Jess14

I can see how that could be some of the reason, but do average people not think that the cheerleaders are dating/sleeping with the athletes? I actually think that the average person would be surprised to hear that there are rules banning the cheerleaders from dating players, as well as think it’s silly. Not saying that the rule should be based on what people think by any means. Personally, i don’t like that it’s one-sided, but if people don’t like the rules, they cannot sign on or they can break them and take the consequences. I just think this whole “America’s Sweetheart” thing gets played up too much (not by you or anyone on here, but the show in general). These girls are extremely talented, but they wear shorts that barely cover their asses and pose in bikinis w/cutouts and on all fours. The notion then that dating an athlete in a consensual relationship is some massive forbidden step is a bit laughable. I do agree though that relationships/dating with pro athletes should be entered into with caution. I know some pro athletes and people who have married them, and as with any other subset of people, you cannot paint a whole group of people by the worst of the bunch. However, fame and especially extreme wealth can bring out the absolute worst in people. Getting caught up in “that life” can be more trouble than it’s worth.

Why are those two things in conflict - working hard or dating a football player? And why is it assumed that the girls are the one trying to get the football player to marry them? It wouldn’t surprise if the player is doing the pursuit in some of these cases. I agree though that it’s not life or death to find a football player, and if we’re talking about long-term relationships, that’s going to be rare. FWIW, i didn’t read the above post as saying that girls should join the team for the purpose of landing an athlete, though I’m sure the pseudo-fame and access is a draw for many dancers. I just read it as saying that if the opportunity arises, don’t turn down a potential husband (wealthy being a plus) for a high visibility, but low paying, temporary job with sexist one-sided rules.

Right! Or at least at time that post was made, she was either being fake or really liked Jenna then. One or the other as that post was way beyond pretending like you get along with each other for the sake of the team. Things could've changed over time for sure. I certainly don't buy that these girls are all friends, nor should they be expected to be. it's also highly possible that people can grow apart or sour over people as time goes on. I'm sure we've all been there.

There is polite and then there is flat out fake. There is no need for a post like that (or even a post at all) if you don’t like someone. A “HBD Jenna” with a cute pic or something similar would suffice, but the “i adore you, so happy I’ve gotten to jump on you for three years” is a lot. The fawning social media posts aren’t my thing in general though. Thats not say that Jenna is liked by everyone or Melissa specifically. I find it believable that people are over her. I just think if true, that posts shows a level of fakeness on Melissa’s part.

Yeah. I like Simone. I’m glad she’s on the team, and I think she’s gorgeous, but power dancing is not really her thing. She’s blends just fine in the group, but put her side by side with some of the better dancers, and that video is what you get lol.

Definitely. And it’s not just Jenna. Kelli has shown her disdain for others too. For example, once Chelsea walked out that office and started cutting up about Kelli’s warning and then came in and put on an act in the office, her days were numbered. Someone put it perfectly, when Kelli is done with you, she is done. She had given Jenna a second chance, and she screwed up again. Add to Jenna making it known that she hoped to get point back, and she was doner than done in Kelli’s eyes. Actually watching the show and seeing how much Kelli seems to have a distaste for her now, i actually don’t get why they didn’t cut her. At that point, I assume they didn’t know that Erica would also blatantly break a rule so soon after her 2 besties got caught. Maybe they just didn’t think Amy was ready to step up and be the group 1 leader?

Stepping aside from the Jenna and Kashara with a dose of Lacey conversation for a second, can someone help me out? Who else was a rookie with Erica, Melissa, Lacey other than Mary, Carla, Ashley Pro, Victoria, Breelan. I feel like I’m missing someone. Was Samantha with that group?

Of course. Who has stated otherwise?

Amen! Outside of quitting, Jenna had no control over whether she stayed on the team. If they choose to enforce the rules unevenly, which they do, that’s not the girl’s fault. Likewise, Kashara, nor any girl, has any control over she stands in the formation. If someone doesn’t like the formation (I don’t!), blame K&J. I think Kelli is a master at marketing and placement. Like, she is truly phenomenal at that aspect of her job. When it comes personnel matters however, based on what I’ve seen on the show and read here, she kind of sucks. I leave Judy out of it because I’m not sure how much control she has over anything one way or another.

I don’t think the criticism aimed at either girl compares to what we saw with Cassie, which I think comes much closer to hate. With Kashara, most (though not all) of the criticism seems aimed at her dancing, spot in the formation, or the show trying to portray her as the best DCC ever, not her as a person. With Jenna, the criticism is more character-based and personal, but it still isn’t like Cassie, and Jenna has far more fans/defenders. I shudder to think what the boards were like for Cassie fans back in the day. She got slammed (irrationally IMO) for character, dance, and everything in between.

Of all the things to criticize Jenna for, and there are certainly many, her not looking happy enough for Kashara is probably the pettiest. I really wonder the thoughts going through both Jenna’s head and Kelli’s. I wonder if Jenna is happy she stayed or wishes she had dipped with Holly or just been quietly cut like Erica. She obviously genuinely enjoys being a DCC, but is the pseudo-fame worth the humiliation? Don’t get me wrong, I think there’s value in taking your lumps, but the situation overall just seemed toxic. Likewise, I don’t feel like Kelli ever moved on from it, which im sure added to the toxicity.

I 100% don’t think Holly A should’ve been point for 2 years. She was fine and she’s certainly beautiful, but I thought Emma and Jacie were more engaging performers. I actually thought Mia was only point for 1 year. I thought Whitney was point for 2 years. Who was point during season 6? Allie? I agree about Kashara as well. I don’t think she’s the best dancer on the team but she’s gets the job done at point. Jenna was rightfully (IMO) point originally, but she lost it due to reasons that are known to everyone. It’s not like they just one day moved her back in the formation. Same for Erica and Holly who could’ve had it but lost their spots due to their own behavior. At that point, you’re down to Lacey and Kashara basically, with an outside shot for Robyn. I think Lacey is best dancer of the 3 and has seniority, but I don’t think she’s that much better to the point where there should be no debate. All 3 are beautiful but in different ways. Kashara has a radiant and joyful quality, especially in her face. I get why they went went with her, even if I may not have.

I could see this. I actually was a bit surprised that they originally had Holly behind Jenna, where she was kind of hidden. What i would’ve liked to see: Jenna Erica. Holly Lacey Robin Kashara If they wanted to break up the brunettes in the triangle, I would switch Kashara with Lacey and leave Holly in the middle.

Even if she loves it, she’s accomplished about everything possible in DCC, and she may well have other passions or things that she loves that cannot be done simultaneously with DCC. I guess my point is that if she, leaves, i don’t think it should be seen as her only being in it to get as many achievements as possible. Of course, if that is why she did it, I don’t really see the issue either, but I’ve never been one to care about girls doing this for the “right” or “wrong.” What’s right or wrong is subjective to me. Kashara is mid-20s now right? For basically all of the girls, if they have aspirations of having real nomdancing careers, then it would seem to be a good time to start transitioning to that anyway.

Yeah, I think several of the rookies would've been cut if the group had been stronger this year. I think Christina and Savannah especially should send Holly and Erica gift baskets because I don't think either would be on the team if they didn't leave/get dismissed. Now, Keyra isn't blowing me away from the videos that I have seen this season, but there's nothing that's so bad about her performance that makes me think that she's there in spite of her dancing. She's fine IMO. Do I think Kelly may have cut her for her body type if Keyra didn't have connections? Perhaps, but it's not like she's jiggly or anything. I think it's a good thing for the team to have some girls with some curves like Kashara or who are a bit thick like Keyra and Rachel. Everybody doesn't find the stick thin girls to be the most attractive. With that said, Keyra is short and on the stockier side, so she doesn't have a lot of leeway when it comes to weight. If she were to gain a few pounds in the offseason, like we've seen with several girls, I think she would be done.

I actually thought the last fan vote winner, Jackie (i think that was her name), was nearly as bad as Colby. There was nothing offensive about her, but she was the definition of boring. I felt bad for Colby. She was out of her league but she seemed like a nice person. It was obvious that Kelli did not like her at all.

Agreed. If ever anyone has seemed like a one and done, it’s her. She kind of reminds me of Emily from season 7 in that regard. I could see her choosing not to audition again.

Yeah, Lexie is one of the rookies who I think has the most potential. I know Kalyssa got an outsized amount of attention during training camp, and while I like her, she still has the look of being an untrained dancer to me.

If that is what they were mad about, then they should have just said that. That makes sense. Instead, they went down the "stop thinking about yourself, just be happy you're here, you need to need to act like a rookie" etc. angle. It's certainly possible that it got edited out, but based on what we saw, there's nothing that makes me believe that Kelli would've been ok with Jenna asking her specifically about point. I think she took personal offense to Jenna and Holly's actions, and then viewed and treated the situation like a parent dealing with her kid. Regardless though, it ultimately water under the bridge. Jenna will be gone next year, and if a similar situation arises again, I'm sure K&J will be able to handle it. Hopefully, differently IMO.

Yeah, they're both forgettable even though I actually think Elizabeth is quite good. Tess is just boring to me, but she's never been featured much, so it's possible that I'm just missing something. With that said, if a current 2nd year were to get cut, I wouldn't be shocked if it was her. Yeah, I would be surprised to see Cersten-Robyn-Lacey, but I guess its not totally different from Mia-Jackie-Emma. I wouldn't rule out Maggie as being in the triangle. They seem to really like her. In terms of pure dance, Kelli can make an argument for being in the triangle, but she, similar to Jinelle, can look older than she is, so I don't see it for her. I definitely see Cersten in the triangle thoough. If Kashara leaves and Lacey stays, it wouldn't stun me to see Certen-Lacey-Maggie. What will be really interesting is if Kashara and Lacey retire. I have no idea who would get point then. Well, i question if that conversation about "thinking about yourself" even would have occurred if Jenna was James and Kelly and Judy were Kevin and John, but that's for a different conversation lol. However, I agree with the circumstance above going over poorly, but if the guy was the lead on a project or slated to be the lead on a project prior to getting in trouble and it's not been made clear to him whether he will remain/or is still slated to be the lead on the project, then I don't think it would be inappropriate to ask. Disciplinary actions need clarity for the sake of the employee and the protection of employer. I'm honestly not sure that it was originally part of Jenna's punishment that she would lose point. K&J seem like they make up stuff up as they go. In that case, a simple "the final formation is not set, and you will find out where you are in the formation at the same time as everyone else" would've been fine. The "how dare you think of yourself and ask about point" was just all sorts of ridiculous to me. Jenna of course also shares blame for being on the team for 6 years and not realizing that Kelli would react that way. After that long, she really need to know the people who she works for.

Ok thanks. That makes sense. It kind of seemed like before that she had stated that she didn't want to be considered for point (like how some girls ask not be considered for show group). That seemed odd to me that she or anyone would do that. However, I totally get the scenario laid out above. While I think you would see similar complaints as you do for Kashara on the board if Jenna, Erica, or Holly were point if all 3 girls were on the team (you can never please everyone), I don't think you would see the "Lacey for point" arguments at all. I think that is purely a result of Erica/Holly being dismissed and Jenna being removed from the position. Lacey wasn't really on the radar before any of the drama occurred, and I can see how that was the case from her point of view as well.

That likely was the case. If anything though, I don't think its about looking at it generally from the outside, but it goes back to the other point that the DCCs are not a real, professional environment. Take Jenna out of it because I feel she's a lightening rod on this board and substitute anyone. The fact that their actions are analogous to a parent-child relationship is itself problematic. That's not their role. Beyond that, an employee really should not have to ask about their status. That should be made clear when a suspension is handed down (outside of situations where a suspension is due to a pending investigation, and then it should made clear as soon as possible afterwards). Ambiguous, open-ended, "you're punished until we say you're not" or "you're punished until you show sufficient remorse" situations may work for parents or may even work in college/high school coach-player relationships, but it doesn't make for a good situation in a workplace. Kelli is lucky that so many people covet being a DCC and that a high level of turnover is natural. If she ever has to transition into a managerial role where she has permanent employees without the "yes mam" culture, she is going to need to make some major changes in the way she operates. ETA: I should make it clear that I don't think they want to be like a real work place. I think they are perfectly fine and happy to kind of be in that gray area where they do what they want and don't really have to worry about real HR issues. And ultimately, the girls know the deal after they've been there for a year. It's not a job that pays the bills, so people are always free to leave with few reservations.

Didn’t Milan quit mid season? I may not be following correctly, but I don’t see how that is preferable to pouting? Although (again, assuming I’m following, and please correct me if I’m not) it is interesting that Lacey does think that she’s been done wrong. I’m curious about Lacey not showing interest in point. Given the way they flipped out at Jenna for asking Shelly if she would get point back (the type of question that wouldn’t raise an eyebrow at my job), it seems like it would be frowned upon if someone did outwardly show interest in being point. Do they just ask the senior vets if they want to be point? If so, was Kashara asked as well and said yes? Sorry for all of the questions, but I find all of this interesting given some of the other things we’ve seen. Granted, things being contradictory and the rules/standards being different for different girls seems perfectly normal for the DCC world. The DCCs have always seemed more like a college sorority than an actual professional environment. However, between some of things we’ve seen on the show this year, the flood of insider info that we’ve received on the board over the last year (substantially more than in the past), and the all of the dismissals/departures this season, it seems like the environment is somewhat toxic.

Yep. At the end of the day, it is their team, and they can elevate who they want to. However, it was like they knew that Kashara had never been considered one of the best dancers on the team, so to compensate and try to convince all of us that she's suddenly the best, they kept telling us every episode how great she was. It got to the point where it was more annoying than anything. I don't think seniority is everything, but generally, I think it should count for something, especially if you are the best or one of the best. Jenna is arguably the best performer on the team, but I get why she lost point and didn't get pro bowl given all of the drama this season. I get why Jinelle got passed over, as I do not consider her to be a top 5 (maybe not even top 10) dancer on the team, and I don't think she really has the DCC look as much as others. However, I don't get why Lacey got jumped for everything. She is the 3rd most senior vet, a top 3 dancer on the team, very pretty, and as far as we know, has had no disciplinary issues. I honestly would probably retire if I were her. Beyond Lacey, even looking at the other 3 years, you can make the argument that Robin, Kelli, and Stephanie are all as strong as Kashara in terms of dance. For the record, this is nothing against Kashara. She's great, and she seems like she would be fun to hang out with. Additionally, she also has no control over the editing of the show or where she is put in any formation. All she can do is go out there and dance the best that she can. She has done that, and I'm happy for her and the year that she has had, even if I don't get it. Merry Christmas everyone!! ETA: Plaza performance:

I figured it would be Kashara. She seems very well-liked by the team, but more importantly, she’s clearly seems to be Kelli’s favorite. Congrats to her!