June 12, 2024 • 18 mins
In this lively episode, Jordyn Jones takes us on a nostalgic journey through her exciting time on "Abby's Ultimate Dance Competition" when she was just 13-14 years old. She spills the tea on the drama, revealing whether those epic mom fights were the real deal or just for show. Jordyn also shares her favorite dancers and moms from the cast, adding a personal touch to her stories.
Ever wondered how she got on the show? Jordyn reveals it all started with her dance videos online catching the right attention. She talks about Abby Lee Miller’s tough-love approach and how it transformed her into a stronger dancer, despite the intensity.
Jordyn dives into the fun friendships she made, especially her lasting bonds with Asia and Tessa, who are still her close friends today. She also gives us a behind-the-scenes peek at one of her toughest moments—pulling a muscle during one of the final performances, which led to her elimination.
Through it all, Jordyn looks back with gratitude, saying she wouldn’t change a thing about her dance competition adventure. The show wasn’t just a competition; it was a stepping stone to incredible opportunities and lifelong memories. Join Jordyn as she relives the highs, the lows, and all the fun in between!
From Straw Hut Media
Ever wondered how she got on the show? Jordyn reveals it all started with her dance videos online catching the right attention. She talks about Abby Lee Miller’s tough-love approach and how it transformed her into a stronger dancer, despite the intensity.
Jordyn dives into the fun friendships she made, especially her lasting bonds with Asia and Tessa, who are still her close friends today. She also gives us a behind-the-scenes peek at one of her toughest moments—pulling a muscle during one of the final performances, which led to her elimination.
Through it all, Jordyn looks back with gratitude, saying she wouldn’t change a thing about her dance competition adventure. The show wasn’t just a competition; it was a stepping stone to incredible opportunities and lifelong memories. Join Jordyn as she relives the highs, the lows, and all the fun in between!
From Straw Hut Media
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:01):
Straw media. What in the world I'm literally on do
notice for people are literally pressing notify anyways. Oh my god,
I do that too, this so I can't even be mad.
I'm like notify anyway.
Speaker 2 (00:26):
Hey guys, what's up.
Speaker 1 (00:27):
It's Jordan Jones and welcome back to the Jordan Jones Podcast,
or welcome to the podcast if you are to make
sure to subscribe to the YouTube channel and the podcast
on all streaming platforms. And let's just get right into
this video, you guys. This video is highly requested. Everyone
has wanted me to talk about being on the show
(00:48):
for so long, and I've never sat down and talked
about my own experience. I did have Asia on my
podcast about two years ago, and that episode is still
up and get so many views to this day. So
I wanted to talk about my experience being on AUDC.
If you guys didn't know, it's called Abbey's Ultimate Dance Competition.
Speaker 3 (01:07):
I was on that show when I was.
Speaker 1 (01:09):
Thirteen fourteen years old and I got I think fourth
or fifth place. So let's just like get into these questions.
And I do have some tea that I do always
talk about, but people will still ask me, what would
the producer say when you started your interviews and everything
like that. So I'll get into that in this episode.
So number one, this one, I actually had to.
Speaker 3 (01:31):
Call my mom and ask this question.
Speaker 1 (01:33):
If you guys didn't know my mom was on the
show with me, I had to call her because one,
she kind of will watch the show randomly or watch
certain clips. I don't really remember anything, so I had
to ask her for this one. Number one is was
the fight with your mom and Maria in the first
episode staged? So first, my mom thinks that this was
maybe in the second or the third episode. And yes,
(01:56):
she did just watch this like clip or episode a
couple weeks ago, so she knew exactly what I was
talking about.
Speaker 3 (02:02):
And I literally have no idea.
Speaker 1 (02:04):
I don't really know what sometimes went on between the parents,
but my mom said with this scenario that me and
Lexi had a duet and the moms were obviously watching us.
So in the routine, there was a walkover or like
a back walk over. I don't even know what that
is really called. It's where you kind of like go backwards,
(02:25):
but you're not jumping like a backhandspring, You're just doing like.
Speaker 2 (02:28):
A walk over.
Speaker 1 (02:29):
I don't know how to explain it, but basically there
was one of those in the routine and I could
do it, but Lexi couldn't, and the choreographer and the
moms were like, yo, let's just try, Like, let's just
try it.
Speaker 3 (02:40):
Come on, like, we know you can get this.
Speaker 1 (02:42):
And so she tried to do it, and I think
she fell to her knees and she was like her
or crying or something like that. Again, this is like
just from literally what my mom was telling me. But
the fight was that Lexi's mom, Maria, was mad at
Lexi for not being able to do it.
Speaker 2 (02:59):
Lexi was aussee, so.
Speaker 1 (03:01):
My mom and me were kind of like going at
it with Maria. I guess she said I was involved
because I was upset about it too, like she can't
do it, she doesn't want to do it, why can't
we just change it? So I guess that there was
like a huge fight. But basically my mom and I
were mad because she was yelling at her kid, which
kind of always happened on the show. I mean, it
(03:22):
happened to me, it happened to everyone.
Speaker 2 (03:24):
I think that that's what happened. And no, it was
not staged at all.
Speaker 1 (03:27):
I can say that nothing that happened really between me
and other girls were staged. But I did hear other
stuff that I'll talk about in the episode that were
kind of set up. But this scenario was.
Speaker 3 (03:40):
Not set up. It was not fake.
Speaker 2 (03:42):
It was totally real.
Speaker 1 (03:43):
And I don't exactly know everything about the situation, but
that's just what my mom had to say right before
I walked in today. Next one, who were your favorite
dancers slash moms on AUDC? Obviously Asia and Christie were
my favorite. I would say other than them because that's obvious.
Speaker 2 (04:02):
I did get.
Speaker 1 (04:03):
Along with Zach. He and me and Asia would kind
of hang out a lot. I feel like me and
Lexi got along, but I don't know if we really
hung out necessarily, like aside from filming that much.
Speaker 2 (04:16):
Oh Tessa, duh. I love Tessa.
Speaker 1 (04:18):
I wasn't super close with her mom though. Tessa and
I we still talk to this day. Who else do
I want to give a little shout out to Macha?
I remember Madison like being cool, but I don't really
remember hanging out with her much. I feel like that's
that's all about like my favorites. Obviously, I got along
(04:40):
and hung out with everyone. Everyone was pretty nice to me.
I don't really think I had a bad experience with
a certain mom or kid to my knowledge. I mean,
I feel like people would make remarks or kind of
not like me because I was winning or I was
getting solos or whatever.
Speaker 3 (04:55):
People were kind of not.
Speaker 1 (04:57):
Into my mom and I and we honestly didn't get
into much drama, much scuffle. I wouldn't say we were
the only normal ones, but like we just weren't really
giving into the drama that much. I was kind of
just there to have fun and dance, and my mom
was wanting what's best for me. If she needed to
stay out of something, she would Except for that Lexi thing,
I guess we were really going at it all right.
Speaker 2 (05:20):
Next question is how do you look.
Speaker 3 (05:22):
Back on that experience.
Speaker 1 (05:24):
I didn't think in the moment that it would be
something I would be talking about ten years down the road.
Speaker 2 (05:29):
This was basically a decade.
Speaker 1 (05:31):
Ago, and I still get asked this question. I still
get people commenting, Oh, you are my favorite, Oh I
like this solo, I loved you on AUDC. It's really
crazy how something from so long ago has still been
such an important impactful part in my life and I
seriously wouldn't change anything from that experience at all. I
(05:53):
loved everything about it. When I look back on it,
I just think about where I was when I got
that phone call that I made on the show, or
got my first interview.
Speaker 2 (06:02):
It was just so crazy to me.
Speaker 1 (06:03):
Basically how I got on the show was I would
post my dance clips on YouTube, and so would other
famous dance companies.
Speaker 3 (06:12):
I think one of the big ones was Dancing with YT.
Speaker 1 (06:16):
You know, the casting directors they have to go out
and find talent scope the whole internet for people who
would be good on the show. So they found me
from one of those dance videos. We got a call
I don't even know how, being like, we want you
guys to audition. Next thing, you know, we're doing a
skype interview and then we're in LA or New York
(06:37):
or something for the real interview where I have to
dance and perform for them. And yeah, we got the
call that I booked the show. My parents owned my
dance studio in Michigan, and I just remember basically being
in the front lobby and my mom just like screaming
that we got on the show, and I.
Speaker 3 (06:54):
Was so excited.
Speaker 1 (06:55):
How did my life go from being in my dance
studio working so hard every single day, no one knew who.
Speaker 2 (07:02):
I was really.
Speaker 1 (07:03):
I don't even know how it really happened, but just
from that phone call, I feel like my whole life changed.
Speaker 2 (07:08):
And I'm so thankful for those videos on the.
Speaker 1 (07:11):
Internet and to be recognized for them, and then to
be in LA living my dream and working.
Speaker 3 (07:18):
It was just all so crazy.
Speaker 1 (07:19):
That's literally how it all started for me. Literally, wouldn't
change anything. A lot of people always ask did I
want a normal childhood? Did I miss being in school?
Speaker 3 (07:28):
No?
Speaker 1 (07:28):
I was literally living my dream when I was like
fourteen years old. Yeah, I wouldn't change anything.
Speaker 3 (07:33):
I love it.
Speaker 1 (07:35):
This is a great segue into the next question. What
was your initial impression of Abby Lee as a kid? Okay,
so when I got to LA to do that audition
and I booked.
Speaker 2 (07:47):
The job, the show was called My.
Speaker 3 (07:50):
Kid Can Dance, and Abby Lee was huge.
Speaker 2 (07:52):
She was on Dance Moms.
Speaker 1 (07:53):
It was probably like the second season or something. Back then,
it was huge. My mom was a huge fan.
Speaker 3 (07:58):
Of abby Lee.
Speaker 1 (07:59):
I had who she was, and so we booked the
show as My Kid Can Dance. I don't even know
if this is stuff that I can really say. But
Abby Lee had nothing to do with it, and it
was just supposed to be a kid competition show, really
had nothing to do with the Moms. So then when
we were all there at the same exact time, they
had us lined up on stage to like announce us,
(08:21):
and we were filming, and Abby Lee walks up and
the show is called Abby's Ultimate Dance Competition, and everyone
is there and Abby's a judge and there's other judges,
and the whole thing kind of immediately changed. They like
got us in, approved us, and we okayed this situation,
and now like Abby Lee is a part of it,
which for some people can go good or bad if
(08:42):
you're a fan and you think that Abby is cool
and nice or like a good teacher or whatever. But
some people were probably like, oh, no, I'm not being
involved with this woman. But my first impression was I'm
so excited that she's here. I thought she was just
one of the judges, but the whole show is basically
a spinoff of Dance Moms.
Speaker 2 (09:00):
I was just so excited. I was so happy.
Speaker 1 (09:03):
I thought that my skills were gonna get so much
better because she's such a tough teacher, and that's always
the best for dancers, literally anyone.
Speaker 3 (09:12):
If you have like a.
Speaker 1 (09:13):
Tough soccer coach and you really invested in you know
your craft, You're just gonna be so much better. That's
kind of how it is with Abby, Like, yeah, she's
really tough and she's hard, but it makes you so
much better. I feel like a lot of the dance
mom's kids will still say that. But my first impression
of Abby, I was so excited, so happy.
Speaker 2 (09:34):
My mom was freaking out.
Speaker 1 (09:35):
Because she's like a huge Abby Lee fan. I was
just so excited to be on the show and be
able to get a chance to just be on TV
filming with all these.
Speaker 3 (09:43):
Girls and and Zach.
Speaker 1 (09:46):
But yeah, I loved it and I was so.
Speaker 3 (09:49):
Excited to meet her.
Speaker 1 (09:57):
Next question, we kind of I did already talk about this,
but favorite girl and mom from the show, so I'll
change it from my favorite girl and.
Speaker 3 (10:06):
Mom on Dance Moms.
Speaker 1 (10:09):
I was still talk to Brooke and well not so
much Paige, but I still talked to Brooke, and I
wasn't super.
Speaker 3 (10:15):
Close with any of the moms.
Speaker 1 (10:17):
But I also loved like Nia and her mom. I
thought that they were just like nice and sweet Nia.
I'll still see around at events here and there, but
they're definitely like my favorite teams of girls and moms.
Next question is did you get along with Abby?
Speaker 2 (10:34):
I think I did.
Speaker 1 (10:35):
I mean I wasn't a contemporary pretty dancer, or at
least compared to the other girls. I was more of
like the hip hop, jazz funk, So it wasn't like
I was Abby's favorite ever, except for when I did
my contemporary solo, and I will always remember that performance.
I feel like, yeah, I kind of was looked at
as the jazz, funk, hip hop maybe the best at
(10:59):
those categories, but I wanted to prove myself and especially
like how good of a dancer I was to Abby
with that contemporary solo because again, like I was always
put with hip hop, jazz, fun even just like jazz.
So that was like my time to be like, okay,
I really have to prove myself to Abby right now,
and she loved me. That changed everything. I feel like
(11:22):
that solo was super good, everything went smoothly.
Speaker 2 (11:26):
I always got along with.
Speaker 1 (11:27):
Her because I kind of felt like I wasn't trying
to impress her all the time. I felt like again
because I was kind of different from the other girls
who were technically better than me at dancing. I knew
that Robin and Richie I wanted their approval kind of
more because of the type of style I was going for.
(11:48):
Robin was all for like superstars and someone who just
like has that fire in them. Richie would always say
I was like a firecracker. I think also Robin literally
said I was a firecracker. So it was kind of
these are the people who get me and Abby. I
wanted to be good for her, but I wasn't always
trying to impress her, and I feel like that's kind
(12:08):
of why we got along more.
Speaker 3 (12:10):
And again, I.
Speaker 1 (12:11):
Never raised my voice or I kind of just like listened.
I listen, I dance, tried not to miss a beat.
I don't complain if something was hurting, except for obviously
how I got kicked off the show was I literally
pulled my muscle and I couldn't do what they were
having me do. But again, I think it was pretty
messed up when I do look back at it, how
long they were having us hold these certain moves, and
(12:34):
I feel like when I looked like I was in pain,
they had us like hold it for longer and longer
and longer because of like drama or whatever. And looking
back on how I definitely got eliminated, I think it
was pretty inhumane.
Speaker 3 (12:47):
We were the only people.
Speaker 1 (12:48):
Who had to do something like that, and it was
head to head for me in Asia to be eliminated
because they couldn't decide, they couldn't.
Speaker 3 (12:55):
Pick, so they put me in the eight.
Speaker 1 (12:57):
Year old flexible God against each other. And so I
feel pretty much now that it was a setup. But yeah,
when I was in pain, they definitely made that go crazier.
But now with Abby, a couple of years ago, I
did go visit her and we filmed together and we
watched some of our clips.
Speaker 3 (13:14):
I'd say we still do get along.
Speaker 1 (13:15):
I haven't spoken to her in a couple of years now,
but she'll hear and there comment on my Instagram pictures
and yeah, I never have anything bad to say about
Abby ever. She obviously had a character on the show,
and she is very sweet in person. Next question, did
you form any lifelong friendships from ADC? Yes, I would
(13:37):
say the two that I still communicate with and talk
to pretty consistently is Asia and Tessa. Tessa I will
go to even for relationship advice.
Speaker 3 (13:48):
I don't know.
Speaker 1 (13:49):
She's just like such a happy fit queen and I
basically go to her for so much advice. She still
lives in Arizona. She was there for me at a
time of my life when I literally needed someone so much.
She was there for me this one day and I
will literally never forget it in Arizona, and she helped
(14:09):
me pack everything up, picked me up from the airport, like, took.
Speaker 3 (14:13):
Me to get food.
Speaker 2 (14:15):
She is just such an angel.
Speaker 1 (14:17):
And she still does like teaching personal training and stuff
like that. She is just such a good human. And
then Asia is just killing it on social media still
and just goes to so many events. She lives so
far away, but she's in La doing things more than
I am. She's such a nice person. And her mom has.
Speaker 2 (14:40):
Always taken such good care.
Speaker 1 (14:42):
Of me, and she's just such a good mom.
Speaker 2 (14:45):
I love that whole family.
Speaker 3 (14:46):
I love them so much.
Speaker 1 (14:48):
And Asia, she will still put me in my place.
Speaker 2 (14:52):
She's such a leo.
Speaker 1 (14:53):
She's so honest with me. You need those kinds of friends.
And there's been so many scenarios where Asia is like,
if you do this, I I swear I will not
talk to you like I don't agree with that, and
I'll literally be like, oh my.
Speaker 2 (15:04):
God, like I don't want to lose Asia, Like, oh
my god.
Speaker 3 (15:06):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (15:06):
Asia's definitely a keeper in my life. She is such
a real one, and I'm so thankful for those relationships
and friendships that I had for so long.
Speaker 3 (15:15):
Just from the show.
Speaker 2 (15:17):
Last question, what was your favorite solo.
Speaker 3 (15:21):
Song you danced on?
Speaker 2 (15:23):
I feel like I'm just gonna change.
Speaker 1 (15:24):
The sorry it's a favorite solo I had, because I
do not remember the songs at all. The only song
I remember dancing to was my hip hop solo, and
it was something like get up, Get Up, Get up,
get up, No no, no no, don't get it down,
get up, get it Like that was pretty good. I'm
pretty sure that's probably like a pretty known song because
you know, the producers over there is just laughing at me.
Speaker 3 (15:46):
But I do remember that song.
Speaker 1 (15:47):
But my favorite solo, yes, probably my hip hop solo,
but also that contemporary one.
Speaker 2 (15:53):
I thought that that was just a.
Speaker 1 (15:54):
Pivotal moment in the show for me, and I just
got the most praise and standing ovation from my hip
hop solo, and I'm so glad I got to do that,
because you know, it was literally my time to shine
hip hop and a solo.
Speaker 2 (16:10):
The choreographer was so cool.
Speaker 1 (16:11):
I remember he would wear these Jeremy Scott Adidas, Adidas, Adidas,
Adidas whatever. Sometimes I really watch European influencers and Australian
influencers and then I start talking how they talk, and
I don't even know it's right anymore.
Speaker 2 (16:30):
You guys, just.
Speaker 1 (16:30):
Catch yourself like Adidas and like Jack at Potato or
like Jackouzzi Flammable, I like literally say the weirdest things
because I just hear someone else say and it just
sticks to me. But yeah, those are my favorite dances.
(16:53):
That wraps up this episode. I seriously think I'm gonna
have so many more questions now that I've kind of
resurfaced this and brought this back up into my life.
So if you do have any more questions, just leave
them down in the comments and I'll get.
Speaker 2 (17:05):
Back to you. Guys. I love this episode. Thanks for
sticking with me.
Speaker 1 (17:09):
Some of you guys know me still from this era
of my life. Thanks for sticking with me and supporting me.
Thanks for still coming and listening to the podcast.
Speaker 2 (17:19):
I appreciate you, guys.
Speaker 1 (17:20):
I love you guys, and I'll see you next Wednesday
with a new episode Peace.
Speaker 4 (17:27):
You've been listening to the Jordan Joes podcast. Jordan's passion
is to inspire, relate, and give you that much needed
one hour escape from life's everyday struggles, your family, and
We're so glad you're here. Make sure to like, rate, review,
and subscribe. We'll be back soon, but in the meantime
(17:48):
find us on YouTube, TikTok and Instagram at Jordan Jones
j O R d yn. This production is brought to
you by Strawhut Media, Hosted by Jordan Jones, produced by
Ryan Tillotson, edited by Daniel Ferrera. Additional production helped by
Carolyn Mendoza, Ali Ahmed and Samir Gonchi. Keep shining right
(18:12):
like that diamond you are and see you next time
on the Jordan Jones Podcast
Straw media. What in the world I'm literally on do
notice for people are literally pressing notify anyways. Oh my god,
I do that too, this so I can't even be mad.
I'm like notify anyway.
Speaker 2 (00:26):
Hey guys, what's up.
Speaker 1 (00:27):
It's Jordan Jones and welcome back to the Jordan Jones Podcast,
or welcome to the podcast if you are to make
sure to subscribe to the YouTube channel and the podcast
on all streaming platforms. And let's just get right into
this video, you guys. This video is highly requested. Everyone
has wanted me to talk about being on the show
(00:48):
for so long, and I've never sat down and talked
about my own experience. I did have Asia on my
podcast about two years ago, and that episode is still
up and get so many views to this day. So
I wanted to talk about my experience being on AUDC.
If you guys didn't know, it's called Abbey's Ultimate Dance Competition.
Speaker 3 (01:07):
I was on that show when I was.
Speaker 1 (01:09):
Thirteen fourteen years old and I got I think fourth
or fifth place. So let's just like get into these questions.
And I do have some tea that I do always
talk about, but people will still ask me, what would
the producer say when you started your interviews and everything
like that. So I'll get into that in this episode.
So number one, this one, I actually had to.
Speaker 3 (01:31):
Call my mom and ask this question.
Speaker 1 (01:33):
If you guys didn't know my mom was on the
show with me, I had to call her because one,
she kind of will watch the show randomly or watch
certain clips. I don't really remember anything, so I had
to ask her for this one. Number one is was
the fight with your mom and Maria in the first
episode staged? So first, my mom thinks that this was
maybe in the second or the third episode. And yes,
(01:56):
she did just watch this like clip or episode a
couple weeks ago, so she knew exactly what I was
talking about.
Speaker 3 (02:02):
And I literally have no idea.
Speaker 1 (02:04):
I don't really know what sometimes went on between the parents,
but my mom said with this scenario that me and
Lexi had a duet and the moms were obviously watching us.
So in the routine, there was a walkover or like
a back walk over. I don't even know what that
is really called. It's where you kind of like go backwards,
(02:25):
but you're not jumping like a backhandspring, You're just doing like.
Speaker 2 (02:28):
A walk over.
Speaker 1 (02:29):
I don't know how to explain it, but basically there
was one of those in the routine and I could
do it, but Lexi couldn't, and the choreographer and the
moms were like, yo, let's just try, Like, let's just
try it.
Speaker 3 (02:40):
Come on, like, we know you can get this.
Speaker 1 (02:42):
And so she tried to do it, and I think
she fell to her knees and she was like her
or crying or something like that. Again, this is like
just from literally what my mom was telling me. But
the fight was that Lexi's mom, Maria, was mad at
Lexi for not being able to do it.
Speaker 2 (02:59):
Lexi was aussee, so.
Speaker 1 (03:01):
My mom and me were kind of like going at
it with Maria. I guess she said I was involved
because I was upset about it too, like she can't
do it, she doesn't want to do it, why can't
we just change it? So I guess that there was
like a huge fight. But basically my mom and I
were mad because she was yelling at her kid, which
kind of always happened on the show. I mean, it
(03:22):
happened to me, it happened to everyone.
Speaker 2 (03:24):
I think that that's what happened. And no, it was
not staged at all.
Speaker 1 (03:27):
I can say that nothing that happened really between me
and other girls were staged. But I did hear other
stuff that I'll talk about in the episode that were
kind of set up. But this scenario was.
Speaker 3 (03:40):
Not set up. It was not fake.
Speaker 2 (03:42):
It was totally real.
Speaker 1 (03:43):
And I don't exactly know everything about the situation, but
that's just what my mom had to say right before
I walked in today. Next one, who were your favorite
dancers slash moms on AUDC? Obviously Asia and Christie were
my favorite. I would say other than them because that's obvious.
Speaker 2 (04:02):
I did get.
Speaker 1 (04:03):
Along with Zach. He and me and Asia would kind
of hang out a lot. I feel like me and
Lexi got along, but I don't know if we really
hung out necessarily, like aside from filming that much.
Speaker 2 (04:16):
Oh Tessa, duh. I love Tessa.
Speaker 1 (04:18):
I wasn't super close with her mom though. Tessa and
I we still talk to this day. Who else do
I want to give a little shout out to Macha?
I remember Madison like being cool, but I don't really
remember hanging out with her much. I feel like that's
that's all about like my favorites. Obviously, I got along
(04:40):
and hung out with everyone. Everyone was pretty nice to me.
I don't really think I had a bad experience with
a certain mom or kid to my knowledge. I mean,
I feel like people would make remarks or kind of
not like me because I was winning or I was
getting solos or whatever.
Speaker 3 (04:55):
People were kind of not.
Speaker 1 (04:57):
Into my mom and I and we honestly didn't get
into much drama, much scuffle. I wouldn't say we were
the only normal ones, but like we just weren't really
giving into the drama that much. I was kind of
just there to have fun and dance, and my mom
was wanting what's best for me. If she needed to
stay out of something, she would Except for that Lexi thing,
I guess we were really going at it all right.
Speaker 2 (05:20):
Next question is how do you look.
Speaker 3 (05:22):
Back on that experience.
Speaker 1 (05:24):
I didn't think in the moment that it would be
something I would be talking about ten years down the road.
Speaker 2 (05:29):
This was basically a decade.
Speaker 1 (05:31):
Ago, and I still get asked this question. I still
get people commenting, Oh, you are my favorite, Oh I
like this solo, I loved you on AUDC. It's really
crazy how something from so long ago has still been
such an important impactful part in my life and I
seriously wouldn't change anything from that experience at all. I
(05:53):
loved everything about it. When I look back on it,
I just think about where I was when I got
that phone call that I made on the show, or
got my first interview.
Speaker 2 (06:02):
It was just so crazy to me.
Speaker 1 (06:03):
Basically how I got on the show was I would
post my dance clips on YouTube, and so would other
famous dance companies.
Speaker 3 (06:12):
I think one of the big ones was Dancing with YT.
Speaker 1 (06:16):
You know, the casting directors they have to go out
and find talent scope the whole internet for people who
would be good on the show. So they found me
from one of those dance videos. We got a call
I don't even know how, being like, we want you
guys to audition. Next thing, you know, we're doing a
skype interview and then we're in LA or New York
(06:37):
or something for the real interview where I have to
dance and perform for them. And yeah, we got the
call that I booked the show. My parents owned my
dance studio in Michigan, and I just remember basically being
in the front lobby and my mom just like screaming
that we got on the show, and I.
Speaker 3 (06:54):
Was so excited.
Speaker 1 (06:55):
How did my life go from being in my dance
studio working so hard every single day, no one knew who.
Speaker 2 (07:02):
I was really.
Speaker 1 (07:03):
I don't even know how it really happened, but just
from that phone call, I feel like my whole life changed.
Speaker 2 (07:08):
And I'm so thankful for those videos on the.
Speaker 1 (07:11):
Internet and to be recognized for them, and then to
be in LA living my dream and working.
Speaker 3 (07:18):
It was just all so crazy.
Speaker 1 (07:19):
That's literally how it all started for me. Literally, wouldn't
change anything. A lot of people always ask did I
want a normal childhood? Did I miss being in school?
Speaker 3 (07:28):
No?
Speaker 1 (07:28):
I was literally living my dream when I was like
fourteen years old. Yeah, I wouldn't change anything.
Speaker 3 (07:33):
I love it.
Speaker 1 (07:35):
This is a great segue into the next question. What
was your initial impression of Abby Lee as a kid? Okay,
so when I got to LA to do that audition
and I booked.
Speaker 2 (07:47):
The job, the show was called My.
Speaker 3 (07:50):
Kid Can Dance, and Abby Lee was huge.
Speaker 2 (07:52):
She was on Dance Moms.
Speaker 1 (07:53):
It was probably like the second season or something. Back then,
it was huge. My mom was a huge fan.
Speaker 3 (07:58):
Of abby Lee.
Speaker 1 (07:59):
I had who she was, and so we booked the
show as My Kid Can Dance. I don't even know
if this is stuff that I can really say. But
Abby Lee had nothing to do with it, and it
was just supposed to be a kid competition show, really
had nothing to do with the Moms. So then when
we were all there at the same exact time, they
had us lined up on stage to like announce us,
(08:21):
and we were filming, and Abby Lee walks up and
the show is called Abby's Ultimate Dance Competition, and everyone
is there and Abby's a judge and there's other judges,
and the whole thing kind of immediately changed. They like
got us in, approved us, and we okayed this situation,
and now like Abby Lee is a part of it,
which for some people can go good or bad if
(08:42):
you're a fan and you think that Abby is cool
and nice or like a good teacher or whatever. But
some people were probably like, oh, no, I'm not being
involved with this woman. But my first impression was I'm
so excited that she's here. I thought she was just
one of the judges, but the whole show is basically
a spinoff of Dance Moms.
Speaker 2 (09:00):
I was just so excited. I was so happy.
Speaker 1 (09:03):
I thought that my skills were gonna get so much
better because she's such a tough teacher, and that's always
the best for dancers, literally anyone.
Speaker 3 (09:12):
If you have like a.
Speaker 1 (09:13):
Tough soccer coach and you really invested in you know
your craft, You're just gonna be so much better. That's
kind of how it is with Abby, Like, yeah, she's
really tough and she's hard, but it makes you so
much better. I feel like a lot of the dance
mom's kids will still say that. But my first impression
of Abby, I was so excited, so happy.
Speaker 2 (09:34):
My mom was freaking out.
Speaker 1 (09:35):
Because she's like a huge Abby Lee fan. I was
just so excited to be on the show and be
able to get a chance to just be on TV
filming with all these.
Speaker 3 (09:43):
Girls and and Zach.
Speaker 1 (09:46):
But yeah, I loved it and I was so.
Speaker 3 (09:49):
Excited to meet her.
Speaker 1 (09:57):
Next question, we kind of I did already talk about this,
but favorite girl and mom from the show, so I'll
change it from my favorite girl and.
Speaker 3 (10:06):
Mom on Dance Moms.
Speaker 1 (10:09):
I was still talk to Brooke and well not so
much Paige, but I still talked to Brooke, and I
wasn't super.
Speaker 3 (10:15):
Close with any of the moms.
Speaker 1 (10:17):
But I also loved like Nia and her mom. I
thought that they were just like nice and sweet Nia.
I'll still see around at events here and there, but
they're definitely like my favorite teams of girls and moms.
Next question is did you get along with Abby?
Speaker 2 (10:34):
I think I did.
Speaker 1 (10:35):
I mean I wasn't a contemporary pretty dancer, or at
least compared to the other girls. I was more of
like the hip hop, jazz funk, So it wasn't like
I was Abby's favorite ever, except for when I did
my contemporary solo, and I will always remember that performance.
I feel like, yeah, I kind of was looked at
as the jazz, funk, hip hop maybe the best at
(10:59):
those categories, but I wanted to prove myself and especially
like how good of a dancer I was to Abby
with that contemporary solo because again, like I was always
put with hip hop, jazz, fun even just like jazz.
So that was like my time to be like, okay,
I really have to prove myself to Abby right now,
and she loved me. That changed everything. I feel like
(11:22):
that solo was super good, everything went smoothly.
Speaker 2 (11:26):
I always got along with.
Speaker 1 (11:27):
Her because I kind of felt like I wasn't trying
to impress her all the time. I felt like again
because I was kind of different from the other girls
who were technically better than me at dancing. I knew
that Robin and Richie I wanted their approval kind of
more because of the type of style I was going for.
(11:48):
Robin was all for like superstars and someone who just
like has that fire in them. Richie would always say
I was like a firecracker. I think also Robin literally
said I was a firecracker. So it was kind of
these are the people who get me and Abby. I
wanted to be good for her, but I wasn't always
trying to impress her, and I feel like that's kind
(12:08):
of why we got along more.
Speaker 3 (12:10):
And again, I.
Speaker 1 (12:11):
Never raised my voice or I kind of just like listened.
I listen, I dance, tried not to miss a beat.
I don't complain if something was hurting, except for obviously
how I got kicked off the show was I literally
pulled my muscle and I couldn't do what they were
having me do. But again, I think it was pretty
messed up when I do look back at it, how
long they were having us hold these certain moves, and
(12:34):
I feel like when I looked like I was in pain,
they had us like hold it for longer and longer
and longer because of like drama or whatever. And looking
back on how I definitely got eliminated, I think it
was pretty inhumane.
Speaker 3 (12:47):
We were the only people.
Speaker 1 (12:48):
Who had to do something like that, and it was
head to head for me in Asia to be eliminated
because they couldn't decide, they couldn't.
Speaker 3 (12:55):
Pick, so they put me in the eight.
Speaker 1 (12:57):
Year old flexible God against each other. And so I
feel pretty much now that it was a setup. But yeah,
when I was in pain, they definitely made that go crazier.
But now with Abby, a couple of years ago, I
did go visit her and we filmed together and we
watched some of our clips.
Speaker 3 (13:14):
I'd say we still do get along.
Speaker 1 (13:15):
I haven't spoken to her in a couple of years now,
but she'll hear and there comment on my Instagram pictures
and yeah, I never have anything bad to say about
Abby ever. She obviously had a character on the show,
and she is very sweet in person. Next question, did
you form any lifelong friendships from ADC? Yes, I would
(13:37):
say the two that I still communicate with and talk
to pretty consistently is Asia and Tessa. Tessa I will
go to even for relationship advice.
Speaker 3 (13:48):
I don't know.
Speaker 1 (13:49):
She's just like such a happy fit queen and I
basically go to her for so much advice. She still
lives in Arizona. She was there for me at a
time of my life when I literally needed someone so much.
She was there for me this one day and I
will literally never forget it in Arizona, and she helped
(14:09):
me pack everything up, picked me up from the airport, like, took.
Speaker 3 (14:13):
Me to get food.
Speaker 2 (14:15):
She is just such an angel.
Speaker 1 (14:17):
And she still does like teaching personal training and stuff
like that. She is just such a good human. And
then Asia is just killing it on social media still
and just goes to so many events. She lives so
far away, but she's in La doing things more than
I am. She's such a nice person. And her mom has.
Speaker 2 (14:40):
Always taken such good care.
Speaker 1 (14:42):
Of me, and she's just such a good mom.
Speaker 2 (14:45):
I love that whole family.
Speaker 3 (14:46):
I love them so much.
Speaker 1 (14:48):
And Asia, she will still put me in my place.
Speaker 2 (14:52):
She's such a leo.
Speaker 1 (14:53):
She's so honest with me. You need those kinds of friends.
And there's been so many scenarios where Asia is like,
if you do this, I I swear I will not
talk to you like I don't agree with that, and
I'll literally be like, oh my.
Speaker 2 (15:04):
God, like I don't want to lose Asia, Like, oh
my god.
Speaker 3 (15:06):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (15:06):
Asia's definitely a keeper in my life. She is such
a real one, and I'm so thankful for those relationships
and friendships that I had for so long.
Speaker 3 (15:15):
Just from the show.
Speaker 2 (15:17):
Last question, what was your favorite solo.
Speaker 3 (15:21):
Song you danced on?
Speaker 2 (15:23):
I feel like I'm just gonna change.
Speaker 1 (15:24):
The sorry it's a favorite solo I had, because I
do not remember the songs at all. The only song
I remember dancing to was my hip hop solo, and
it was something like get up, Get Up, Get up,
get up, No no, no no, don't get it down,
get up, get it Like that was pretty good. I'm
pretty sure that's probably like a pretty known song because
you know, the producers over there is just laughing at me.
Speaker 3 (15:46):
But I do remember that song.
Speaker 1 (15:47):
But my favorite solo, yes, probably my hip hop solo,
but also that contemporary one.
Speaker 2 (15:53):
I thought that that was just a.
Speaker 1 (15:54):
Pivotal moment in the show for me, and I just
got the most praise and standing ovation from my hip
hop solo, and I'm so glad I got to do that,
because you know, it was literally my time to shine
hip hop and a solo.
Speaker 2 (16:10):
The choreographer was so cool.
Speaker 1 (16:11):
I remember he would wear these Jeremy Scott Adidas, Adidas, Adidas,
Adidas whatever. Sometimes I really watch European influencers and Australian
influencers and then I start talking how they talk, and
I don't even know it's right anymore.
Speaker 2 (16:30):
You guys, just.
Speaker 1 (16:30):
Catch yourself like Adidas and like Jack at Potato or
like Jackouzzi Flammable, I like literally say the weirdest things
because I just hear someone else say and it just
sticks to me. But yeah, those are my favorite dances.
(16:53):
That wraps up this episode. I seriously think I'm gonna
have so many more questions now that I've kind of
resurfaced this and brought this back up into my life.
So if you do have any more questions, just leave
them down in the comments and I'll get.
Speaker 2 (17:05):
Back to you. Guys. I love this episode. Thanks for
sticking with me.
Speaker 1 (17:09):
Some of you guys know me still from this era
of my life. Thanks for sticking with me and supporting me.
Thanks for still coming and listening to the podcast.
Speaker 2 (17:19):
I appreciate you, guys.
Speaker 1 (17:20):
I love you guys, and I'll see you next Wednesday
with a new episode Peace.
Speaker 4 (17:27):
You've been listening to the Jordan Joes podcast. Jordan's passion
is to inspire, relate, and give you that much needed
one hour escape from life's everyday struggles, your family, and
We're so glad you're here. Make sure to like, rate, review,
and subscribe. We'll be back soon, but in the meantime
(17:48):
find us on YouTube, TikTok and Instagram at Jordan Jones
j O R d yn. This production is brought to
you by Strawhut Media, Hosted by Jordan Jones, produced by
Ryan Tillotson, edited by Daniel Ferrera. Additional production helped by
Carolyn Mendoza, Ali Ahmed and Samir Gonchi. Keep shining right
(18:12):
like that diamond you are and see you next time
on the Jordan Jones Podcast
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