Netflix’s reboot of the hit competition show Star Search was a surprise addition to the dwindling reality TV lineup. While some changes were made to bring the show to modern audiences, including a real-time voting system and additional categories, what we love most is that dance remained a Star Search staple.
In the past, Star Search provided a stage for talent we recognize today. Many of them, including Britney Spears and Beyoncé, were Showstopper dancers. The reboot followed this trend too, with The Force and Movement 55 representing the kind of dedicated dancers who take the Showstopper stage each year. These dancers brought competitive talent to viewers in a reality TV space that lacks dance.
The Force, led by choreographer Ashley Firestone and assistant teachers Brooke Mann, Alexa Firestone, and Sophia Moncada, is an acro dance team from Livermore, California. Representing Xtreme Force Dance Company, eight dancers, Lillie Silva, Rylee Mann, Annabella Maugeri, Calisa Schwarer, Bernice Zhou, Shayla Dempsey, Ashlyn Rebmann, and Victoria Nichols, competed against teen magician Harry Merlin Piper on Episode 2.
Ashley shared with us that The Force’s appearance on Star Search was a journey in casting, choreography, and rehearsals. The dancers didn’t just show up on stage that night in front of a live studio audience. They were part of a submission process that required movement, interviews, and professional training. “We approached the process as a series of learning opportunities,” Ashley said, “quickly submitting two new routine videos, interviews, and a lot of paperwork—always mindful that any single submission could be our last, but remaining ready to move forward at every step.”
Ready is an understatement. Ashley was thorough. Aware of the ins and outs of music licensing, she prepared The Force to be ready to change plans with feedback from the casting agency. ” I had the dancers prepare over 20 dance sections along with new lifts and tricks. I was tracking our progress to help us put together additional routines quickly.” She had her dancers prepare for the pressure of the live stage and audience, too. “We also had the dancers take public speaking classes with industry professionals. We wanted them to feel confident speaking, especially on live tv representing Netflix.”
Despite all of this preparation, The Force didn’t think they made it. Though the process started in May 2025, their initial hard work was met with silence. “We were asked to make both dance and interview-style submission videos. Once that was completed, we didn’t hear back for months!” dancer Rylee Mann told us. Of course, we know how the audition process ended. The Force would be compete in the two-part Star Search premiere. “Our teachers threw us a secret surprise party at the studio!” Rylee shared. “It was so much fun, and we were all so grateful and excited for the opportunity!”
From there, all that’s left is dance, and the hard work had only just begun. Ashley was excited that getting cast for week one meant they had a better chance of performing multiple of their prepared routines. Rylee shared that the group didn’t know which song would be approved by Netflix, so they had to prepare multiple routines. “While all of our family and friends were celebrating the holidays this past winter, we were in the studio.” The constant practice was about more than being stage-ready; it was about being TV-ready for an all-new competition experience. Victoria told us, “…we prepared by running our dance consistently to gain stamina and to make sure our dance was perfect.”
The Force is a competitive dance team. They know what it means to have stage presence and how to make use of feedback and scores. But they’re usually competing against other dancers. Their match-up would turn out to be Harry Merlin Piper, a 15-year-old magician from Venice Beach, CA. Rather than being intimidated, all of the dancers seemed to love the challenge, which would, as Rylee described it, “be whether or not the audience liked dance or magic better.”
The dancers were given an opportunity that many competitive dancers will never have, to push their capabilities beyond dance skill and into real entertainment. “Since we have only gone against dance, seeing all of the other competitors really pushed us to the max of all of our abilities and to work as hard as we can,” Calisa reflected on the experience. Victoria echoed these feelings. “Since we had to take our performance skills to the test against a different kind of entertainment, we had to think beyond just technique and focus more on creativity, stage presence, and connecting with the audience.”
Unfortunately, viewers had to say goodbye to The Force after just one performance. After receiving five stars from both Jelly Roll and Chrissy Tiegan, The Force ultimately received an average score of 4.2 stars. Their opponent, Harry, received a final score of 4.3 stars and narrowly won the round.
Like true professionals, the loss isn’t what they remember most. “It felt amazing to get five stars…I was so happy about it,” Ashlyn Rebmann said.
There’s a lot to celebrate in that one performance, and The Force is far from done dancing. They prepared plenty of material for the competition, including the basket toss backflip with matching pyrotechnics that Rylee describes as their most memorable moment—though she wishes they had been able to share “a dark, more contemporary style routine as well as some fierce and edgy jazz.” Luckily, fans can watch the “ROCKSTAR” routine that almost made it to the Star Search stage on Instagram.
There haven’t been any indications that Netflix will bring Star Search back for a second season, but the reboot represents a larger desire for performance. While the reality TV renaissance has largely targeted family dramas and dating shows, the talent programs that brought entertainers to home audiences for decades have been missing. Even if it doesn’t return, it reminded audiences what we’ve been missing—and what’s possible. “Star Search is such an iconic show that I watched growing up. To have the show return with live voting was so very exciting,” Ashley said. “…The entire show was magical, and it meant everything to us to be a part of Star Search.”
The Force is no longer on TV, but they will continue to show off their performance (and professional!) skills at dance competitions. In fact, they plan to take the Showstopper stage this season.