In a competition for $250,000 and the title of Ultimate Dance Monster, there can be only one winner. That means, throughout Dance Monster’s five rounds, a total of 14 CGI creatures are eliminated. Since these monsters are specially engineered to appear adorable and amusing, every goodbye is devastating. But in this competition, there is a bright side to each.

Every time the judges panel, which includes musical artist Ne-Yo, dancer Ashley Banjo and internet personality Lele Pons, decides who to send home, we’re introduced to the humans behind the monsters. As they practiced and performed throughout the competition, the dancers shared their stories and struggles, and before leaving the competition, they’re finally allowed to show their real selves. Now, too, following their respective exits, the eliminated contestants reveal even more about themselves. Here, they reflect on their Dance Monsters experiences and tell us how their beast alter-egos changed their approach to dance — and life.

🤐 SPOILER ALERT 🤐

Tom Dymond/Netflix

Round 1, Heat 1 Elimination: Jellifer aka Angela 

The real human behind Jellifer takes to the stage and dances for the first time in a decade. The song of choice? “Blow Your Mind (Mwah)” by Dua Lipa. “I feel like it was really good to get back on stage as a performer and to be pushed to my level of experience and expertise again,” the dancer tells Tudum. “The thrill was amazing!” Sadly, though, the performance does not immediately qualify her to move on to the next round, so the jellyfish lady participates in a dance-off against fellow competitor Peaches.

Though judge Ashley Banjo thinks Jellifer had a better take on Elton John’s “Saturday Night’s Alright,” he is ultimately outnumbered, and the dancer is sent packing at the start of Episode 2. Before exiting the stage, however, the person who once danced professionally with Britney Spears is revealed to be a woman named Angela. Though she didn’t make it very far in the competition, Angela’s passion was reignited by her short time on the show. “The dancer in me is hungry for more. Now I’m busy teaching all over St. Louis as a way to get my fix from dance,” she shares. As for what’s next for her, she says, “You never know. Maybe there will be a reunion or maybe you will see me judging!”

Tom Dymond/Netflix

Round 1, Heat 2 Elimination: Rocky aka Mitch

Rocky is controlled by a dad of three, and his family was thrilled to watch the pile of rocks get down to Pharrell’s “Happy” in his first performance. “My kids absolutely loved seeing me as a ‘cartoon,’ as they called it,” he tells Tudum. Unfortunately, it isn’t enough to save him, and Rocky has to dance against fellow monster Roberta to “Power” by Little Mix.

The judges rule in favor of keeping Roberta, and at the beginning of Episode 3, Rocky transforms back into a human named Mitch. Since leaving the show, Mitch says he’s been dancing more than ever, and he’s even uncovered a new area of interest. “I have found that I love being a choreographer more than anything,” he says, adding that he has also begun teaching. “Creating a piece and watching it come to life with my students is just amazing.”

Tom Dymond/Netflix

Round 1, Heat 3 Elimination: Slink aka Darius

In real life, he’s a research scientist, but on Dance Monsters, he’s known as Slink. In Episode 3, the slinky robot boogies to “Beggin’” by Madcon, which gave him a boost of confidence. “My time as Slink taught me that while I have danced with companies, I have the skills to command a stage on my own as a soloist,” he tells Tudum. While Hammer’s, Candy’s and Ferg’s first performances get them through to the next round, Slink enters a dance-off against Darcy. After their showdown set to “Scream” by Usher, only Lele votes in favor of keeping Slink, so he’s eliminated from the competition.

The audience is introduced to Darius, who danced as Slink, and it turns out, the competition allowed this Ph.D. to find a balance between his enthusiasm for both dance and science. “Since competing on the show, I continued with a year off from science. I was signed to Main Line Models and Talent, where I have been exploring and developing my skills as an actor as well as a dancer,” Darius says. “In July, I took a position in the biopharmaceutical industry and am happy to go in and out of my science and entertainment life freely.”

Dance Monsters Season 1 TrailerA dance competition like you've never seen before.

Round 2, Heat 1 Snap Elimination: Ferg aka Sadie

The real person behind Ferg made it through Round 1 with her performance to “Turn Me On” by David Guetta, featuring Nicki Minaj. In Round 2, the rainbow beast opts to show off her soft side with an emotional dance to “Just Like Fire” by P!nk, which is dedicated to her late grandparents who always supported her dreams. “The tribute dance for my grandparents was loved by my family, especially my mom,” Ferg’s human counterpart tells Tudum. “She told me that she knew they both would be so proud of me for what I have accomplished. She loved that I was able to highlight such important people in my life.”

Though the performance is meaningful, it isn’t enough to keep Ferg in the competition. She’s sent home in a snap elimination in Episode 4, but before exiting the stage, her identity is revealed to be a woman named Sadie. Having to leave Dance Monsters hasn’t diminished Sadie’s love of dance. “I’ve kept dancing about the same amount since the competition ended,” she says. “I’m still teaching classes and dancing in my kitchen!”

Round 2, Heat 1 Elimination: Roberta aka Nadeshi

After the dance-off against Rocky, Roberta makes it to Round 2, where she performs to “Woman Like Me” by Little Mix. Though Roberta’s real-life conservative family used to think her dancing was too provocative, Dance Monsters helped change their minds. “My mum was extremely proud watching me perform as she knew it was my childhood dream to be a dancer and to work in showbiz,” she tells Tudum. “I think my family takes me more seriously now after seeing me dance as Roberta. They’re like, ‘Oh, it’s actually a real job and hard work.’ ”

While her dancing blew her family away, it isn’t enough to automatically get her through to the quarterfinal. At the end of Episode 4, the robot faces off against Jam and Ne-Yo to the judge’s very own song “Beautiful Monster.” All three of the judges name Jam the winner of the dance-off, so Roberta is sadly eliminated and transforms back into her human self, Nadeshi. Though she didn’t win the title of Ultimate Dance Monster, Nadeshi did gain a lot of confidence in her art, which has carried over into her everyday life. “I love dancing as myself in public!” she says. “Recently on an acting job, in between takes, I couldn’t stop dancing. I even performed the “Jerusalema” TikTok dance with Vin Diesel. What a dream come true. All thanks to Roberta, of course.”

Round 2, Heat 2 Exit: Darcy aka Clara

Every Dance Monsters goodbye is heart-wrenching, but Darcy’s exit may have been the toughest because it wasn’t based on performance. Following her ballet set to “Midnight Sky” by Miley Cyrus and successful dance-off against Slink in Round 1, the android announces that she must leave the competition because of a torn hamstring at the start of Episode 5. Darcy becomes her real self, a farmer and ballerina named Clara, who had grand dance plans for Round 2 that sadly never came to fruition. “I would’ve been performing a piece about my relationship with my mom and her role in my dance journey,” she reveals to Tudum. “She’s always been my biggest supporter, and the piece would have acted as a letter to her, letting her know how much she has meant to me as I’ve grown as a dancer. I was devastated when I wasn’t able to perform it, because it felt like the choreography highlighted who I am as a dancer so well.”

Clara may not have been able to share the tribute to her mom with the Dance Monsters audience, but she hasn’t let that — or her injury — stop her dance journey, which had been on pause for two years before she joined the show. “I’ve made a full recovery and am back training and performing as much as possible now. I just finished The Nutcracker with a local ballet company and am looking forward to performing again in the spring, both in town and elsewhere!” Clara says. “The show helped me realize how important it is for me to always make dance a priority in my life, and I’ve made it a point to rearrange some things so I can focus more on dancing now that my hamstring is healed.”

Round 2, Heat 2 Elimination: Peaches aka Laine

In Round 2, Peaches steps into her human counterpart’s job as a mechanical engineer. She dances to “One Night Only” from Dreamgirls on an oil rig set, which impressed those who are usually working on the real oil rig with her. “The response from my co-workers has been really positive,” the person behind Peaches tells Tudum. “One said, ‘Having this opportunity to see your commitment to a completely different field is incredible.’ Another told me she found herself yelling at the screen, ‘Go Peaches!’ ”

Following the performance that delighted her fellow engineers, Peaches is unfortunately sent to dance against Beti and host Ashley Roberts to “Sucker” by Jonas Brothers in Episode 5. Beti is unanimously named the winner of the dance-off, and Peaches takes her human form of Laine. Dancing to music from one of her favorite musicals helped Laine explore one of her heart’s greatest desires. “Being on Broadway will always be a dream of mine, but I’m not actively pursuing it at this time,” she says.

Quarterfinal Elimination: Jam aka Victor 

Jam, a real-life preschool teacher, flew through Round 1 and beat Roberta in the Ne-Yo ultimate dance-off in Round 2. It turns out, the funky and furry red creature has also been a big hit inside his human counterpart’s classroom. “My students most definitely now know about Jam,” he tells Tudum. “As a teacher, I strive to motivate, inspire and help my students believe in themselves and their dreams. My main focus is to build their confidence so that they can conquer the world. Jam is definitely ALL of that plus more.” After all his solo success, Jam is paired with Hammer, and together they dance to “Treasure” by Bruno Mars. From that experience, the man behind Jam gets a similar lesson to the one he’s always trying to teach his students. “My biggest takeaway from my duet with Hammer is confidence and the understanding that I still have it in me to keep up,” he says. “Hammer is one of the youngest monsters on the show and is incredible. He really pushed me physically and motivated me in so many ways.”

Though both monsters dance their hearts out in the Treasure Island–themed performance, they’re up for elimination. Jam performs a solo 30-second freestyle to “Pop” by *NSYNC to try to stay in the competition at the end of Episode 6. Unfortunately, it’s not enough to save him, and the real Jam is revealed to be Victor. Despite not winning the competition, Victor isn’t discouraged. “After coming off the show, my goal was to make students feel what Jam made me feel, which was confidence and having that inner belief that no matter how big or scary your dream is, as long as you work toward it, believe in yourself and never give up, you can do it,” he says. “Dreams really come true.”

Quarterfinal Elimination: Candy aka Chelsea

After soaring through the first two rounds, Candy is paired with Marsha to perform a duet to  “Electricity” by Dua Lipa and Silk City, featuring Diplo and Mark Ronson. “Dancing with Marsha was an incredible experience. Her work ethic and hunger to win was inspiring,” she tells Tudum. Despite that drive, the duet doesn’t get them a win, and they must compete to stay in the competition through 30-second solo freestyles. “Coming out of that, my biggest takeaway is to push harder physically and mentally,” the person behind Candy says. “It was a great reminder to empty my gas tank completely in order to create the results I want.”

After her freestyle to “Just Watch Me Now” by Lady Bri, Candy is eliminated and her true identity is revealed to be Chelsea. As she’s shared throughout the competition, Chelsea’s dance career was derailed by a cancer diagnosis, but her experience on the show has helped get that back on track. “Dance Monsters ignited a fire back in me to pursue my dream of being a professional dancer again. I’d love to get involved with touring as a backing dancer and even work on the creative side as a choreographer at some point,” she shares. “Having the opportunity to be back onstage performing made me realize the true passion and love I have for the craft, and I’m ready to work my butt off to keep pursuing my dance dreams. Touring with artists like Doja Cat, Ariana Grande and Rihanna would be a dream come true!”

Semifinal Elimination: Beti aka Kevin

Beti became a semifinalist after he and Chester blew the judges away with their duet to “I Wonder” by Shawn Mendes in Episode 6. From the experience of dancing alongside Chester, the human behind Beti says he gained a friend and a new perspective on sharing the stage. “Growing up in dance, I was constantly comparing myself to those around me and now I see how important it is to see myself for my unique abilities,” he shares. “And how important it is to see the beauty and power in the dancers around me.”

Speaking of unique abilities, in the semifinals, each dance monster is given a superpower, which they must incorporate into their performances. Beti gets the shapeshifting superpower, and he uses it to turn into smoke, move through a wall, and seamlessly jump between hip-hop and contemporary dance to “There's Nothing Holdin' Me Back” by Shawn Mendes. Though Beti was able to showcase his adaptability throughout the show, this final dynamic display sadly isn’t quite enough to get him through to the finals. He’s eliminated in Episode 7 and revealed to be a human named Kevin. Since leaving the competition, Kevin has continued to explore different types of dance. “Across the board, in my art and in my life, I always look for new ways to develop new skills, experience new things and overcome new obstacles. That is definitely something that has continued since being on the show,” Kevin tells Tudum. “Primarily, I’ve dedicated new focus to contemporary and ballet. I want to push into my technique and build brand new foundations for the next chapter in my dance career.”

Semifinal Elimination: Flame aka Najah

Flame got through to the semifinals after her duet with Grummy to “War” by Edwin Starr. Up until that point, the judges had repeatedly urged the dancer to show them who Flame was as a monster. The real human behind Flame says she learned a lot from that challenge. “Flame taught me to embody confidence. Flame taught me that vulnerability and power both exhibit strength. Flame taught me how to live with a fiery spirit day in and day out,” she tells Tudum. “As the show progressed, I definitely saw myself embracing those qualities, not just as a dancer, but as a person who has never truly believed in the greatness that others saw within me. I am so thankful for what I was able to learn from this ferocious, stylish and giving spirit. Flame will forever be in me!” 

As a semifinalist, the person dancing as Flame not only uses her newfound fiery confidence but also a fire-controlling superpower in a performance to “Boogie Wonderland” by Earth, Wind & Fire and The Emotions in Episode 7. Sadly, though, it doesn’t beat out her competitors’ superpowered dances. She’s eliminated and her true identity as Najah is unveiled. Before coming on the show, Najah auditioned as a backup dancer for artists like Jennifer Lopez, Justin Bieber and Beyoncé, but she says this experience was even tougher. “Competing on Dance Monsters was definitely the biggest challenge I have faced thus far in my dance career,” Najah says. “The amount of time perfecting a routine in a different genre than the week before, enhancing the difficulty and execution every week, all while portraying a fierce monster was different than anything I have ever done. It is just you out there getting critiqued, as opposed to being in a group and dancing with others behind the artist. You are the artist. Flame was my artist.”

Final Elimination: Marsha aka Taryn

In Episode 7, Marsha is given the ability to fly, and with the superpower, she performs a routine to “You Can’t Stop The Girl” by Bebe Rexha. The emotional dance shows an underdog stepping up and brings judge Lele Pons to tears. “Seeing Lele cry was a moment of reassurance that everything was about to pay off for me. All of the self-doubt I had been experiencing was washed away and I finally felt like I was going to be able to make an impact in the competition,” the real dancer behind the marshmallow monster tells Tudum. “My goal as Marsha was to inspire my daughter, my students and anyone I could reach to continue fighting when things got tough. Seeing Lele become emotional was a sign that I was going to be able to accomplish that goal while proving that I deserved to be in the finale.”

And she proved to be right. In Episode 8, all four finalists perform a special solo dance that represents a personal dance dream. Marsha dedicates her dance to the dream of her and her dance students being the stars of their own TV show. This last boogie is set to “I'm So Excited” by The Pointer Sisters but does not secure Marsha the opportunity to participate in the final dance-off. She is eliminated and transforms back into her real self, Taryn. As she’s said, everything Taryn did on the show was for her daughter and dance students, and though she didn’t win, she did get recognition at home. “My dance students and my daughter are all really excited to see me competing as Marsha! They have loved watching the show and have been my biggest supporters through each episode,” Taryn says.

Final Elimination: Hammer

As the youngest competitor on Dance Monsters, Hammer had a lot to prove, and he certainly rose to the occasion. His cloning superpower performance, which features five different Hammers dancing to “Focus” by Ariana Grande gets him a coveted spot as a finalist. And in the finale, Hammer shows off his desire to be seen as more than just a TikTok dancer through a performance about his dream to be a professional dancer in a music video. In it, he blends hip-hop, house, and even voguing to “Rain On Me” by Lady Gaga and Ariana Grande. Through his incredible turn on the show, the person behind Hammer clearly proves he’s a dancer — and not just on TikTok — but he doesn’t make it to the final dance-off. Hammer is eliminated and revealed as an 18-year-old named Harvey.

Final Elimination: Hammer

As the show’s youngest competitor, Hammer has had a lot to prove, and he certainly rises to the occasion. “Being the youngest competitor on Dance Monsters was honestly super motivating and forced me to fight just that much harder,” the real dancer behind Hammer tells Tudum. “Because of my age, I knew the other contestants had more experience under their belt so I relied heavily on my choreographers and their experience to prepare myself the best I could!”

The contestant’s cloning superpower performance, which features five different Hammers dancing to “Focus” by Ariana Grande, gets him a coveted spot as a finalist. And in the finale, Hammer shows off his desire to be seen as more than just a TikTok dancer through a performance about his dream to be a professional dancer in a music video. In it, he blends hip-hop, house, and even voguing to “Rain On Me” by Lady Gaga and Ariana Grande. Though he had an incredible turn on the show, Hammer doesn’t quite make it to the final dance-off. In Episode 8, he is eliminated and revealed as an 18-year-old named Harvey. “Since leaving Dance Monsters, I haven’t done any other live performances but it’s definitely something I’d like to do in the future,” Harvest says. “I would like to think that now, people will take me more seriously as a dancer and not just a TikTok creator.”

Runner-Up: Chester aka Tyler

In the final competition, Chester does a dance to “Human” by The Killers that depicts his dream of one day performing at the Superbowl halftime show. This reflects how torn the human behind Chester is between football and dance, which is an issue he’s been exploring throughout the entire competition. “After the conclusion of the show, I went back to my university to finish school and was told there was still a spot for me on the football team. However, I decided to just finish my last semester and graduate as a double major with bachelor’s degrees in Criminal Justice and Psychology,” he tells Tudum. “Dance is truly my passion and Dance Monsters helped me realize that this industry is truly my path in life.”

Chester’s dream Superbowl halftime performance gets him to the final dance-off against Grummy. At the end of Episode 8, the two go head to head to “Bang Bang” by Ariana Grande, Jessie J and Nicki Minaj for the title of Ultimate Dance Monster, and Chester becomes the runner-up. Before the winner is officially named, Chester is revealed as a college student named Tyler. “Since leaving the show, my life has changed in many ways. I graduated from college and began teaching dance classes at the studio I grew up at,” Tyler says. “Most importantly, I believe in myself more as a dancer and choreographer because of the confidence Dance Monsters gave me. It was truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience that I will always cherish.”

Ultimate Dance Monster: Grummy aka Chris

With his larger-than-life personality, the person dancing as Grummy dreams of one day starring in his very own dance movie. So, that’s the theme of Grummy’s final choreographed performance, which is set to “Everybody (Backstreet's Back)” by Backstreet Boys. The judges eat it up and send Grummy to the final dance-off against Chester. After a rousing back and forth between the two talented dancers, Grummy is named Ultimate Dance Monster and awarded the grand prize of $250,000.

The real person behind Grummy is  Chris. As he’s shared throughout the show, Chris had to take a break from pursuing a career in dance because he struggled financially. He took a job at a museum where he lives in Queens, NY, but now, you better believe he’s getting back his passion for performance. “Respectfully, I wasn’t able to return to the museum, but now that I’m back pursuing my dance career. I have so many plans for dance/movement/storytelling/comedy, and I’m beyond excited to share with the world!!” Chris tells Tudum. “I have no idea where this is going to take me but now that I know that dreams can actually come true, I’ll be dreaming more often! Hopefully, I will be able to use my platform to inspire others to be creative and to pursue their dreams no matter where they are or what their situation is.