We're all in a little much needed
R and R, Rest and Relaxation.
But I made a commitment a long time ago
to take part in a very, very special Starbound event.
HOLLY: So the season's over, but Abby invited the team
to participate in Starbound's Dancers Care Foundation
special competition weekend.
It's exciting for the whole team to be
asked to be involved in raising awareness about breast cancer.
All right.
So let's move right along to what's happening.
Now, this is important.
We are traveling to Atlantic City, New Jersey.
[applause]
When we get to Atlantic City, it's not about the beach.
It's not about the boardwalk.
It's not about the rides.
I want you all to understand we are going
to a full-fledged competition.
They are doing this competition as a fundraiser
for Dancers Care.
The group routine is called "Beautiful Sadness."
We're doing a little tribute to my mom,
the ultimate dance mom, who is very ill,
who's in a lot of pain.
She is suffering with stage four colon cancer.
My mother is a beautiful lady and deteriorating rapidly.
That makes this trying time very difficult, very
sad, and very emotional for me.
OK.
So it's important that every time you step on stage,
make it about somebody.
If you want to be sad, it's OK to be sad.
All right?
It's just not OK to have bad feet.
[laughter]
[upbeat music]
I'm hearing that balancé, balancé waltz.
Like, could they enter like, 1, 2, 3.
2, 2, 3.
Yes.
That works.
The group routine is entitled "Beautiful Sadness."
I think these girls are just at the right age
to realize that things aren't always perfect.
There are people every single day dying of breast cancer.
But what I want the girls to realize
is that if it wasn't for my mom, Maryen Lorrain,
they would not be as talented as they are.
They would have never learned all the things
that my mom taught me.
(SINGING) Hope and faith--
I like this dance.
It's pretty.
(SINGING) It's a beautiful moment today.
There's a world without people--
She's crying.
LESLIE: Oh, she's really crying.
I can't handle this.
I can't-- I don't like to watch people sad.
I just-- you just don't know what to say.
You never-- I know exactly how she's feeling.
It's getting rough.
It's getting down to the last days of Mrs. Miller.
And it's really playing a toll on Abby.
And I feel really bad, 'Cause I know how she's feeling.
I lost my mom.
[crying] Abby's gonna be--
she'll be OK but she'll be-- it'll be rough.
[music playing]
This dance is beautiful.
- It's sad to me. - I don't know.
I think Abby's going--
- I can't get a feel for it yet. - Whenever it's--
She's gonna bawl.
--it's said that it's a tribute to her mother,
I think she's definitely gonna be choked up.
[music playing]
Light feet!
You know what?
I love the number.
I'm just worried about the--
it's very-- the ballet, the technique, the feet,
the arms, the transit.
You know, they do a lot of the moving around.
And, you know, in our last ballet number
we had dresses down to here so it kind of covered.
We need for these girls to be amazing.
From their costuming to their technique,
everything needs to fall into place.
Certain costume to hide certain things.
I would hate for her to have the girls do
a tribute at a competition for Mrs. Miller.
And what if that tribute doesn't win?
JILL: Right. Right.
And it needs to be--
Is it good enough just for them--
If nothing else, that needs to be clean.
It has to be fantastic.
There's a lot of pressure with tributes.
Keep it just like that. Keep it clean.
Keep it simple.
We don't know how these other kids dance.
OK?
So it's clean, it's precise.
Hello. Hello.
Hello.
- Oh, good. - Oh.
Good. Good.
Good. - Look who's here.
All right.
Now, remember, this is a tribute to my mom.
So it-- not only does it need to win the competition,
but it needs to be gorgeous.
So make it good.
All right, let's go.
[music playing]
That's better.
(SINGING) There's a beautiful sadness--
ABBY LEE: Point your feet!
(SINGING) --behind a goodbye.
It's giving those love--
You're still behind her!
Emote there, Nia, emote!
(SINGING) Your life gives light that'll never fade.
And it brings us hope and faith.
ABBY LEE: This routine is very important to me,
as it should be to everybody.
And it's not coming together as quickly as I'd like.
It's still a big hot mess.
(SINGING) It's a beautiful moment today.
ABBY LEE: That ending is a little rough.
And this is it.
This is your last rehearsal.
You're gonna come here tomorrow, get on a bus,
and go to Atlantic City.
You need to be ready.
You have to put everything on the shelf.
We're there to honor my mother and her history,
which, you know, I'm not gonna let anybody tarnish that.
And you might be going to Atlantic City without me.
[sighs]
[upbeat music]
[cheering]
JILL: This week we will be attending
Starbound Dance Competition, but it's different from what
we're used to.
It's a benefit.
And it's benefiting research and development for cancer.
This is really a special opportunity for these children
and for us to take part in.
This is great. - Hey.
Hi!
- How are you? - Good.
How are you?
Thanks for doing this.
Oh, thanks for having us.
Thanks for coming. GIA: Yeah.
All right.
Abby couldn't be here because her mom is ill.
So the doctors have asked her not to leave.
Abby informs us that she's not gonna be able to go,
and we all understand.
Mrs. Miller is just not doing well
and she wants to spend, you know,
these last couple of days with her.
And there's no right or wrong.
That's what today is about, being a team together.
Whether you're from a different--
a different school than the person next to you,
it's about all being together, and part of the same team
working for a common cause.
OK?
[applause]
Together today we're going to make a huge difference.
OK?
HOLLY: It's exciting for the whole team
to be asked to be involved in raising
awareness about breast cancer.
It's a wonderful opportunity for the girls
to express themselves using dance,
and give back to the community, and hopefully find
the cure for breast cancer.
[upbeat music]
[cheering]
HOLLY: Pretty!
JILL: I love it.
All right, come on.
Hands in for Mrs. Miller.
The original dance mom!
[cheering] GIA: All right.
Let's go. Let's go.
Let's go.
[ominous music]
ANNOUNCER: Small Group Lyrical, ages
11 and 12, "Beautiful Sadness."
[cheering, applause]
MELISSA: This week is really special because the girls
are dancing for Mrs. Miller.
And it means the world to them.
I mean, it's really a tough situation,
but the girls can do it.
[music playing]
(SINGING) There's a beautiful sadness behind a goodbye.
It's giving those laws a chance to fly.
Your life gives light that'll never fade.
And it brings us hope and faith.
It's a beautiful moment today.
Searching for answers, strength from within,
as we look to the bright blue sky.
Somehow we find that the future begins
in giving the gift of life.
It's a beautiful moment today, sharing your life this way.
It's a beautiful moment today.
[cheering, applause]
JILL: The girls look beautiful on stage.
They've gotten it together.
Their timing is good.
The choreography is good.
I really think these kids nailed it.
[cheering, applause]
SANDRA: All right.
Please put your hands together for all these dancers that
made a huge difference today.
[cheering, applause]
The whole premise is to unite the dance community
in the fight against cancer.
And, hopefully within our lifetime, if we can find a cure
and just get rid of cancer altogether.
JILL: Hallelujah!
[cheering, applause]
All right.
I-- how are you?
I'm fine.
Abby wanted to give you this $5,000--
Beautiful. Thank you so--
--for your foundation.
--so much.
Thank you so, so much.
[applause]
Now we're down to the top Junior Groups, folks.
MELISSA: Winning this group number
would mean the world to us.
Because this is a song of hope, a message of hope,
hoping that we can beat cancer.
ANNOUNCER: Third place, "Run" by Live Generations of Dance.
[applause]
Second place, "Endure," Chicago Contemporary Dance.
Here it is, folks, your top overall Junior Group.
"Beautiful Sadness," Abby Lee Dance Company!
[cheering, applause]
Let's get 'em all up here.
MELISSA: ALDC group rocked it.
Their group dance--
I don't think they could have done it better.
I wish Abby was here to see this amazing win.
Abby Lee Dance Company!
ANNOUNCER: There it is, your top Junior Group.
MELISSA: Oh, Mrs. Miller would be so happy!
[cheering]
Good job, girls!
Did it for Mrs. Miller and Abby.
- Great job. - It's good.
Good job.
All right, you guys, you want to call Abby?
- Yeah. - OK.
[phone ringing]
I'll talk first.
ABBY LEE (ON PHONE): Hey.
We won!
[upbeat music]
[laughter]
We just wanted to call and tell
you that the group got first.
This is Paige. I love you!
NIA: Love you, Miss
Abby!
GIA: Thank you, Ab.
Thank you.
[music playing]
(SINGING) We all need someone.
We can't make it alone.
Need an angel that won't leave us when the night gets cold.
We all need someone.