"Our performance (Tuesday) was fantastic and I couldn't ask for anything more," said Yuehwern Yih, team coach and a professor of industrial engineering. "We were rhythmical, dynamic, and sassy. I am so proud of our dancers. We really scared the world champion team and it was a great honor to share the floor with them."
Among the eight dancers who competed with Purdue's team was Winamac's Kris Ezra, who serves as president of the team.
"It has been a really rough week getting the new routine ready," Ezra wrote in an email to Pulaski Post before leaving to compete in the finals. Despite all that, we will be ready for show time on Tuesday night! Hopefully it will be awesome."
Utah Valley University advanced to the finals by winning both judges' and fan votes in their match-up against Rutgers University.
Four college teams were selected to compete for this season's amateur championship. On the May 11 show, the Purdue team performed a minute-and-a-half original dance routine rated by the show's panel of judges. (The performance can be seen on You Tube here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jt9cs_zJSsY) UC-San Diego's team also danced on the same program. The show's judges gave University of California-San Diego's performance 24 points to 22 for Purdue. However, that wasn't the final decision; audience votes make up 50 percent of the score, and those votes pushed Purdue over the top.
Dancing with the Stars, the No. 1 rated television show in the nation pairs celebrities with professional ballroom dancers who compete as a couple for judges' scores and viewer votes. One couple is eliminated each week until a champion receives the mirror ball trophy.
Each season the program also stages a competition between amateur dancers, usually child couples. This is the first season to feature college amateurs or team dance competition.
Purdue team members who appeared on "Dancing with the Stars" included:
* Tracy Matz, a junior majoring in visual communication and design from Des Plaines, Ill.
* Josef Conner, a senior majoring in biological sciences from Galveston, Ind.
* Tiffany Lam, a senior majoring in dietetics from Hong Kong and West Lafayette, Ind.
* Kris Ezra, a senior majoring in aeronautics and astronautics from Winamac, Ind. He is a 2005 graduate of Winamac Community High School.
* Yitian Chen, a senior majoring in pharmaceutical sciences from Moon Township, Pa.
* Lincoln Slentz, a senior majoring in chemistry from Auburn, Ind.
* Dessi Moneva, a sophomore majoring in biochemistry from Greenwood, Ind.
* Sean Lyons, a freshman majoring in management and finance from Naperville, Ill.
The Purdue team was selected after sending in an audition tape to "Dancing with the Stars." The team competes in intercollegiate competitions throughout the year and conducts classes, shows and social dances on or near campus.
The Purdue University News service also contributed to this article.
