- This week, we're going to Philadelphia.
We are attending Powerhouse Dance Competition.
We're doing a patriotic number.
It's called Free the People.
Clearly, the Abby Lee Dance Company is not a democracy.
Abby's a totalitarianist.
ABBY LEE: Every time we go to a dance competition,
I hear people toss around the saying,
well, this is political.
Oh, look, she's going to win, because it's all politics.
Well, then I guess politics is life.
That's what this is about.
This is about the politics of dance.
The ALDC is very political.
We are all campaigning all the time
to keep our daughters on top.
ABBY LEE: This week, we're performing a routine
called Free the People.
It's a big, patriotic number.
And I think it's important for the kids today
to realize that they have a voice.
Asia, pay attention to what they're doing.
Originally, this routine had four
girls on the conservative side and four girls
on the liberal side.
But with McKenzie out on injured reserve,
I don't know what to do with Asia.
I figured out what I'm going to do with you, Asia.
I don't like to throw kids out in the end of the numbers,
but I think this will be inspirational.
I think the audience will love it.
And I am going to have you come running onto the stage
with the American flag.
Now, this is very important.
A flag is never supposed to touch the ground.
Is that her part?
She runs across the back?
ABBY LEE: Now, do your grand jete.
I think this makes Asia look like she can't do anything.
Asia's role is little, but I don't think
it's demeaning her as a dancer.
People know how my child dances, so I'm
not going to get all feathers ruffled over this flag.
But I--
Do you really think anyone who goes to dance competitions
know how your child dances? - I think enough--
Really?
--people that are important know how my daughter dances.
Yeah.
I'm just stating a fact that the women up
here did not know who Asia was.
There's nothing to disagree about.
To have Christy Ray waltz in and act like she's a star,
it's pretty obnoxious to say the least.
I'm not afraid to say anything at any time.
I don't care what to say or what you don't say.
So let's get that clear.
ABBY LEE: Paige, give her the flag back, so she can do it.
When you put it over her, it needs
to be vertical, because Paige can't just
twist it around 90 degrees.
Asia runs around with a flag.
And Paige has to hold it up the correct way,
so they both have to work together to make this work.
ABBY LEE: Kendall, you're chasing her!
What?
Kendall, when you chase someone,
should you be in front of them or behind them?
When Kendall and Chloe and Maddie
all ran to the middle and they all got balled up,
but she yelled at Kendall.
Abby says dance is political.
I work my butt off to make sure Abby
has no reason to yell at me or my daughter,
but she does anyway.
I'm worried about Paige making sure
that flag is used correctly.
But I'm also a little concerned with Asia stretching
that flag over Paige.
No, no, no.
You're not getting low enough.
And you're not grabbing it in front of--
like, here.
Do it again.
If Abby thought that the main part of this dance
was Paige holding the flag up correctly,
then she should have rehearsed it a lot more than 30 seconds
before they went on stage.
Remember, this routine loses, they're blaming you.
Anything could go wrong, but as
far as Asia handling the flag, I think she can pull it off.
[music playing]
Will I live to see another day.
Will I live to see the sunrise?
Until [inaudible] Our hearts on fire we feel no fear.
And I will-- all around.
From sky to ground our breathing is the only sound.
So we know that Paige held the flag up wrong,
but knowing that Asia is the new kid on the team,
I'm hoping that the mothers don't target
her to blame for this flag.
Asia puts the flag on Paige's back upside down.
Like, it was Asia's fault.
In the Junior Small Group division,
second place, entry number 74, Free the People.
I told Paige, who is 12 years old,
10 times how to hold the flag.
Were you taught what to do in class in rehearsal?
And the one most important thing was
right hand on the blue section.
She hung it that way because if you looked at her when she
was pulling it out, she was holding by the stripes,
so she just held it the other way.
She learned what to do.
And she knew that she needed to get
those blue stars in her right hand to pull it up.
This has been a long day.
And one thing is for sure.
My mom and dad taught me to never
discuss religion or politics.