own style.

And her own style is very,
very different from everybody else.

Like, she oozes everything.

- In a beautiful way. It's just not…
- [Kelli] Mm-hmm.

…cohesive with everyone.

Do you know what? I think it's also like
all the veterans that come back,

and you're like,
"She has absolutely been here before."

They have an ease
that when you watch them,

they don't make you nervous in any way.

Right.

You're just like, "Oh my gosh."

"They're doing
all these incredible things."

And they're just really powerful
at what they do.

When you say it that way,
that's exactly what they look like.

Journi looks like she hadn't been here.
Emily looks like she hadn't been here.

Amaya looks like
she hadn't been here before.

Faith's pretty damn confident
for me tonight. So is Maddy.

I thought she looked really great tonight.
I didn't find anything to pick apart.

[Kelli] No, she has great style,
great strength, great control.

She's not afraid to be bold.

The ponytail kept sliding.

So in between, when she's gonna walk,

she's gonna want to try to fix it
and make it tighter.

I've noticed it during practice.

- Will that ponytail be sustainable?
- I think you just gotta fix it right.

Gonna have to figure out--

[Kelli] I would assume so since that's
how she's always danced, but you're right.

It's gotta be very, very secure.

[Charlotte] I thought
she looked really great tonight.

- [Kelli] I said yes on stamina.
- [Charlotte] She looked like she belonged.

I mean, because to me,
let's see, we've got…

I'm looking at three spots, because I…

This just for a second.

Y'all can go change these
however you want when I leave.

But I think you're looking
at these four for two spots.

Based on what
I've kinda heard you saying,

it feels like you're super strong up here.

So it's like, you're not waiving.

[Kelli] Every judge has a favorite,
and Faith was one

of our favorites online, for sure,

and then increasingly became
a favorite to Charlotte's

once she got to training camp.

She understands the big picture,
the talent that we need,

and also some of the other things
that could be either media-based,

role model-based or brand ambassadors
and protectors of the brand.

[pensive music playing]

We could…

release three tonight
and then see if the leaders

see any potential here or not.

[Charlotte] Okay.
One month, guys. Game time.

- [Kelli softly] I know.
- Okay. All right.

Good night, y'all. Bye.

- [Haley] Good night.
- [Kelli] Good night. Thank you.

[pensive music continues]

- [Amaya breathlessly] Hi.
- [Judy] Hi.

- How are you doing?
- [Kelli] Good. You sound out of breath.

[laughs] A little bit.
We just did, um, extra point.

- [Kelli] Oh!
- Yes.

- We were practicing a little bit.
- [Kelli] All right.

We are at that time of the season

where we have to make the choices,

and reduce the roster,
and that's what we're doing.

So, the footwork is a mechanical thing
that needs developing.

It's a matter of giving yourself

the time to develop as a dancer.

Yes, ma'am. This is hard.

We understand, but be proud of yourself.

Yes, ma'am. I will. Thank you, guys.

- [Kelli] You've left an impression on us.
- Thank you so much.

I know y'all's job is so hard.

Everyone is so talented, so I appreciate
you guys taking a chance on me

and letting me get to this point.

[Kelli] You weren't a chance.
You're exciting for us.

Thank you!

[bittersweet music playing]

- [Kelli] Hey.
- Hi.

Tatum, you are a confusing one,
but it's not…

anything I think
that you can change right now.

You have the potential.
You have a lot of style.

And now when it really, really matters,

some of the other dancers around you
are outperforming you.

So what that tells me
is you have the performance dynamics,

but they're consistently not,
like, every routine, every night.

Every person that we have watch you
is seeing that every time.

So that's gonna not land you
on this team this year.

So I'm sorry it's not this year,

but I have no reason
to think it couldn't be a future year.

Thank you.

I think I'm just, like, a little… I don't…
I think just conf…

Like, what to work on if I, like…
when I do wanna come back.

Because from the veterans, I don't…

They say that I look a certain way.

I look like I'm dancing like them,
or I have the power, I am fun to watch.

But so I think that I was…
I'm just a little con…

confused on what to work on for next time.

[Kelli] Just probably more… more time…

more time to get this style,

to completely own this style consistently

in every dance.

The good news is,
is we've seen some really

interesting things from you.

Well, thank you.

[Kelli] Okay.

Okay.

[somber music playing]

[Judy] In her mind, it didn't make sense.

- [Kelli] This is our last one, right?
- [Judy sighs] Yes.

[Kelli] She's one of my favorites.
She's fun, she's authentic, beautiful.

- She's wildly talented.
- Yes.

It's a style match.

[Judy] I mean, I think her solo
was the best of the day.

- [Emily A] Hello.
- [Kelli] Hey, Emily.

How are you?

I am good. How are you?

Good. I was just looking at,
um, your pictures on makeover day.

They're incredible.

- Thank you so much.
- They're incredible.

Um, all right, so here's where we are.

You've made it into training camp.

You're of my personal favorites
in this training camp.

That means a lot. Thank you.

But you're not
gonna make the team this year.

But I want to…
I want to tell you my advice, if you care.

Of course! Please.

I think you may want to go dance
on a cruise or go dance on Broadway.

You could do both.
You're wildly talented.

And we can just see
in the precision of our dances,

it's just not there yet.

And you just need more time
in this style of dance.

You just need the power pom classes
that can teach you

to so fiercely attack the beat.

- Yes, ma'am.
- It's just not your training yet.

I can feel that. It felt like I was just
kinda coming in a little bit behind.

And then I could feel myself
leaning into it.

But I know time is of the essence
and unfortunately…

[Judy] You're exactly right.
You came in a little behind.

That first night of rehearsal,

I thought you weren't gonna
be able to do this.

But every night, you have been inching up.

- Slow burn. Thank you so much.
- [Judy] And I think if you took classes…

[Kelli] And your kicks
are the prettiest on the field.

That was Charlotte's note tonight.
"You had the prettiest kicks."

And you do because you've got
that great extension and experience.

It's the quick choreography,
it's the quick pivots and change.

It's just probably whatever's new to you.

- I've seen you take smart corrections.
- Thank you.

We saw so many great things from you.
I hope you do consider re-auditioning.

I would love to re-audition.

And I absolutely
will see you back at round one.

And I think even just
having this experience now…

- I can come in with a better mindset.
- [Judy] I think you will too.

'Cause I knew it was
gonna be physically challenging.

But I don't think I was prepared mentally.

But if you re-audition, just think
how much you have under your belt.

And you would
come into it really confident.

- And you had the best solo of the day.
- Yes, ma'am. Thank you so much.

So come back with something like that
and blow the judges away again.

- And you've got us on your side.
- Thank you so much.

I'd be disappointed if--

If you don't try out again, I'm never
gonna hear the end of it from her.

She's gonna be talking
about you for ten years.

I will be back!
I will be back for you and for you!

- [Kelli] You were a Kacey favorite too.
- Oh my goodness! What is going on?

- [Judy laughing]
- I honestly can't believe my life.

If you told me this is where I would be,
surrounded with these girls…

I love these girls.
And as much as I was stressed,

anxious… thinking of the choreography,

there's like nowhere I would rather be,
because these girls are incredible,

and they pushed me in a way
that I didn't know I could be pushed.

And I love that.
I want to be surrounded by that.

[Kelli] And you don't get seasick!
We're not on the water.

Yes! Yeah.

I want to see you next June.
You did a great, great job.

- Thank you so much. Thank you.
- You left a massive impression on us.

You guys are incredible.

And I respect the heck out of you, so…

- [Judy] We respect you too and your craft.
- Thank you so much. I will be back.

- [Kelli] Okay.
- Thank you very much.

[Kelli] Have a good night.

[Emily A] Yes.

I will be back with a new, fresh brain.

- [introspective music playing]
- [sniffles]

- [Faith] Oh, Em, don't do that.
- No, it's okay. I'm okay.

- [cheerleader] Group hug.
- [Emily A] Bring it in. Bring it in.

- [cheerleader 1] We love you.
- [cheerleader 2] I'm so proud of you.

- [Emily A] Thank you, guys.
- [cheerleader] You seriously grew so much.

- [cheerleader] We're so proud of you.
- Thank you so much.

[wistful music playing]

- [cheerleader] We love you.
- So unfair.

- I'll just come back, I guess, stronger.
- [cheerleader] Even stronger.

[all laughing]

Come back next year
and you'll know all the dances.

Yeah, Kelli said she would be
mad at me if I didn't come back.

Then come back.

[Emily A] You guys are amazing.
And I'm gonna be following the journey.

[somberly] Okay, you guys.

- [Emily A exclaims]
- Oh my gosh.

- [Emily A] I love you girls so much.
- I love you.

You're seriously all so incredible.

- I'm so proud of you.
- Thank you.

- [cheerleader] Okay.
- I love you, girls.

Love you so much.

[Emily A] Though I was stressed
to the max in every single rehearsal,

I'm leaving on such a high note.

[cheerleader] You're leaving
on a high note. You did the work.

[Emily A exclaims] Good night!

- Faither. Get over here.
- I can't. I actually can't.

- I've already just cried.
- No, don't!

- You're gonna make me cry! No!
- No, I know. I love you so much.

[laughs] Oh my God, I feel sick.

- [somber music playing]
- Tears are flying off my-- I don't cry!

- Me and you both are like--
- [Emily A] Stop it! [grunting]

- Um, I'm just gonna miss you.
- I think DoorDash.

I'm gonna miss you. We need to binge watch
the rest of Love Island tonight.

- [Emily A] sh**t!
- I can't do it without you.

[Emily A] Wait,
should I call my mom like now?

Let's get you some food.
Let's get you some food.

Then give Mama Kimberly a call.

Emily, I actually can't accept the fact
that you're not gonna, like…

I don't know what, like,
I'm gonna do, seriously.

We've literally done
every step of this process together.

Babe, we have done every… every not even
a part of this process together.

- Just everything. Yep.
- I'm like, "Morning, can I come round?"

"Good night, can I come round?
Midday, can I come round?"

- What am I gonna do?
- I think was only in your room once.

Yeah, no, I come to your room. Always.

Babe, I actually… I… Yeah.

- You're gonna k*ll it, and I'm so excited.
- I'm gonna FaceTime you every two seconds.

I'm there in spirit. Go for it.

[somber music playing]

[phone ringing]

- [Jenna] Hi!
- [woman on phone] Hi!

Last night, I literally just ran home,
got in the bath, and I was like, no phone.

Definitely the most
intense night we've had so far.

Tatum's cut was so unexpected.

I think she was genuinely confused.

It seemed like Kelli and Judy loved her.

- She was so good.
- But it just goes to show, you never know.

Yeah. I feel like every girl,
when they get cut,

they're like, "I always knew."

- Yep.
- It's just weird how that works.

Even when Emily just got cut,
she told me and was like,

"I just kinda told myself
that today I would put it all out there."

- No way.
- Yes!

She was like, "Not like I could leave on
a good note, but just know I did it all."

And I was like,
"Why are you talking like that?" Like--

That's crazy.

I don't feel like I had that
because it was so unexpected.

I got a call at 10:00 a.m. on Monday.
I wasn't expecting that call, you know?

Yeah. Last night was hard,
but I also feel like the rookies this year

haven't even gotten close
to that amount of fear, wearing the boots,

doing the jump splits, doing "Thunder"
all together with the full kick line.

That's a whole 'nother level.

That would change it for so many girls,
I feel like.

Right. I mean, how do they announce a team
without seeing boots or jump splits?

[Jenna] I think with those cuts, I feel
like people were definitely shook up.

And it really makes things real.

We're just, like, in that final hour.

Last year, when I would get in my head,
it was impossible to get myself out.

And it is that time
where I was cut last year.

And so that's, like,
a little, maybe, triggering.

[pensive music playing]

Training camp last year
really broke my confidence.

I just had such security in who I was
before training camp.

I just had so much confidence
in every area.

I'm Jenna. I'm 22 years old,
and I'm from San Diego, California.

I just graduated
with my degree in sociology

and a minor in social justice.

And now I will be pursuing a career
in social work.

I was just like, "I'm great at this,
and I feel great in my skin."

You know, I thought I had
learned everything I needed to learn.

And then I was cut.
And I was like, "Oh, never mind."

But it was almost like
being cut from DCC made me like restart.

I was back in this very
like low place in my life.

And I felt so small
and embarrassed that I hadn't…

I hadn't felt that shame in a long time.

I don't know if I've ever talked about
this, but I was born with a cleft lip.

And so I had a lot of surgeries for it.

[gentle music playing]

I was always insecure
about the scar on my lip,

which I'm comfortable with now, honestly.

But I didn't have a tooth for a lot
of high school and eighth grade, and…

Like literally one of my front teeth.

And it was so embarrassing to me.

At that age, anything different
about you is a bad thing.

When people would ask me, I would be like,
"I don't have a tooth. I have a cleft."

But I was definitely struggling
on the inside.

So I would always take Snapchat selfies.

And you could cut out a tooth,
and I would put it there.

So I could see what I would look like.

I wouldn't send it to anybody,
I wouldn't show it to anybody.

I would just do it
so that I could see, and I would…

I'd look in the mirror and be like,
"Once I have a tooth, I'll be beautiful."

So, I was internally struggling
with it a lot.

Once I got the tooth, I just had
the most confidence in the world.

Like, nothing could bring me down.

I was so proud of, like, smiling,

and I was so comfortable in who I was.

- And then I was cut.
- [gentle music continues]

Maybe I told myself this false narrative

that the tooth made me confident,

and then I had something else
that took my confidence.

When I look back on all those
insecurities I had with my cleft,

I never once verbalized that to anybody.

[gentle music continues]

But that's just what we do as women,

is we fake it, and we just keep going,
and we don't let anybody know, you know?

Now I know I don't have to feel like

the best in every room
to know that I'm enough.

I feel like I devoted
this whole year to training.

Both mind and body.

I just have a better sense
of self and confidence,

that I feel good about my odds.

But also, I mean,
I've been through it once before.

If I don't make the team,
I know what that looks like.

[music fades]

[Faith] Google Maps.

- Is it called IKEA?
- [woman] Yep.

[Faith] Mum is here in Texas.

Ooh, eight-minute drive!

[Faith] It's really good
to have that support system right now,

because she is honestly an angel.
We are so close.

Okay, so the draw--
What do you call this thing?

- [Kate] Gear stick.
- Gear stick is on the other side.

[laughing] And foot needs
to be on the brake before I use it.

Okay, that's a good start.
Handbrake next. Oh God, I'm terrified.

Okay, both ways. I always--
My habit is looking this way.

That's where
the driver's seat normally is,

but now I need to look this way
to the right when I go out.

- [Kate] I think so.
- God, I'm terrified.

[Faith] Ooh! Okay, we're off.

I'm driving on the right side.
Who has right of way?

- [Kate] Absolutely no idea. I think we go.
- Are you sure?

- Yeah, they're stopping.
- They're a learner as well!

I need a sign saying,
"Sorry, learning to drive from Australia."

[Kate] She's very good
at keeping up that energetic fun.

Like, "I'm good. No, I'm fine.
I've got it all under control."

I think that's how
she's managed to do so well.

[both yelping]

- [Kate] It's the windscreen!
- The windscreen wipers!

Because she can just be like,
"No, no, I'm good. I'm fine."

But then at the end of the day,
when you call your mum,

you're not fine,
and that's when it all comes out.

- Okay, now I've gotta cross.
- Straight over.

- Is my indicator on?
- Oh wait! There's cars coming!

I'm gonna stop in the middle! Oh my God!

It's a little bit overwhelming, honestly,
but I've done all the preparation now.

If that's not enough,
then it's not enough.

If my dream came to an end, you know,

your biggest supporters,
you've gotta break the news to them.

That's just as hard.

- [Kate] Okay, go.
- I'm just gonna floor it.

[Kate] Me and Faith are super close.

It's such mixed emotions and such
a roller coaster of emotions all the time.

It's very hard.

That was a lot.
My anxiety is through the roof right now.

- And what does miles mean?
- I…

- Does that mean two kilometers?
- No, I think kilometers are more.

So I feel like…
I don't actually know the conversion.

- Me either.
- I'm gonna say almost half. I don't know.

- [Faith sighing]
- Back at IKEA.

IKEA. I've missed this place.
This makes me feel like I'm at home.

- So what do we actually need?
- Do we get more of these biscuits?

- Oh! Do you want some?
- Those biscuits are bloody good.

Obviously, she's so tired
and so exhausted from the whole process.

We don't know when they're announcing
the team. Like, it might happen.

We'll just get through this week,
and it'll be easier.

I'm happy to be there for her, you know?

If she needs to offload,
like, fine, do that with me.

And then go back to having it all together
for whatever else you need to do.

- So many just little knick-knacks.
- I know.

- You can never have enough.
- So cute.

They don't say "peckish" either.
I was about to say I'm peckish.

I'm like, "I could do a little nibble.
I'm so peckish."

And they're like,
"What are you talking about?"

[Kate] Do I have anxieties? 100%. Um…

I mean, at the end of the day,
like I said, she's my baby.

Everyone was saying to me back home,
"No, she's so good. She'll make it."

I'm like, "I don't think you understand.
Everyone there is so good."

And these girls have been taking
these prep classes

and some of them have done
training camp before.

They've been working towards this
their whole lives, so I'm like,

"Yeah, she's great," you know?

"She does really well in Australia,
and she is an amazing dancer."

But I'm like, "I don't… I don't know."

Yeah, I am struggling,
having her on the other side of the world.

It's extremely hard for me knowing that…

you know, I can't just
whip over and help her.

- [Faith] I'm hungry.
- Swedish meatballs here.

Swedish meatballs!
What is going in those meatballs?

I wouldn't want to know.

I could do a cheeky slice of pizza.
Also no one says "cheeky" here.

Yeah, you just want everything
to be okay for your kids.

And sometimes you can't do that.

- [indistinct chatter]
- [bright music playing]

- [Kelli] Ready to give us some feedback?
- Yes, ma'am.

Okay, so now
that you've been in smaller groups,

you see who's working really hard,

who's making improvement
and who maybe have plateaued at this hour.

- We're a month away from our first game.
- Yes, ma'am.

[pensive music playing]

Um, okay.

I think Faith has grown a ton.

I remember she got correction
that her posture was a little bit bad.

So I think she's trying to overcorrect.

- 'Cause she is lifted up.
- [Megan] She's giving a little nostril.

She did push a little on the kicks today,

but Journi may
have struggled the most so far.

- [Judy] It's hard.
- [Megan] Yeah.

[Lea] I've worked with Journi a lot.

She's working so hard for this.

Um, I think right now it might be

a lot in her head and overwhelming to her.

I think Faith has grown
a lot through this process.

I had a conversation with her and Emily
in the beginning of training camp

just about how this process is
a lot different from what they're used to.

It's hard because I really do think Faith
has really excelled in a lot of things,

and she's really bright and fun to watch.

Maddy is just more there right now.

Faith is a phenomenal performer,
very talented.

But I also think there's,
um, a slight disconnect in style.

Bri has been just a little bit stronger.

I think she has some really
solid moments throughout training camp.

So I'm gonna give Bri my final sticker.

[Kelli] Thank y'all.
Your honesty is a gift.

[Tori] I'm really proud
of all of them, honestly.

I feel like you could have a team of 38,

but unfortunately, you can't.

- [Kelli sighs] Yes.
- [Lea] Thank y'all.

- [Megan] Thank you.
- [Tori] Good night, ladies.

- That's kind of a lot to sleep on.
- Yeah.

[pensive music continues]

Okay, now what are we gonna do?

To pick the wrong one over the right one

is a position I would rather not be in.

[Kelli] At the end of the day,
with the great new talent coming in,

all those intangibles matter,
like, your personality, and your smile,

and discipline, and dedication
to the craft and art itself.

But every year, in training camp,

we all know we have roughly 45 people,

and we all know the end roster will be 36.

So we're all under pressure together.

We all want people to be successful,

and yet we all know
somebody's gonna go home.

[expectant music playing]

[Judy] I always thought Bri
was a little better than Brenley,

but I would say they've evened up now.

[Kelli] On the other hand, I know you…

[quietly] You don't wanna do Jenna,
and don't wanna do Parker, so who else?

Bri was… She was the lowest at finals.

Nice height and presence.

Beautiful and feminine.
Needs to be fierce.

Even on that step,
and her arm is stretched up.

[Judy] Well, it depends on
where your photographer catches it too,

'cause the person
behind her has got a horrible foot.

[Kelli sighs heavily]

If you put a sticker on her,
who would you not put one on?

Jenna.

[Judy] I don't know. That's the problem.

- Once we get past this emotional part…
- Right.

- …we get to start…
- We have others to develop.

And some of our veterans need attention.

Yes.

- [Kelli] Okay, this room is depressing.
- And hot.

[upbeat music fading in on speakers]

- [cheerleader grunts]
- [upbeat music continues]

I love you.

What is going on? I feel sick. I feel ill.

- Hello. How are you, guys?
- [Kelli] Hey, come on in.

This conversation is probably
not gonna make a lot of sense to you,

but we're making the final cuts,

and you're not gonna make the final team.

Yes, ma'am.

It almost doesn't make sense with you.

You are beautiful.
You're a talented dancer.

The only thing I would say is be fierce
in every dance moment.

You… You can make this team.

You should make this team.

[crying] Thank you.
That means a lot to hear.

And I can promise you that
I will be trying out again next year,

and so it just really means
so much to me, and I just…

Again, I can't say thank you enough.

[somber music playing]

[Jenna] I've only ever been
on the side of getting cut

and feeling so much joy
for the other people

in the midst of my own grief and pain.

Last year, as soon as Kelli
told me I didn't make the team,

of course I was heartbroken,
but I also had this weird feeling

with all 12 girls because I knew
before they knew that they made the team,

and I got to have so much joy for them.

It felt like I was part of the surprise.

I was like, "Oh my gosh. They don't even
know their dreams just came true."

Whatever happens,

I feel good about it,
and I feel confident,

and I'm just ready to wrap it up
and keep on pushing.

[Kelli] You're one of my favorites
in this year's entire training camp,

and we're making cuts,

and you're not gonna make the cut.

- [Journi] Yes, ma'am.
- [somber music continues]

[Kelli] You are dance lessons away
from making this team.

In our minds, you're just a year away.

[Kelli] So I know what
I'm telling you is disappointing,

but you've been great here,
and you've made a great impression.

[Journi] It was a great experience.

I just want to say
thank y'all for the opportunity.

- I hope you have a wonderful season.
- [Kelli] Thank you.

We're sorry. You're…

- You're one of my faves.
- [laughs]

- And I want to see you back.
- [laughing] Okay.

Okay.

["Cry About It!"
by Kali Uchis & Ravyn Lenae playing]

[Judy] Any of our last few cuts
could have been on our team,

and it came down to picking 36.

♪ Too bad, so sad ♪

♪ You should cry about it ♪

[bittersweet song continues]

♪ Too bad, so sad… ♪

[Charlotte] Hi, ladies.

You put a spotlight right here.
It's super bright.

- [Judy] It makes your eyes look pretty.
- Oh good! It makes the uniforms sparkle.

[Kelli] Yes, it does.

[bittersweet song continues playing]

[Charlotte loudly] Hey, ladies!

- Guess what time it is?
- [all cheering]

[Charlotte] It's time to celebrate
the 2025 Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders!

- [Faith] I don't know what's going on!
- You're a Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader!

- No, I'm not!
- Yes, you are!

- [bittersweet song continues]
- [muted screaming and cheering]

[Faith] Oh my God!
We did it, girls! We made it!

- [Charly] I know!
- [bittersweet song continues]

♪ Go cry about it ♪

♪ Cry about it ♪

♪ Cry about it
Go cry about it ♪

[song fades into background]

- [woman] Six is a small number!
- Yes.

- [woman] It's a small number.
- [Charlotte] It is heartbreaking.

[Charlotte] It's really heartbreaking,
but it is also so super exciting to see…

- [Faith] You're making dreams come true!
- …your smiling faces!

[Kelli] So, y'all, first of all,

congratulations on making
the 2025 Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders team.

We are as excited as you all are.

Very emotional for us too.

- Miss Jenna?
- [all cheering wildly]

You came through our Cowboys family
and we're proud of how far you've come.

[cheerleader] Yeah, Parker!

[all cheering]

And for someone
who's traveled the farthest, Faith.

- [Faith] Thank you so much.
- [all cheering]

I'm so proud of you! You did it!

- You did it! You did it!
- I did it!

We did it! We did it!

[laughing]

[Parker] I did it for all of us.

[laughing] Guys, what on Earth?

No, Mum, it's real!

["Cry About It!" continues playing]

- Two, four.
- Three.

- Five, seven, one.
- Six. Eight.

- Two!
- Three, four…

- Five, six, seven, eight.
- [Judy] Stop! Stop!

There's something wrong right here.

Okay. Five, six, seven, eight.

One, two, three. Stretch.

Okay, make sure you're
really exaggerating those diagonals.

- [on mic] Full out kicks, jump split.
- [Megan] Yes, ma'am. Let's go.

We got it! We got it! We got it!

[tense music playing]

[Judy] Didn't look full out for everyone.
You thought training camp was hard.

Now we're gonna be going faster
and harder than ever.

Because we have a lot to get done,
and it doesn't feel like that much time.

Okay, let's do that again.

[tense music continues]

[Judy on mic] Stop!

- Y'all have to freeze.
- Yeah.

You can't take a step in.

You can't move after one.

Okay, let's do that again. Here we go.

[cheerleader] Love y'all!

- [Faith] Let's do it.
- [cheerleader] One, three, five, seven.

- [cheerleader] One, three, five, seven.
- [Judy] Line.

- Line.
- [cheerleader] One, three, five, seven.

One, three…

[Judy] Straighten your legs.
Lea's legs are not straight.

- Move!
- [cheerleader] Three, five, seven.

- [cheerleader 1] Here.
- [cheerleader 2] One, three, five, seven.

[Judy] Stop. Okay, stop. Let's…

We're not gonna sit
and do this forever tonight.

We've gotta go on to Oxnard, but let's
count that one more time through.

Know that you've got that out of the way,
know where you're going?

[Megan] We're gonna have two yards,
so five, six, seven, eight.

On to the big.

- [Lea] Yeah, going 45 to 44.
- [Megan] Two yards, all you gotta think.

- [Lea] This is one yard.
- [ethereal synth music playing]

- [Lea] Right?
- [Megan] So find the 50 and then two.

[Lea] I love math!

[ethereal music continues]