Jemma's Sixth Entry
Sunday night's Pony routine went off! Everyone was screaming while we were doing it; it was a really good to start the night with it. Rhys and I had heaps of fun. We got great feedback, which surprised us, but we loved hearing it! I was so nervous before our Musical Theatre piece, the most nervous I've been so far on the show. It had lots technical elements, but I did it best I'd ever done it, so I couldn't be happier with that! The feedback was spot on, it was perfect. It was the last time dancing with Rhys, which was really sad, as we have such a strong connection. We didn't want to let go, but finding out we got through was amazing. Hopefully we'll be in the competition long enough to dance together again, that would be really special.
Before we got sent home, we had a publicity event and went bowling – it was like a club with bowling alleys in it, as well as lounges, a bar, full clubbing music and lights, all kinds of video games – Perth has nothing like that! I'm gonna go back to Perth and be like, ‘Look, you've gotta step up!'. It was amazing! We had so much fun, all hanging out with each other outside of the competition – I started off with three strikes and couldn't stop laughing, but then I got three strikes in a row!
Then we got sent home and I couldn't be happier, as I haven't seen my family since week one. I surprised them, and came back for my sister's birthday. They were all in shock, crying and screaming, it was funny. Then I rocked up to my dance studio and surprised all my kids, my students from Dance Power. It was so cute to see them all again. All my friends came out with me on Saturday night. It was great to bust a move at the club with no judges watching! Then before you knew it, I was back on a plane, and straight back into it.
I'm loving this week, working with a new partner. Even though I miss Rhys, it's so good to learn more about someone else in the competition, I'm petrified, but I can't wait to do my solo and show Australia what I'm passionate about. I don't wanna go home, as I still wanna dance with other people in the competition. But if I do, at least I'll finish on the high note of doing my solo. Shout-outs to all my mates at Dance Power, family and friends who were there for me when I came home. Keep voting for me cuz I don't wanna come home just yet! I feel like I'm really improving and have so much more room to grow.
The movie I could live in is: Too Fast Too Furious – because the girl in it is so powerful and sexy, and gets to be involved in full action and adventure.
Jemma's Fifth Entry
Dancehall. That was so good. It was funny to walk out to get into our starting position – everyone was just laughing! It was the best audience we've ever had – they were screaming the whole way through. It's first time they've had a dance they can actually get involved with. All the other routines have been intense and dramatic – it's cool to hear them encouraging you, you get this energy from nowhere and then it's all over in a blink. It was good to show another side of us, I think we've been very diverse. Most of my costumes have covered me up from head to toe - this was the opposite, I was showing a bit of bumcheek action to Australia, no worries! I was worried what people would think when I did the headspin bit – I had to warn my Nanna! I called her and told her it would be a bit raunchy, but she rang me straight afterwards, and was like, ‘I'm so proud of you!.' All my friends said, ‘We like this side of you!' – they've never seen me so out there! The judges loved it – well, Matt said it needed more energy, but I don't know where I could have found more energy! They said both of us were like chameleons, we take hold of routines and make them our own. They said our diversity is increasing, and that's really rewarding. Getting thrown a different style each week, I'm always thinking, 'Omigosh, is it gonna be OK?' so when they said that, I was so relieved.
This week is another challenge, but I don't need to be an animal this time – ha ha! It's technical and very, very fast. I think you have to be high on sugar to do it - I feel like a chicken with my head cut off, running around! It is so fast. You can do it in your head but when you try and do it physically, it's a different story. I'm really using both sides of my brain for this.
I lost one of my closest friends, Laura. I was holding it in, but when they showed her package, and her voiceover saying ‘the friendships I've made', they had a close-up of her and me hugging, and I just lost it. That's one friendship I've got for life.
Shoutouts to Hazlebum, Dave Lyons, Emma, Gareth, Aunty Tracey and my Nanna and Poppy, and Mum and Tara.
In high school I was: usually the teacher's favourite - the quiet, hard-working one - but my friends were always surprised at how outgoing I was outside of school. I was the sporty one. Loved the sports over everything, PE Studies was my favourite, and Dance, of course!
Jemma's Fourth Entry
Whenever I get a style, I'm told to think ‘animal', and this week I'm taking that further than usual! Normally I'm quite shy and reserved, but this week I have to be sexy, intimidating and confident, which I'm not at all – haha! It's a real challenge because I've never acted this way before, but it's fun to play that character for a day. It's something that switches on when you're onstage, with all the people cheering, it really encourages me.
The choreographer this week is really pushing me hard, because in this style of dance the female is the dominant one – there's a lot more pressure on me to characterize it. Pretty much, I'm a white chick trying to do a black chick's dance! Yet again I get to be really sexy with Rhys and our friendships really been taken to the next level – my butt's in his face a lot – haha!
Loved the Paso Doble – it couldn't have gone any better on the night, especially with the audience support all the way through the routine. Rhys looked amazing – he was so strong and masculine, it makes it easy to dance with him.
I was sad seeing Marko go – he's such a character, so it feels the mood has died down a bit. We still do things that he used to do, which still cracks us up laughing!
The pressure is getting more full-on; each week you lose a good friend and get thrown a new style. I've had both my styles, so the pressure is on to show my versatility, and why they put me here in the first place. At the same time, I'm forming such good friendships, it'll be sad when I go home to Perth ‘cause I'm gonna be so far away. Maybe I'd think about moving back here – if there's any offers?! I'm a Ballroom dancer, so it's more difficult to get offered places. If things are offered outside the dancing world, I wouldn't brush it off; I'd be interested to see what they are. Wait and see – who knows…
In answer to your question, Bean, the hardest thing about being on the show is saying goodbye to good friends each week after getting close to them, and letting down your barriers to new things.
You can always make me happy by: having a good sense of humour and entertaining me.
Jemma's First Entry
I was really stressing out before Friday – I didn't feel our routine was 100% prepared, or totally polished. I like to be a perfectionist when I perform, but it wasn't ready. Having said that, I felt like Rhys and I danced the best we could. I loved the characterizations we had – Rhys as a vampire, and me as his missus - it took away the focus on the technique, but I was still freaking out! I knew I'd get constructive criticism, so I was prepared for that.
I've been feeling a bit emotional cuz of such a tough week – having got through that I feel I can get through anything! It's such a huge change of being outside of your little square – going from working with the same teacher you've had for years, to working with people you've never had before, and adapting to their pace and their styles.
I'm really happy with the style we've got this week – Rhys and I have been working really well together - last week just made us closer. I literally screamed and jumped on my choreographer when I saw him – he's my idol! It feels like a reward from the week before. It's another difficult routine, I'm gonna be covered in bruises. I was dropped so much today – I just couldn't stop laughing. I was getting bashed by Rhys and the choreographer; punched on my nose, dropped on my knee, dragged across the room. By then end I was sitting there covered with ice packs, just laughing! I had to dig real deep to get through the routine. I just have to remember, on the night it's only 1.30min to get through it.
I'm loving how I got Rhys as my partner. Today the choreographer and him were showing me how to do the lifts, and he was doing all the girly parts of the lifts - being picked up - and he was better than me! He's such a character - we'll be training, and then he's like, 'Lets watch Sex and the City for a bit'. He's really great.
Ideal person to play me in a biopic: Jessica Alba. She's stunning , sweet and you wanna be her. Plus she'd make me look good!
Jemma's Second Entry
Group chorey was a highlight for me last week – it was the first time we'd all danced together – we kept missing each other because of our timetables. Doing the dance with Rhys – that was my favourite. The saddest thing was seeing Khaly and Courtney go – it was a huge wake-up call, like, ‘that's how the show goes'. It really changed the dynamic, we all realized that each week someone goes, and the weeks go really fast. We're gonna be losing really good friends.
Camilla and I go to dinner quite a bit. She was an angel the other night, she texted me to say she's cooked me dinner and she's not even my roommate! We've been doing girly things like getting our nails done - we even got Demi to get he nails done!
This week I'm way out of my comfort zone – I'm all battered and bruised! The make-up artists are gonna have fun patching me up! There's lots of floorwork and partner work. I'm really scared. It's the complete opposite from our waltz with really different characters as well. Rhys is doing really well, I'm so glad I have him. He gives me feedback, makes me feel better. After rehearsal we go back to mine, work out the counts and the steps, and that's helped a lot as well. We all practice on the balcony of our room and all these people from the other rooms have started watching, and clapping after we do it. Yesterday Demi and Jack, Sermsah and Camilla, and me and Rhys were practicing and we had quite an audience!
Biggest misconception about dancers: People don't think it's very physical but it's so physical and demanding!
Jemma's First Entry
Today has been really fun - all the contestants have been bonding and relaxing around each other cuz we've all been in the one place at the one time. I've had the chance to talk to people I haven't seen a lot of. Usually, I see a lot of Camilla, Jack, Demi, Rhys, Graeme and Laura. Jack does this Latin move wherever he goes – a cha cha lock. It's so funny. I dyed Jack's hair the other day – Raven Red.
The other night a bunch of us went to Darling Harbour and had dinner at Blackbird. We're not too conscious about what we eat because we all burn it off anyway. We all ordered chicken parmigiana – it was sooo good! Other than that we relax in each others rooms, watching TV. We're all hooked on the Biggest Loser! We watched the show as well, which was so weird. It bought back all the feelings and emotions of being there.
My dance partner is so much fun to be around – we're serious when we're dancing, but we have so much fun. His laugh is so contagious – you can hear it a mile away. He helps me out a lot. He's from an opposite background to me – he calls himself an all-rounder, but I focus on one style. At first I thought our dance would be something I was very familiar with, but as we started working I realised it wasn't. My choreographer told me to forget about all my training. I was like, ‘How do I do that, get that out of my muscle memory and brain!?' I'm still trying! I'm known as the Latin Ballroom dancer so I'm mainly focused on challenging myself to see if I can do other styles. I want to be like the quiet achiever. This whole experience is so surreal for me. It sounds corny – but it's like a dream. I've always wanted something like this want to happen, but I never thought it could.
Demi is my roomie – she's awesome! I'm so happy with her. It's nice, calm and relaxing. We muck around a lot, help each other cleaning and cooking. We have a large balcony which we dance on. Last night we had the music on a bit too loud and people from the other hotel were out on their balconies watching us!
For the first show, I think my jaw will be dropped the whole time. SYTYCD is one of my favourite TV shows, so it'll be crazy to actually be on it. This show has taught me to never give up. I was off the competition floor for four years without a partner and I was getting sad. Now I'm back on and ready to go!
Fave dance movie: Dirty Dancing. "I carried a watermelon!"
