Page 89 of The Dance Deception
Until this moment, it hadn’t occurred to me that Merle and Emilia’s allocated dance might be the salsa, so despite dropping our bachata to avoid a potential clash, one of our dances is still going to be the same as theirs. It feels like a bad omen, but how earth-shattering can theirs be when they’ve only had a couple of days to learn it?
‘But first,’ Kimberley continues, ‘let’s say hello to our three fantastic judges – Mariana, Sophie and Jacques. Welcome back! Are you excited about the night ahead?’
‘I can’t wait to see what the dancers pull out of the bag tonight,’ Mariana says. ‘There have been some incredible performances on the show so far and I think all three of the remaining contestants have the potential to win.’
‘They’ve all raised their game week on week, so I’m expecting some exceptional choreography from all three couples,’ Jacques adds. ‘I’ll be looking for creativity, technique and most of all thatfirethat just brings the dance floor to life. And I just want to say good luck to everyone.’
‘And Sophie …’
‘Obviously we know what their allocated dances are, but even we don’t know what each couple has chosen for their freestyle option, so there are surprises in store for all of us tonight. Bring it on!’
‘Thank you, judges,’ Kimberley says. ‘And tonight we’re also welcoming back former contestants Beth, Theo, Liam and Dean and dancers Gabriel, Valentina, Jessica andDaniele, who are all here to lend their support to our three finalists. It’s great to have you all here tonight – you all look gorgeous.
‘And now it’s time to really get this party started. So let’s bring out our first couple of the evening, Tammy King and Elijah Gill, who are ready to rock our worlds with their rousing rumba. Tammy and Elijah had us out of our seats with their Dominican bachata last week. Let’s see if they can get us on our feet again. Take it away, guys!’
She moves out of view as Tammy and Elijah run into the middle of the stage, and Aleksis clutches my hand as they sail through their routine. When Kimberley asks the judges what they thought at the end, they’re full of praise.
‘Your best dance yet!’ Mariana declares. ‘The lines were sharp, the timing was spot on. I think this dance really suited you, Tammy. Really well done.’
Then it’s time for the audience to reach for their keypads and you can almost feel the tension in the room as the dial flickers across the scoreboard. When it settles on 9.4, the room erupts in cheers.
‘A new personal best!’ Kimberley shouts. ‘What a great way to start the show.’
‘I’m absolutely delighted,’ Tammy beams.
‘We couldn’t have asked for more,’ Elijah adds.
‘It’s certainly going to be a tough act to follow for our next couple,’ Kimberley says. ‘Especially as Merle and Emilia have had just two days to prepare this next dance after they stepped in to replace former finalist Dean, who sadly had to withdraw from the competition this week with an ankle injury.’
She pauses to allow the camera to zoom in on him. He points at his support boot then rubs his fists under his eyes as if he’s crying, then shrugs and breaks into a grin to show the audience he’s not really upset. Although I’d be willing to bet he is.
‘But we’re sure they’ve given it their all,’ Kimberley continues. ‘So let’s get ready to be swept away by their saucy salsa. Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome to the stage … Merle Picard and Emilia Harris!’
Aleksis grips my hand even tighter as they run out onto the stage. Emilia’s barely-there outfit glistens in the spotlights. Merle is wearing black trousers with a strip of gold down the side of each leg. His sheer black shirt is open to reveal his tanned torso. They remind me of a Chanel perfume advert.
The music starts and it’s quickly apparent their salsa is going to be more than good. Merle leads Emilia through spin after spin and it’s so fast I feel dizzy just watching it. They throw in some athletic lifts and some crazily complicated armwork and I start really fretting about how our routine will compare. Ours is nowhere near as technical – this is another level. It makes me wonder why Merle ever had any concerns about not winning. I’d even vote for them myself.
The audience erupts with whoops and whistles when the dance is over and Kimberley has to quieten everyone down so the judges can be heard.
‘You had so little time to prepare, and yet you made it look like you’ve been dancing together your whole lives,’ Jacques says. ‘It was so powerful; so intense. Emilia, I trulybelieve you could have a future in professional dance if you want it.’
He fans himself with his hands. ‘I think you’ve brought me out in a hot flush.’
‘Now I don’t know whether to apologise or thank you,’ Emilia laughs.
‘And now it’s time to find out whether our audience members are also feeling the heat after that performance,’ Kimberley says. ‘Audience, grab your keypads and let’s see how fired up Merle and Emilia’s sensational salsa really got you!’
The dial whizzes straight up the scoreboard, bagging them a 9.7 – a new show record.
‘That’s the top score of the series so far,’ Kimberley shouts. ‘Congratulations! Well done, both of you. That’s amazing. Tell us how you’re feeling.’
‘I’m feeling like we maybe should have spent less time preparing our previous dances,’ Emilia says, which gets a laugh. ‘But seriously, we worked so hard these last two days, so it feels fantastic to be rewarded for all the hours we’ve put in. I’m absolutely thrilled.’
‘Ladies and gentlemen, put your hands together one more time for Merle and Emilia,’ Kimberley says, kicking off another round of applause.
My heart starts pounding as the minutes turn to seconds before it’s my turn to face the judges. With 9.7 to beat, the pressure is really on.
‘Remember what I said,’ Merle whispers as he passes me at the side of the stage, but I ignore him, safe in the knowledge that he’s no longer a threat.
