The Boot Camp Diary - Day 1
Thirty dancers from all over Europe arrive at the MTV Shakedown Boot Camp in two stretch hummers, ready to meet Wade for the first time. Excitement builds as the finalists learn that in addition to winning a year’s contract with a top dance agency, the successful dancer will also get the chance to appear in one of Ashanti's new music videos.
Wade starts the day with an assessment class to help him separate the fleet of foot from the plain flat-footed. But before Wade decides who lives to dance another day, each candidate must perform a solo routine. Some begin well, only to collapse under the mounting pressure. For others, the pressure is simply too much to handle. Only a few perform to Wade's satisfaction.
Wade retires to scrutinise the recorded footage, while the Boot Campees are interviewed about their performances. After what seems like an eternity, all 30 dancers are summoned to the studio. Wade splits the dancers into two groups: only one group will stay at Boot Camp. There are cheers, tears and hugs all round.
For those staying there’s an early start tomorrow morning. For those booted out of Boot Camp, it’s a cab to the airport and a one-way ticket home.
The Boot Camp Diary - Day 2
Day two for the remaining 15 dancers starts with a feedback session from Wade about their solo performances. He comments on their styles and techniques, pointing out what they need to improve and work on. Wade tells quite a few that he wants to be "scared" of them and that he wants to see "fire". Health and Safety look on concerned.
After the assessments, the dancers have a bit of time to reflect on Wade's words of wisdom, before getting back into the routine they started yesterday. After lunch, the dancers have a short rehearsal session with Wade, who throws in a few new moves, before it's time for the dreaded fitness assessments. The punishing tests reveal that all-round fitness is pretty average, with low lung capacity a common problem, especially among the smokers in the group.
At the end of another tough day, Wade gathers his troops with a sombre look on his face. But it's all a big Wade-size joke as he announces that they'll all be returning tomorrow, much to the group's relief.
The Boot Camp Diary - Day 3
On the third day, Wade rose again and declared that following yesterday’s poor fitness results, announced a total smoking ban. Our hotfooted host also introduced his two fellow judges: the award-winning choreographers Litza Bixler and Lavelle Smith Jnr, who will work on two new routines for the finale.
To choose who goes with which instructor, the dancers each perform freestyle in front of Wade, Litza and Lavelle. The group is then divided into two, with Lavelle taking charge of Jo-Anne, Ahmed, Becky, Sanem, Simeon, Olivier, Holly and Meron. They’ll be learning a routine to accompany Jet’s ‘Are You Gonna Be My Girl’. Meanwhile Litza takes Kenneth, Mara, Sarah, Chris, Sylvia, Johann and Sergi. They’ll be dancing to ‘Girls’ by Prodigy.
At the end of the day, both groups are summoned to the main studio. Chris, Meron and Simeon are told that they will be leaving that evening. The remaining 12 are left wondering who’ll be next to get booted out of Boot Camp.
The Boot Camp Diary - Day 4
Dawn breaks on day four at the MTV Shakedown Boot Camp with our surviving finalists preparing to meet stylist-to-the-stars, Gok Wan. He reveals a new "urban retro" concept for the dancers. On the whole, the dancers like their new look and enjoy having their photos taken.
Meanwhile, Wade starts the morning class by demonstrating the routine that will open the show. It looks very complicated, but by lunch, the group have made real progress, much to Wade's delight.
After lunch the group divides up to rehearse with Litza and Lavelle and at the end of the afternoon Wade brings them back together to teach them a totally new routine. These are the moves our final four competitors will perform in the finale with Ashanti.
Spirits are high that evening as the stretch Hummer arrives to take the dancers into London for a night out clubbing. But while our contestants are happy to show off their new moves on the dancefloor, they all know that tomorrow is the last day of Boot Camp.
The Boot Camp Diary - Day 5
It's the last day of Boot Camp – the day when Wade, Litza and Lavelle will announce who has made it through to the grand finale and which four from the group will be sent home. The final morning rehearsals will determine who stays and who goes. The tension starts to show and nerves begin to jangle like Crazy Legs' jewellery.
Meanwhile, Wade starts the morning class by demonstrating the routine that will open the show. It looks very complicated, but by lunch, the group have made real progress, much to Wade's delight.
The performances start well, but disaster strikes when Sergi drops Sylvia on her head! She is hurt, but like a true pro, carries on to finish the routine. Afterwards, she receives medical attention and it turns out she has mild concussion, but no lasting damage.
After lunch, it's finally time for Wade's big announcement. He congratulates everyone on their efforts and says that the decision was made even harder because during the week he has gotten to know his Boot Camp cadets as people and not just dancers.
The
successful eight dancers are: Hollie, Kenneth, Mara, Olivier, Sarah, Sergi,
Sylvia and Yohann. Sadly for Ahmed, Becky, Jo-Anne and Sanem it's time
to say their farewells, although Litza reminds them that they should never
give up. So the MTV Shakedown Boot Camp draws to a close, with our Boot
Camp survivors looking forward to the Grand Final.