Still can't watch Sammy's Prix de Fonteyn performance without tearing up, tbh.
Hey, hello. Grab a snack and some tissues because I'm about to take you down an emotional, yet nostalgic, rollercoaster.
The year was 2013 and many of us were thoroughly invested in the sheer drama that was Dance Academy, an iconic Aussie kids' show about a bunch of teens attending Sydney's National Dance Academy.
Now, Dance Academy was a little cringey at times - but it had a lot of heart. The characters were fun, extremely relatable and it was incredible to watch them perform all those complicated dance sequences.
Was I the only one that watched the show and then had dreams about becoming a dancer - even though I was already a teenager and definitely missed my window, lol?
Which is why it was absolutely gut-wrenching when his character was killed off at the end of Season 2.
It also starts off with an emotional voiceover from Sammy, which reads: "Every dancer knows that being technically perfect isn't enough. We need to know why we dance. For me, it's to be connected. I'm inspired by my friends."
ABC / Netflix
Oh, Sammy - sweet, sweet, darling Sammy. This message could sum up his whole experience at the academy, really. He was never the most technically proficient dancer, but he tried the hardest and remained loyal to his friends, who became his everything.
I don't know about you, but every time I rewatch this, I tear up and get this huge lump in my throat. The choreography, the message, the storyline, the music ("Easy To Love" by The Jezabels, in case you're wondering) - everything in this performance just makes me SO emotional.
In one last tribute to their friend, Ben - who was subbed in - decides to perform Sammy's choreography at the Prix de Fonteyn, even though this effectively disqualifies him from the competition.
Tara, Christian, Abigail, Kat, Ollie and Ethan then join Ben onstage, where they perform the rest of Sammy's performance together.
It's a heartbreakingly sweet gesture that was fitting for someone who valued their friends as much as Sammy did.
Far out, Dance Academy. It's been seven years since these episodes aired and I'm still not over Sammy's death.
And honestly, I don't think I ever will be, which I'm okay with - because at the end of the day, it's props to the writers for doing such a fantastic job with this series.
If you feel like ugly crying today, here is Sammy's last performance.
