Camilla danced for her life on SYTYCD, but didn't make the top 10. She spoke to TV WEEK after taking her final step
You seemed to take your elimination very well...
I was very proud of myself. I held it together. And I didn't mean to make everybody cry!
Did you have your speech ready?
To be honest, I had an inkling that my time was fast approaching and I didn't want to hear the news and fall to pieces on national TV. And there were things I really wanted to say that were heartfelt, so in my head I went through what I'd say in that scenario. But when I was out there, it just all came out. I have no idea what I said. Apparently, I talked for a very long time.
Why do you think the judges kept Rhiannon over you?
My theory is that Rhiannon is very young and is just starting in the industry. There are so many opportunities and experiences that she hasn't even found yet and I'm a bit further along the line. I've done a few things here and there and have been exposed to a bit more, so I have a feeling that her journey is just beginning, and the opportunities and places she will go through top 10 are a lot more than I could have. That's the only thing I can put my finger on.
What do you think about the idea that all the different genres have to be represented? They insist on having ballroom people and hip-hop people and contemporary people. Isn't it just enough to have good dancers?
I'm a bit on two ends with that. I think that yes, you do need versatility in there because the competition's about different style dancers being thrown into new styles and being challenged. But at the same time, I do feel a bit for us jazz dancers because we seem to keep being put in our own little compartment, whereas I feel like we should just be another style dancer. Why should hip-hop and ballroom and contemporary be any different to jazz? It's just another style and we can't help that we trained in that and not something else. That's the only thing I'm a little bit unsure about, but that being said, I think they've got an amazing top 10.
Are you a better dancer than some of the people in the top 10?
In the sense that we are all amazing in our own genres, I don't think you can compare. When you look at the versatility side of things, there are probably people in there that I'd go, "I think I've reached a mark on the versatility side a little bit more than them," but that's not what the show's about. The show's about people throwing themselves in the deep end and swimming. I'm excited to see how they go over the next four weeks.
Demi and Jack and Rhys and Jemma have never been in the bottom three. Why are they so popular?
I think it's their partnerships. Their partnerships are really infectious. Even away from the cameras, just hanging out, they fire off each other and have this amazing connection, and I think the public is seeing that. It'll be interesting when they're split.
Who will you keep in touch with?
Definitely Kate, Marko, Jemma, Demi, Jack and Rhys, and hopefully the others I will touch bases with as well. They're the people I've either known previously and have a great friendship with or I've really bonded with throughout this competition.
You didn't mention Sermsah...
You know what? Sermsah and I are from two very different worlds and I love him dearly for the person that he is, but we are very different.
What's next for you?
I'll go back to teaching and auditioning for musicals, but I really hope some doors open because I would love to be challenged and maybe tiptoe into a few different areas — some television and radio maybe. I'm excited to see what the future holds.
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