With salsa as her specialty, So You Think You Can Dance‘s second eliminated dancer Cristina Santana was forced out of her comfort zone. In the first week of competition, Santana danced a jazz routine that landed her in the bottom 3 where she was saved by the judges. However, her week 2 Paso Doble didn’t fare as well with America or the judges and she was eliminated.
In an interview last week, Santana discusses her elimination and how she felt about being out of her comfort zone.
“This is a competition called So You Think You Can Dance, so I need to dance everything that they put me through. I wish I could do more of my salsa, but there are just so many contemporary, jazz, and ballroom (dances) But I really enjoyed the ballroom part.”
At the time of Santana’s elimination, only three girls remained in the top 9. After Melinda Sullivan’s elimination on Thursday, there’s only two girls left in the competition. Santana said this is only because of the talent of the male dancers this year.
“It’s really tough because I think that the guys in the competition are very strong. And now that they have only three girls it’s going to be harder because it’s three and six guys. It’s going to be interesting.”
Santana previously made it to Vegas Week during season 6 but wasn’t chosen for the top 20. This year, in season 7, the judges narrowed it down to a top 11, but Santana made the cut.
“I auditioned for Season 6, and it was very, very hard auditioning Vegas Week. Now, this year was even harder, just being one of the five girls that they choose for the top 11. Being on the show, it was great. That was the hardest thing ever that I have done, and I did it, and I made it and I’m really happy about that.”
Even though she’s been eliminated from the show, Santana said she did her best and is proud of making it to the top 10.
“I think I did everything I could. I would have loved to stay and show America and the people that I can do even more. I’m very, very happy with what I have done on the show. I’m going home very happy and proud of myself.”
