ABBY: Hello, dancers.
We looked at thousands of dancers across the US
to find the very best.
That's why you are here at this final audition.
You may win all the competitions in your area,
but you have never experienced anything like this.
Only 12 of you will be moving forward
to compete in my Ultimate Dance Competition.
That means I'll be telling two of you
that today is not your day.
You will be given a combination from each of the judges--
Richy, Robin, and myself.
You will be judged on how well you execute
each of our combinations.
Our judges will return in two hours to watch you perform.
The 12 best will move on in our competition,
and the other two will be going home.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
CHOREOGRAPHER: Move in, Elizabeth.
Move in.
You're still pointing that foot.
I'm Michelle.
This is Amanda.
We're here from Rochester Hills, Michigan.
AMANDA: When I go to dance, it's like my escape.
Sometimes it feels like my body is controlling my mind
because I get so into it.
It feels like God is touching me.
MICHELLE: Amanda was born to entertain,
and she's going to be very successful in dance
and acting and anything else that she pursues.
Bring it on.
ABBY: As the kids rehearse the combinations,
I'm seeing all sorts of things.
They're falling out of turns.
Knees are bent.
Feet are sickled.
The clock is ticking, and these kids are running out of time.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
This is a competition, and you all know why you're here.
$100,000 and a full scholarship.
So if you can't handle the heat, get out of the spotlight.
I am Sabrina, and this is my daughter Nicole.
Nicole has been dancing about five years.
People think she is fat.
She's too short.
She doesn't have long legs.
But for me, I think she is just as great as anybody can be.
People call me a tiger mom because I'm very mean.
I'm very demanding, and I ask a lot of my daughter.
It's annoying, having a mom nag at you all the time.
I always tell her, suck it up.
Don't cry because you did not do what you're supposed to be do.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
(SINGING) So don't stop me now.
I just want to keep this going--
I see Yvette writing down some notes--
Hadley's mom-- and I don't know what she's writing about,
but I know that she's going to be the one
that we have to watch out for.
(SINGING) --keep on falling.
CHOREOGRAPHER: Awesome, guys.
Awesome. Great.
Take two minutes to get water, dancers.
You just have to-- your mental mindset.
You have to overcome that, OK?
You're not tired. - OK.
All right.
You tell yourself, I am energized.
This is the first time I'm competing this today.
You hear me?
HADLEY: You have to go full-out all the time.
You can't just take a break on this routine
because that might be the last time you do it.
You never know when you're going home.
RICHY: All right.
Here we go, kids.
Let's battle for cattle.
I am definitely nervous, but I am also very confident.
And we'll just have to see what happens.
I need all energy, and just go for your life.
[CHEERING] Moms.
Moms. Moms.
Let's remember, we're in a theater.
We're not at a football field.
Here we go.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
OK.
Tessa, you cannot dance behind people.
You don't want to be swallowed up back there.
I'm a shorty, too, so I understand
what the fight factor is, OK?
Nicole, don't be afraid.
Even how you're standing is a little timid.
Just be confident of being outside
of what you think people might want to see from you.
ROBIN: All right.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
ABBY (VOICEOVER): This is my final audition,
and so far, I'm not impressed with what I'm seeing.
These kids really need to bring their A-game.
Only 12 will survive tonight's double elimination.
Ready?
[MUSIC PLAYING]
(SINGING) To a beautiful new place.
So don't put out your hands, 'cause I don't want to land.
Just letting me keep falling, falling.
So don't catch me now.
I just want to keep on falling somehow.
So don't stop me now.
I just want to keep this going somehow.
Keep on falling.
[APPLAUSE]
All right.
I'd like you to get on one straight line, please.
Thank you.
Nicole.
Right here, there's a smile with the gorgeous teeth.
I haven't seen you smile, either.
Legs together.
Put your feet in third.
Stand up tall.
Shoulders back.
Welcome us in.
Do you understand what I mean by that?
OK.
Good girl.
SABRINA: I think she did better than the average kids
there, for sure.
And the fact that Abby said she didn't smile,
I have no idea because the song was a sad song.
I mean, how do you dance with a smiling face for a sad song?
Amanda K, grand jeté, left foot coming through,
completely sickled.
Should I grand jeté to the floor?
Back foot second.
I was really shocked when Abby was, like, attacking me
because I thought my performance was good,
and I thought I did it wonderful.
But she said that, and I was like, OK.
I'll just keep my head up high and take
the correction she gives me.
ABBY (VOICEOVER): Now it's time to figure out who's going
to stay and who's going to go.
- I like her. - Why?
She stood out. Because she stood out.
ABBY (VOICEOVER): How did she stand out?
She looked just like the girl next to her.
RICHY: I saw her. ROBIN: No.
It wasn't
- You two. - No.
Hopefully, you make it through to the next round.
Pray.
OK, now, come on.
ROBIN: No.
OK, this week, I'll give it to you.
No, she has to go home.
She can go.
I'll take movement over a face.
But pretty face, can't move, isn't going
to work for Beyoncé.
Guess what?
I can make this girl into a star,
and I can teach her how to dance.
ABBY: OK.
We put this kid front and center.
ROBIN: I know.
ABBY: She was front and center, and still didn't pop.
She let other people outshine her.
Are we in agreement that these are the two that
are going home after one day?
ROBIN: Absolutely.
A million percent.
OK. All right.
RICHY: It's like pulling teeth.
Let's go.
OK.
We got it.
At this point, I would like to invite
the five moms of these dancers up on stage for support.
Nicole, you were one of the best of the best.
Today is not your day.
You will be going home.
Asia, hey.
You better save those tears for the pillow
because you are moving on in the competition.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
I'm mad that Asia's staying and I'm leaving
because I picked up the moves all day, and she didn't.
She forgot the choreography.
You made it this far.
You'll make it a lot farther.
If you guys could please exit the theater.
Thank you so much for being here.
Thank you very much.
Robin, Richy, Abby, this is not the less you've
been hearing from me because my name
is going to be out there because I know I'm one of the best.