Carly, who was born in St Clair and now lives in Kemps Creek, is among 19 others vying for the title of ``Australia's favourite dancer'' on Network Ten's So You Think You Can Dance.

During a few stolen minutes of her lunch break last Thursday, in between hectic rehearsals, Carly offered an insight into what it's like to be within the show's bubble.

She told the Star it didn't seem like she was on a television show as she was always being kept busy.

``It [making the top 20] is really exciting,'' she said.

``It's overwhelming though, it doesn't feel real.''

Viewers got to see Carly perform twice last Wednesday night, first in a Moulin Rouge style jazz number with all the top 10 girls choreographed by judge Matt Lee, and then in a fun jazz piece choreographed by Marko Panzic.

That show was filmed on the Monday night, with all the dancers huddled around a television screen watching it back on Wednesday.

``Everyone was screaming at the TV, it was funny,'' she said.

``I hate watching myself.

``It's just really confronting as I think I am my own worst critic.''

Carly's dancing career started at the Patricia Stevens Dance Studio in St Clair when she was a pre-schooler, before she moved on to the Brent Street school at the age of seven.

She's gone on to become a commercial dancer, performing with artists including Ricki Lee and Danii Minogue.

She said her dream was to dance for an international artist such as Britney Spears, Justin Timberlake or Lady Gaga.

But it's a case of third time lucky for this hard-working jazz dancer.

She had auditioned for the show twice before, making the top 50 the first year, but missing out on the golden ticket and top 100 last year.

Excited to finally be on the So You Think You Can Dance stage, Carly said it was the best she had ever danced on, thanks to the energy in the room and the state-of-the-art lighting.

But don't be alarmed if there are some tears through the journey.

``I cry anyway,'' she said.

``I can't help it, I don't even know.

``I don't want to cry.

``I'm like, `please don't cry, please don't cry'.''