"Jess! Got time to chat?" Willow asked
"Yeah, Willow, what's up?" Jess asked
"My favorite local TV show, High School Dance Heroes, is holding open auditions for new dance crews that want to compete... And I think our school should totally enter!" said Willow
"Cool! Sounds like fun! So when is your crew auditioning for High School Dance Heroes?" Jess asked
"The auditions are just around the corner... But as far as a crew goes, I haven't had much luck persuading other students of sign up. So far, we only have two members." said Willow
"I'm the other member, aren't I?"
"I knew you'd say yes! So you think you can help me recruit some more dancers?" Willow asked
Jess help Willow recruit dancer. Emily (jock) and Greg (prep) joined in. Daniella and Jack enroll Berry.
"Willow, what do you think about the new recruits?" Jess asked
"Good synchronization, good memorization... and they've got their dance moves down! Brace yourself... I think we might actually have a winning dance crew on our hands!"
"Are we ready to audition for High School Dance Heroes?"
"We would be. The only problem is that our practice area is way too small to get everyone moving at the same time. I tried to Raise The Rood, but it was more like Bang My Elbows. And I'm not even going to tell you what happened when I tried to do the splits."
"Now that you mention it, it IS kind of cramped..."
Jess finds a space for the dance team to practice
"This spot is perfect, Jess! There's plenty of room to work on front flips, and I love the floor-to-ceiling mirrors and sprung floors." said Willow
"So we'll be able to practice here?" Jess asked
"I think so. Stand back, and we'll find out!" said Willow
"Whoa... that was a crazy handstand! With moves like that we definitely have a shot at getting onto High School Dance Heroes!" said Jess
"Good news, Jess! We did it! I submitted an audition tape of our dance crew performing in our new practice space... and we were accepted onto High School Dance Heroes!"
"Awesome! I bet the judges will flip when we perform our routine!"
"Unfortunately, things aren't quite that simple... The competition is spread across three episodes, and the judges live to mix it up with last-minute challenges!"
"...challenges?"
"In the first episode, we're supposed to incorporate ballroom dance moves into our routine."
"What's the big deal? You know how to ballroom dance, right?"
"Sure, I know MOVES, but winning High School Dance Heroes takes way more than just knowing where to put your feet... You need to capture the DRAMA of the dance!"
Sarah and Carlos performed next
"Whoa! I didn't know Sarah and Carlos knew how to dance like that!" Willow gasped
"Turns out a lot of Shakespeare plays have party sequences, and the actors have to dance in the background..." said Jess
"Jess doth speak verily! As a consequence of our theatrical avocation, we've learnt dances like the pavane, the galliarde, the jig..." said Sarah
"Not to mention the flopdizzy and the pigtickle!" said Carlos
"Um, let's keep the pig-tickling to a minimum..." said Jess
"Would you guys be willing to join our crew and teach the rest of us how to inject some drama into our ballroom dancing?" Willow asked
"Certainly! Now take my hand. And one, and two... you've got it!" said Sarah
"That's good news... because High School Dance Heroes is starting any second now! Okay, everyone, the show is starting! Let's begin our routine with a curtsy, then do a synchronized body wave... Now circle around me as I slide into an armchair freeze for the big finish!"
The crowd applauds!
"Whoo! That was fun!" said Jess
"Forsooth! The spotlight has an allure!" said Zac
"The judges loved us! Not only did they advance us to the next round, but they singled out our devotion to period authenticity!" said Willow
"Well, you know, every truly incredible performance does begin from a place of truth." said Sarah
"Oh no. Oh, this is not good." Willow frowned seeing her ex boyfriend
"What's wrong?" Jess asked
"I just say who we're competing against in the next round... and I've got some serious history with one of our rivals!" Willow explained
"Dancing history or dating history?" Jess asked
"Both? Ugh, this is totally messing with my headspace. How am I going to be able to focus on tangoing when I've got to look at my ex?!"
"Can't you just focus on the moves?"
"The tango is more than just some steps! It's a whole attitude! Dancing the tango is like making out in a lightning storm!"
"Difficult but rewarding?"
"Exactly! If you do it right, sparks fly!"
"Sounds pretty intense!"
"It is... or it SHOULD be. But right now, all I can focus on is my ex!"
"Sounds like you could use some new romance in your life!"
Willow took dance classes with Carlos (actor) They both danced in harmony
"Ooh! My heart is dropping mad beats, and my feet can't stop tapping to the rhythm..." Willow danced blushed
"I take it the date went well?" Jess asked
"So well that I've got passion to burn! I am SO ready to show my ex just how over it I am!" said Willow
"That's the spirit!" said Jess
"Let's hit the dance floor and show those judges that it takes a CREW to tango."
On the set of High School Dance Heroes...
"One... two... now take it smooth... Get low, get close... and do an air kiss for the finish!" said Willow
The crowd applauds!
"Who knew slow dancing could be so... sensual?" Jess asked
"The judges were fanning themselves and talking about how steamy our routine was. We're definitely advancing to the final episode of the competition!" said Willow
"We aced the tango, so I'm sure we can handle whatever the judges decide to throw at us in Round 3!" said Jess
"Yeah we did! Too bad my ex made the cut as well. We'll be going head-to-head in the final, ultimate, end-of-the-line challenge!"
"That sounds... not easy..."
"We're supposed to put together an original dance routine that showcases our school's diversity... But how do we even begin to do that?"
Hmm...I think we should go right to the source!"
Jess gather Chad (Cheerleader), Madison (Artist) and Henry (Filmmaker)
"OMG, Jess! All of these people want to help with our dance routine?" Willow asked
"Yep! And I think they have some pretty good ideas!" said Jess
"Cheerleading is basically dancing, only way more vertical! I can definitely teach everyone how to make a pyramid!" said Chad
"I could demonstrate some dance steps that express the moods of having a crush on somebody cute!" said Madison
"I watched every major dance movie ever made in chronological order! Things got pretty weird in the 70s, not gonna lie." said Henry
"And that's not all! The jocks are ready to Zumba, the nerds are ready to dance the Robot- or was that ready to MAKE a dancing robot? The point is... these guys are going to make this dance routine the best that High School Dance Heroes has ever seen!" said Jess
"Then what are we waiting for? Let's dance!" said Willow
The dance team performed their routine
"Okay, everybody, the whole world is watching. Time to show them the best dance routine ever!" Willow called
"Ready and... build a pyramid!" said Chad
"Now move freely, expressing your emotions!" said Madison
"Then swing your partner in time to the music, and remember to smile for the camera!" said Henry
The crew spins, flips and moonwalks, perfectly in sync!
"And for the big finish, everyone stand back while I do my patented backflip to spin to Planche!" said Willow
The crowd leaps to their feet to deliver a standing ovation!
"How'd we do?" Jess asked
"Judging by the deafening applause, the crowd LOVES us! And so did the judges! We crushed my ex... which makes us the new High School Dance Heroes champions!" said Willow
"Duh... anything cheerleaders do is bound to be a big hit!" said Chad
"The trophy really is quite aesthetically pleasing..." said Madison
"And the video of it came out really well, too!" said Henry
"Thanks so much, Jess! We couldn't have won the Dance Heroes trophy without all your help." Willow hugged Jess
"Don't worry about it! Just tell me, did you get a chance to say anything to your ex?" Jess asked
"Actually, I did... I got to say 'not a chance' when my ex asked if we could get back together!" said Willow
"Awesome." said Jess
"Thanks for everything, Jess! If you ever need a backup dancer, you know who to call!" said Willow