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Las Vegas mother-daughter duo competing in new CBS show

Las Vegas mother-daughter duo competing in new CBS show
CBS

Usually, the one time you get to dance with a parent is at your wedding.

For 12 young dancers, they’re getting the chance a bit earlier, and on national television.

Come Dance With Me stars a dozen exceptionally talented children teamed up with their, well, less gifted parents in a dance competition for a six-figure prize.

One of the duos comes from Las Vegas.

Emelyn Yniguez is a 12-year-old dancer, and her mother, Nicole Yniguez, a social media consultant, is her new dance partner.

Courtesy: CBS

When she was 2, Emelyn Yniguez started dance classes for fun. She danced competitively in New Jersey and while watching dancers in the national competition, she decided she wanted that to be her path.

I love it because it gives me the chance to inspire other people, like kids like me, my age, to you know, follow your passion, because it will lead to success.

She’s so far worked alongside Barbie Mattel, Yo Gotti, Snoop Dogg and Blink 182.

They auditioned for the CBS show in August 2021. When it’s all said and done, the winning duo will go home with the grand prize of $100,000.

“I feel like she was always meant for something like this when she started dancing. I mean, as a mom, you kind of see something like a sparkle in their eye on stage,” said Nicole Yniguez. “I didn't really know what to expect being on the show and having to do it with her. But honestly, I feel like she was more prepared than I was.”

Nicole Yniguez said filming in Australia was difficult physically, mentally, and emotionally. For filming, she was separated from her husband and other children.

“It was also very surprising how my husband kind of came through with managing my other three kids and their schedules. And it actually brought us closer together,” said Nicole Yniguez.

Her daughter said the experience was fun, but also stressful at times.

In the meantime, the show was exciting for Emelyn’s school friends.

“They're like, ‘oh my gosh, you're famous, Emelyn.’ ‘Oh my gosh, this and that, blah, blah, blah.’ And I'm like, I'm not famous … yet.”

Nicole Yniguez, mother and dancer on CBS's Come Dance With Me; Emelyn Yniguez, daughter and dancer on CBS's Come Dance With Me

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Lorraine Blanco Moss is the host of KNPR's award-winning Asian American Pacific Islander podcast, Exit Spring Mountain. She's also a former producer for State of Nevada, specializing in food and hospitality, women's issues, and sports.