This week on Dance Moms, we finally got back into the ALDC studio to watch the girls train for their upcoming competition. Abby arrived back from LA where she was shooting her show Abby’s Ultimate Dance Competition. The moms, of course, kept up the drama in Pittsburgh while she was away.
The moms made a pact they wouldn’t take their daughters to visit Abby in LA, but Melissa broke, taking Maddie to be a guest performer on Abby’s show.
When she got back, the other moms were not pleased, especially Christi, who accused Melissa of sleeping with everyone to get to the top.
While the moms argued upstairs, the girls were in the studio getting ready for their competition, which was just a few days away. At the top of the pyramid was Maddie for winning her solo at the last competition. No surprise there!
Abby announced the routines for the upcoming competition, giving Chloe a hip hop solo, Maddie a tap solo, and Mackenzie an acro solo. Abby said that this is McKenzie’s last shot to prove herself before Asia gets back. As for Maddie and Chloe, who would be going up against each other, hip hop is a weakness for Chloe while tap is a strength for Maddie, which dance mom Christi thought was not fair!
The group dance, which excluded Mackenzie, was entitled “Gone Too Soon” and had the girls portraying dead celebrities. Abby chose Nia to portray Whitney Houston, Kendall for Selena, Brooke for Amy Winehouse, Paige for Anna Nicole Smith, Chloe for Marilyn Monroe, and Maddie for Princess Diana.
Abby started rehearsal with Mackenzie’s solo. Melissa sat in the studio and watched her daughter practice because she didn’t want to face the wrath of the other mothers. Soon after they began, Abby stopped Mackenzie, declaring that she was out of breath and not performing well. When Mackenzie admitted she was outside playing at recess that day, Abby turned to Melissa and demanded “No more recess!”
After practice, all of the moms except Melissa went out to a bar to gossip behind her back. They weren’t too keen on 9-year-old Mackenzie not being allowed to play at recess anymore. They all agreed that Melissa puts dance before school for her daughters. Also, Christi mentioned that Mackenzie had two hours of rehearsal for her solo, Maddie had one hour, and Chloe had none, which of Christi said was not fair! The next day at the studio, the moms were quick to rub it in Melissa’s face that they all went out without her, but Melissa insisted she would rather be home with her daughters and husband than out drinking anyway.
The girls, moms, and Abby arrived in Syracuse, New York for the “In10sity” dance competition, which was their first completion after a long break from Abby being in LA.
“Don’t make me regret coming home,” Abby said.
Mackenzie’s solo was first up.
“If you bomb this solo, Asia will get all the solos when she comes back,” Abby made sure to remind her right before she went on.
Mackenzie’s acro routine, entitled “California Dream” was adorable as always. Her gymnastics tricks were flawless, and she looked great in her shiny blue and gold costume. But was it good enough for Abby? Only awards will tell.
Next up was Chloe with her hip hop solo. Her black leggings and silver jacket didn’t seem to suit the theme, and the choreography was a confusing blend of lyrical and hip hop moves. Nevertheless, Chloe did very well with what she was given, especially considering that hip hop is not her strong point.
Maddie’s was the last solo, and she wore a frilly pink apron, portraying a house wife who woke up on the wrong side of the bed. Her performance showed that Maddie really is as good of a tap dancer as everyone says. She looked great as always until her apron slipped off her shoulders in the middle of her performance! Maddie didn’t miss a beat though, and Abby said she handled the costume slip like a pro.
The contemporary group dance was the last ALDC performance of the competition. The girls all wore white, but the style of their costumes and hair did a great job of showing which Hollywood leading lady each one was portraying. The routine was lovely, but Abby made sure to note that Maddie as Princess Diana was the loveliest of all.
Finally it was time for Abby’s favorite part – awards! Mackenzie won first place in the mini solo division by a sweeping 8.5 points!
In the next category, Chloe earned fourth place for her hip hop solo, and Maddie earned second for her tap number. Maddie was holding back tears as she accepted her award. We all know that second is the first to lose!
“I am livid,” Abby said. “Second? Are you joking?”
The group dance won first place, but Abby didn’t even watch them stand for their award because she was still fuming over Maddie’s second place.
Back in the dressing room later, Abby made sure to give Maddie a big hug, because, hey, if Maddie doesn’t win it’s not her fault!
Make sure to tune in next Monday at 9/8c for a special episode!
Image: twitpic