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So You Think You Can Dance: Randi and Kupono Q&A

Last week So You Think You Can Dance took the control out of the hands of the judges and let America have complete control over the guy and girl who got sent packing. The first two victims? Randi Evans and Kupono Aweau. The new dance partners didn't stand out during Wednesday night's performance and the judges really hated Randi's bad wig, but they did have some stand-out performances along the way, including Randi in Mia Michaels' "butt dance" and Kupono in Wade Robson's "crash test dummies" number. We hopped onto a conference call with Randi and Kupono the other day to find out how they felt about getting axed.

First up, Randi

What was it that clicked when you were with Evan, and what do you think didn't click as much this last week?
Randi: It's almost like the "It Factor." We just hit if off right at the beginning. We only have four and a half hours (for each rehearsal) and just a couple days to get a number together, get the chemistry together. So with Evan I'm not sure what it was -- it just happened. I feel like I was used to working with Evan and then when we had to switch partners; I just felt like we didn't have enough time. But, it is what it is; we did our best and Kupono's a great guy. We had a lot of fun together and we really did put ourselves out there and do everything that we could. Unfortunately, it just wasn't the best number of the night.

What dance that you and Evan did together do you hope makes it on to the tour?
Randi: Oh, I would love to do the number that we did the first week -- our jazz number, I absolutely loved. I also loved our Mia Michaels dance, "the butt dance" as it's called. I would really like the opportunity to do that over.

You kept a big smile at the end. What were you thinking when they announced that you were eliminated?
Randi: When they told me I had to do my solo, it wasn't that big of a surprise because I kind of had a feeling that I would be, just because the numbers the previous night had been so great. The other girls that I was competing against, look at them, they're so amazing. So really, someone had to go and I really felt like I had a really good run.

You got flack for wearing a wig on Wednesday night. What went into that choice and was it harder dancing with the wig on?
Randi: It was, it was, because it wasn't just the wig, it was like the whole persona that you needed to embody with the whole dance. I was supposed to be like this gypsy and so, yes, it was definitely hard. It wasn't my choice to wear the wig, they wanted me to wear it, so when I kind of got some crap for it, I'm like, 'It wasn't me that chose it.' But it is what it is so I basically did the best with what I was given.

Next up, Kupono

What it was like working with Wade on the crash test dummies, because he seemed to capture your quirkiness and just the whole movement during that dance?
Kupono: Yes. With Wade, when I found out I got him, I was just ecstatic. When you're working with Wade, he's just a very positive person and I'm all about energies and all that kind of stuff. He really took into consideration Ashley and myself. It was funny because before we had gone out, he told us that he doesn't think there were any other two people in the entire top 20 that could have pulled that routine off any better than we had. I honestly feel the same way because it's almost like we found ourselves in the characters that he gave us. It was heaven sent. I don't know -- it's really weird but I feel very comfortable doing the stuff that he does. As weird as his movement is, I actually, it's like I feel like I do it best or better than some other techniques, which is crazy to me but I enjoyed it. So he's an amazing, amazing visionary and genius.

The addiction piece was emotional for you. What do you think you got out of that experience?
Kupono: The crazy thing is that I feel like [Mia Michaels] brought stuff out that I didn't know was there. My family is so much better -- they're much healthier and all that. And I've dealt with everything, but clearly, there is something in there that I just didn't know was still there with me, and it was almost like therapy. So it's like I needed Mia Michaels in my life, I needed her, I needed that piece, I needed Kayla, that whole moment, I needed it. It was therapy -- that whole piece was therapy for me and I couldn't have asked for anything more.

What addictions were in your family in the past?
Kupono: Yes, actually my father and my sister were ice addicts (crystal meth addicts) and so when I was a sophomore or junior in high school, it was just a really unhealthy, just a really bad time, a really rough time for my family. Thank God, we got through it; thank God, they fought for it. They're so much better and healthier. My friend, one of my best friends also was addicted to crystal meth as well, but she's much better, and now they're just living healthier lives and my family is that much stronger because of it. I honestly believe that. As horrible as it was of an experience, it brought us to where we are today so I'm completely grateful for that. So that number was just therapy; it was complete therapy for me.

Who from previous seasons did you especially pay attention to or enjoy watching?
Kupono: What's crazy is that actually because of my crazy schedule with dance rehearsals, I almost never have time to watch TV at night. I feel so bad because I'm actually on this show, but I barely even watched So You Think You Can Dance. I never have time to even watch TV to begin with so I caught up with YouTube stuff. Travis Wall, he was phenomenal, definitely an amazing, amazing dancer. People on the show are talking about all these people that they've, 'oh, that's so and so,' and I have no idea who they are because I never watched it so I feel kind of bad.

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