[woman] The group routine...
The title is "The Chosen One."
Now, we're down a dancer.
So I dug through my old audition files,
and I've invited a few dancers here.
Their actual audition
will be learning the group routine.
We will be observing how these other dancers...
fit.
Why on earth would I be having auditions
this late in the game, three weeks from Nationals?
I wouldn't be.
The only reason people are coming in is because
Elliana is gone.
I don't like six kids on a team.
I want the total number to be odd.
It makes for better choreography.
So now, I need a kid that picks up quick,
that learns choreography fast,
and blends well with the other kids.
Because they need to get on a winning streak
so that they walk into Nationals with their heads held high
and you know... some confidence.
-Hey. -Hey!
The story is, 'The Chosen One.'
This is about a town...
They pick someone by using a lottery.
The winner is sacrificed, to be stoned to death,
so that all the other townspeople will have
good crops.
Funny she's talking about sacrificing one
when she's picking one to stay.
So, we are gonna just keep doing this group.
And we'll work on the acting, do a few things. Okay, let's go.
Turn that right foot out harder, right when you turn around.
Bigger hands when they come up off the floor, Brady.
More legs.
Not so heavy with the heels.
[woman] There are really high stakes this week.
Well, if they do lose, it's not because of my daughter.
The only new element this week are your kids.
When y'all lost your last group dance, whose fault was that?
Whose fault was it? You didn't get first place.
-Whose fault was it? -The judges'.
[woman scoffs]
All right, it's great.
Should Paris and Berkleigh do it themselves?
[woman] Oh boy, now she's making them do by themselves.
Can't ride their coattails anymore.
We only have three weeks until Nationals.
And I'm replacing Elliana.
So, now, I'm seriously considering adding Paris,
who is a fabulous turner
or Berkleigh.
She's extremely flexible.
I'm looking for that kid who blends well with other kids.
There's only one more spot on this team.
Paris and Berkleigh,
this is your chance to prove yourselves.
That's what I need to see.
All that rolling around there, was all right there.
[woman] Oh, what was that?
I don't think Berkleigh knows the combo.
Oh my God, I'm actually having a panic attack.
They don't know the counts.
Did your kids go home and practice?
-Yeah. -My daughter practiced 24/7.
Okay, judges, on the critiques, quickly. Lilly.
Make a lot more eye contact with the judges
and you're making no facial expressions.
GiaNina
You guys are second-guessing yourself a lot
and Berkleigh, you're watching Paris in the mirror.
The timing was different, because you weren't together.
How in the world are we supposed to win?
Tomorrow, we're on stage tomorrow, guys, tomorrow.
What scares me is we've got two kids,
that had never even put a dance on stage,
that they've only just learnt.
We don't even know how they react under pressure.
What are we supposed to do?
Well, I have good news and bad news.
I'm leaving, now.
-Like, right now? -Right now.
I'm going to the airport to fly to Los Angeles.
I did receive a message that said, "Come."
To come now.
Dee was there in the hospital with me
and I had almost died and now I cannot believe
that it's been... a year.
And we're talking about...
a similar life-or-death situation
with my dear friend.
It's crazy.
Abby likes to put on this front
that she's actually tough as nails.
So to see her break down like this
kind of makes her human.
What Karen said is, "If anybody can wake her up, it's you."
She said, "If you could just come in and yell at her,
she'll probably react."
So, I have to go. I have to try.
I stayed as long as I could.
But I'm getting on a flight right now.
So, I'm not gonna be able to see the group routine.
I hope the parents and everyone understand.
All right. I'm counting on you guys. Goodbye.
Strong. Strong.
-I love you. -I love you. Travel safe.
I'm positive I'm gonna go up there,
I'm gonna start cracking heads,
gonna make some heads roll, start screaming and yelling.
She's gonna hear my voice, it's gonna bring her to.
Let me just see the dance.
'Cause yesterday we were in a crazy place with the tune.
All right, here we go.
Get far enough out on the stage.
All the way across, don't cut it short.
Hey Paris, that's not gonna happen.
Two, three, get them out. They should already be out.
Why are we doing the wrong dance?
They still don't know the timing, it's still off.
They do a part with GiaNina, it's like three solos right now.
Now is not the time to have mistakes.
[Gianna] I'm saying... Gia, what's the choreography?
Can you do it with them?
Up, step, kick...
-That's not together right now. -Oh, my God!
-Are we gonna win? -[Gianna] Are we gonna place?
I don't even have words. I've never been this terrified.
We're going on stage in a few minutes.
These are not problems we should be having right now.
This is where the group comes back together on this kick,
it's on count eight.
But I said that on Wednesday.
It's now Saturday.
Six, kick...
You guys are still off the timing.
-Your daughter's crying. -I know that.
I mean everybody's jumping on her back. I'd cry too.
This team is a ball of pressure. This is what happens.
Tell them why you're upset.
'Cause the moms keep pressuring me to do it right,
but I feel like-- [sobs]-- if it just keeps calm, I can...
start doing it right.
You go out there and give your best. That's what you do.
You was here, they told you to be here.
They give you corrections, you take it,
you go on stage, you perform it.
I think my daughter has a high chance of making the team.
Because I feel like Paris' mom is overwhelmed
and her daughter is not gonna be able to handle the pressure.
And if one correction is gonna make her daughter cry,
maybe it's not the right time for her.
So Lilly and Brady, hold this down for me.
On the parts you do separate, on the parts that are together,
watch the people in front of you, okay?
That's what we're going... ?
Let's do this. Let's do it for Dee as well.
-Please. -For Dee.
[Paris]
And I feel like they're all screaming,
getting me pressured up till I can't do good.
I think I can pull it off.
I just have to stay calm.
We cannot afford to lose this week,
or any weeks between now and Nationals.
But in this group dance, we've got two kids in the dance,
that don't know what they're doing,
that were auditioning for our team,
and Abby left before she even told us
if they're on the team or not.
Sounds like first place to me!
[music starts]
-Whoo! -[applause and cheering]
-[dancers squealing] -Yes!
I didn't let the nerves get to me.
I felt like I did the best I could.
That was definitely the best we've ever done.
If Miss Abby was here, I think she would say
that I did amazing and that my timing was correct.
Our top junior group
703, The Chosen One!
Yeah!
Who is your choreographer?
Abby Lee Dance Company.
Whoo! Thank God!
We made it. We got first place even with the two new kids.
[dancers cheering]
Whoo!
Good job, guys. Congrats! Congrats!
It's been a minute since we won, so...
That's huge for us right now.
Kids, I want you guys cleaned up and out of these costumes.
I don't want dirt on your face anymore.
I want you to look cute again.