[music playing]
Well, Alexa is definitely coming today,
because she's going to do Kalani's solo for this week.
Alexa is Kalani's dance teacher from Arizona.
We will be in Phoenix.
And that is Kalani's hometown.
And she's got everybody coming.
So whether Abby says yes or no, then
she's going to do the solo.
MELISSA: I just think Kira needs to be careful.
You never know what you're going to get with Abby.
- What music? - She picked it out.
She found it. ABBY: Yeah.
Yeah.
What's your-- what's your story?
Just here to teach my student.
Sign my contract.
She needs to be under me.
I cannot believe how disrespectful
Kira is being to me right now.
From day one, I have treated Kalani with the utmost respect.
Kira, this is really going to tarnish our friendship.
Don't worry about anything.
Focus on the solo.
Get it done like everything's fine.
Focus on why we brought you here.
This is about Kalani. KIRA: It is.
And it's about getting her back to where she needs to be.
KIRA: Right.
Whenever we do your solos, it's really important
that we have a storyline.
And like, for this solo, I feel like it's kind of that you're
investing all this time, and you feel like you're
not getting anything out of it.
You're doing all of this work for everybody else,
and what is it helping you?
Is this preparing you for nationals?
Not really.
So it's, like, frustrating. Boom.
Travel front.
Bom, bom, bom, turn, salad.
Watch that timing.
Bigger.
I don't see it.
It's not enough.
Tight!
That movement was really sloppy.
Bom, bom, bom!
Turn.
Hey!
Think about your turn-out.
Squeeze your leg.
You-- shoulders down.
See, I feel like I'm critiquing-- like,
every single time, it's, like, shoulders, stomach,
arms, plie, turn out, buckle.
Like, all those details--
like, you used to do that all the time for me.
Like, I don't understand.
I'm trying to fix all the things that Abby
has not critiqued on you.
And it doesn't seem the same energy as, like,
when you dance at my studio.
Alexa is right.
I'm not dancing the same way that I
usually dance whenever I'm in class with her all the time.
Because Alexa's choreography and Abby's choreography,
they're both totally different things.
ALEXA: It's just lacking.
Like, you can't just do the steps.
Yeah, she's very unsure of a lot of it.
You're not dancing like yourself.
I feel like you should be embarrassed.
OK, Mom.
Maybe I am.
Because it's-- only you are going to make the change.
Exactly. So just let me do it.
Well, you've done it, like, five times.
I think you should already have that confidence back.
It's really hard when you haven't
done it in three months.
[cheering]
Today, we're in Phoenix, Arizona,
and it is hot, hot, hot at the competition.
Expressions Dance Competition.
ALEXA: Open your eyes.
You look like you're marking.
Counts.
Developpe.
Body.
Feet.
MELISSA: It's not like Abby to bite her tongue.
Alexa's correcting and correcting
and correcting Kalani.
And Abby just kept her mouth closed.
Abby, say it out loud.
I see your face.
Just say it.
What do you--
ABBY: Kira suddenly wants my input now?
There's no backpedaling.
Remember, you left your studio for a reason.
ANNOUNCER: Here is Kalania with "The Investment."
[applause]
[MUSIC - STACEY RANDOL, "THE INVESTMENT"]
(SINGING) Scene two.
[applause]
I will stand by the decision I made with bringing
in Alexa this week.
Because clearly, Kalani danced like I know Kalani as a dancer.
Fourth place goes to entry number 22, "Preying Mantis."
[applause]
WOMAN: What a joke.
Come on.
And your highest scoring team solo,
the heavyweight belt champion of the world--
can we get the belt out here?
This goes to entry number 23, "The Investment,"
from Abby Lee Dance Company.
[applause]
KIRA: Kalani won.
Maybe it wasn't a bad thing bringing Alexa in.
Maybe Kalani doesn't need Abby.