[Abby] Watch out, land in that heel on that
Smile!
[Abby]
Maddie will be doing an emotional lyrical routine
to "Cry," and Chloe will be doing a musical theater number
to "Baby Mine."
[Abby] Again, you're not landing a
I dance seven days a week from 4:00 PM to 10:00 PM.
And we don't get home until like 11:45.
[Abby] Don't bounce in that split.
Plie!
["Cry" by Alexx Calise playing]
[Maddie]
I think I'm a little bit better than her
because I've-I've won many awards than her.
My daughter is supposed to be doing her solo this weekend.
Why isn't she working with my kid?
Why is she in there doing this?
'Cause her last name isn't Ziegler.
Maddie's been in class this week working on her solo,
and you know it's perfected and it's wonderful and perfect.
And then she's gonna send my daughter out on stage
kind of looking like a fool.
I sometimes get scared of the person before me
when I'm dancing at a competition,
because I'm not sure if they're good or not.
And I kind of...
I don't know, I just kind of get really nervous.
[soft music playing]
[cheering and applause]
["Cry" by Alexx Calise playing]
♪ Well I, I guess it's been a while ♪
♪ Since I've seen the sunshine ♪
♪ Since I have smiled ♪
♪ And me, who's so well versed ♪
♪ Is at a loss for words ♪
♪ And I ♪
♪♪
♪ I don't wanna do anything but cry ♪
♪ And I... ♪
[Melissa]
She's like a little angel.
♪ Oh, I'm so low ♪
[cheering and applause]
♪ I'm almost to the bottom ♪
♪ Oh, nowhere to go ♪
♪ Even my soul has left my body ♪
♪ And I ♪
♪ I don't wanna do anything but cry ♪
[cheering and applause]
[cheering]
If I had to evaluate Chloe and Maddie's performance,
it was neck and neck. They both did an outstanding job today.
They came ready to perform and ready to compete,
and that's what they did.
[Abby] Hey, Maddie.
Good job.
Good girl. I'm so proud of you.
That was good. How do you feel?
[Christi]
she's never successful enough in Abby's eyes
if Chloe doesn't prevail or win a category,
or doesn't dance as well as another child-- Maddie--
you know, and she throws that in Chloe's face
all the time. It's not fair.
[cheering and applause]
[Christi]
And Maddie and Chloe go back and forth.
On any day, could be either one of them.
And your first place is...
[dramatic music playing]
...entry number 645, Maddie Ziegler!
-[cheering and applause] -[dramatic music playing]
Thank you so much for everything.
[Abby]
I expect nothing less.
It takes time and energy and perseverance
and the kid has it.
I'm so proud of you, baby.
[chattering]
-Another win. -Good job. Yes.
[Abby] And up.
Pause it. Arch your body there.
[soft music playing]
[Melissa]
"I want you to come in and rehearse."
I have no idea why.
[Abby] Stomach tight. Use your abs.
[Abby] Double
Maddie and I show up at rehearsal
and no one else was there.
Turn it out!
Mmm.
[Abby]
Starpower is so big
that they've split up the competition.
One is at one venue, the other one is down the street
at a completely different high school auditorium.
Okay, watch these arms.
They're uh-uh, uh-uh, uh-uh.
Make sure you're using your arms.
So I started to think, hmm...
Could I take somebody and enter them
in the other competition too?
Lo and behold, they said,
"Sure, but you can't do the same number."
I'm trying to do something that I've never done before.
Having a kid in two titles in two hours.
Take advantage of every opportunity.
Maddie knows some old routines,
so I think maybe do the "Cry" number.
♪ And I ♪
♪ I don't wanna do anything but cry ♪
Melissa, you understand this is nobody's business but ours.
Right.
I don't want any other mother down my throat
about how come you get to go and how come
not everybody else gets to go.
Our secret.
I am banking on this kid knowing that routine.
Maddie, this is your year. This is your moment to shine.
You're gonna win everything.
[Abby] Maddie, I can't believe you won.
But you know what?
You're only as good as your last performance.
So, Melissa, I'm taking her over to the other competition
and she's gonna do "Cry."
What?
Maddie, I need you to get dressed and fix your hair.
Alright, ready?
Come on, baby doll.
Now there's a situation where you should have spoke up
and said, "Why wouldn't Chloe be going?"
Maddie, you understand?
That you won this whole thing? You can win that whole thing.
I mean, no pressure.
It's blatantly obvious that she brought a costume for Maddie
and didn't bring one for Chloe or Nia or Paige or Payton.
'Cause I guarantee you she practiced that solo this week.
I know Melissa knew that Maddie had--
Was gonna do two solos.
If Abby sprung doing a solo on her like that
and she wasn't prepared,
Maddie would have been a nervous wreck.
But she was cool as a cucumber and was prepared.
When walking into the competition, don't forget.
Game face on,
nose in the air, get out there and do your best.
Our dance teacher sets these kids up to fail.
She knew Maddie was going to win that dance.
Your daughter was taught a solo.
She got a beautiful costume, just like Maddie did.
You should know that as about being a Dance Mom at this point.
I'm ready to go. I'm done.
Good!
Don't let the door hit you on the way out.
Can't wait to have you back.
[Abby] This is good. Let's go right in that door.
-[Melissa] Okay. -[Abby] Okay. Go.
Go, go, go. Maddie, don't wait for me, run.
[lively music playing]
I'm about to go on for "Cry"
and I'm very excited that I get to do it again,
but also kind of nervous
because I really want to do my best
and try to win another crown.
You just got that award about lighting up the stage.
That's what I need you to do, yes?
And if the dancers cry, every judge should be in tears.
Got it? Yes? Let's do it, babe.
[announcer]
[cheering and applause]
["Cry" by Alexx Calise playing]
♪ Well I, I guess it's been a while ♪
♪ Since I've seen the sunshine ♪
♪ Since I have smiled ♪
We're actually backstage watching Maddie do her solo
because there wasn't any time for us to sit down.
Maddie looks beautiful out there doing her solo.
I was really proud of her
But I don't know what the competition is like here.
♪ And I ♪
♪ I don't wanna do anything but cry ♪
[cheers and applause]
[uplifting music playing]
Hi, babe!
I love you.
[Abby]
She puts 100% into every class she takes.
She deserves to hold her head high.
[energetic music playing]
So, here come the awards. Can we do it? Two for two?
I don't know.
We have a second runner-up
going to entry number 343, Megan Proud with "Janet."
And first runner-up for Junior Miss Starpower,
is going to entry number 345,
Heather Spiers with "River Deep."
[cheers and applause]
And your Junior Miss Starpower
here at Woodbridge 2012 will be...
[dramatic music playing]
Entry number 326, Maddie with "Cry."
[cheers and applause]
Maddie was the Junior Miss Starpower
at the second competition that day. Within two hours,
that child won two titles at two different competitions.
And what studio do you represent?
-Abby Lee Dance Company. -Congratulations.
Who does that?
There she is! [screaming in excitement]
[Leslie] I have to tell you. I thought this was very sneaky.
This was sneaky.
Woo-hoo!
Yes! Give me a kiss!
Maddie had a solo.
They just so happened to have a costume in their bag.
Just so happened Maddie had a three-hour private that week.
This is the [beep] that happens.
Two titles in one day!
See, it's worth it sometimes, isn't it?
I'm hanging. I'm hanging.
Yes. Good girl.
[Christi] We're bitter about the way
the deck is constantly stacked.
That's what you're missing, Leslie.
You don't live it, so you don't know it.
[Abby] Okay, these are gold to me.
That was my...
[Abby] She could still, she could still get into this.
Mackenzie is doing one of Maddie's solos.
An iconic solo called "Cry."
Now, Mackenzie, are you going to fill Maddie's shoes?
♪ And I ♪
Alright, this is it. So you're gonna do the "Cry" number?
Well, let's just say if it's not
I'm not gonna be crying. You are.
[Gianna] And we step up to
And then we jumped towards your tips.
Pique, pique onto that foot.
Straight!
Mackenzie needs to embrace her inner Maddie
if she's ever gonna outdance her.
[Gianna] Praying.
Uh-uh, uh-uh. You just did this again.
-Just stop-- -Don't put your head down.
Pull your body down and your head up. Arch your back.
Let's get Maddie and see if she remembers it.
That'll be interesting.
Do you remember when you did the dance "Cry"?
You did "pray" over here in the corner.
Can you remember what it is?
You can't help her 'cause she's against you.
Oh, look, Maddie is teaching her.
That's not teaching her.
Well, she's helping. I think it's great.
[Leslie] What do you think of Mackenzie dancing
under Maddie, in the same category, right up against her?
And she's doing her old solo.
I mean, it's going to happen. That's how it is.
Because they're 9 to 11.
[Abby] Pretty impressive, Maddie.
What if Mackenzie does beat Maddie?
-Ohh. -Maddie would be fine.
They became competition to each other.
They are competition to each other.
[Abby]
When Maddie dances, she's a breath of fresh air
You're like the stuff we spray in the bathroom
There's a difference.
[Abby]
I don't want her just to win this week.
I want her to win big.
I want her to be a name. Not just Maddie's little sister.
[Maddie] Are you excited to be doing "Cry"?
I'm excited, but I'm really scared
'cause I don't want to mess it up.
So you need to just show Abby
that you can do more than just cheesy jazz and cutesy dances.
You have to do lyrical and emotion.
I know, she keeps saying that I have to do it like you,
but I'm not you.
I know, but you need to do faces like me
because you don't have face.
Yeah, but I don't have the Maddie face.
I have the Mackenzie face.
Well, I hope you do great,
but I hope that you don't beat me.
I'm gonna win.
Mmm, I don't think so.
I'm just trying to help Mackenzie
because after all, I won first place with that dance
and I'm an expert at the Maddie face.
Now, show me the Maddie face.
Keep going.
The whole country can do the Maddie face.
People talk about it all the time, #Maddieface
[dramatic music playing]
Meh, it has to be like...
And what else?
Show me the distress, pain, agony, "help me."
I don't like-- They all look the same.
They all look like Mackenzie, Mackenzie.
Abby should stop and not make Mackenzie do Maddie's face.
If Melissa doesn't comfort her daughter,
I am more than happy to say to Mackenzie,
"You know what, you don't need to be Maddie.
You be Mackenzie because Mackenzie is just fine enough."
Because you know what?
I've had the same conversation with Chloe
at time or 20.
[announcer]
Mackenzie in "Cry."
[cheering and applause]
["Cry" by Alexx Calise playing]
♪ Well I, I guess it's been a while ♪
♪ Since I've seen the sunshine ♪
♪ Since I have smiled ♪
♪ Forgot what it's like, to just feel okay ♪
♪ Praying for the day when there is no more rain ♪
♪ And I ♪
♪ I don't wanna do anything but cry ♪
♪ Oh, and I ♪
♪ I don't wanna do anything but cry ♪
♪ And I ♪
♪ I don't wanna do anything but cry ♪
[cheering and applause]
[Melissa]
Her faces were so sweet and she smiled when she had to,
and her turns were so good.
I didn't think of Maddie one time
when Mackenzie was doing the solo.
[Leslie] I'm so proud of every one of them.
-[Holly] Me too. -[Leslie] I'm not taking away
any of Mackenzie's dancing. 'cause she's an amazing dancer,
but she did not need Maddie's costume or her solo
to be a good dancer on that stage.
Of course she didn't.
It was just very awkward. I think she's fabulous.
Abby was just trying to make a point, I guess.
She wanted to clone Maddie.
-She's not trying to clone her. -Mackenzie is Mackenzie.
Do you think she was worried about doing Maddie's face
the entire time out on stage?
When you go on stage, Leslie, you do what you have to do,
-just like Peyton does. -So, you-- you--
Oh my God, you're just driving me [beep] crazy.
So that's how you handle Abby.
You guys just listen to her. Listen to her.
You don't stand your ground.
You handle Abby your way,
and I'll never handle Abby the way you do. Never.
[Abby] Hey, hey, hey!
[all] Hi.
Wow, I think they were wonderful.
I thought Mackenzie did a nice job.
I wouldn't say she was...
outstanding, but she was sweet and she was cute.
She was good. Is she ever gonna be Maddie?
No.
[dramatic music playing]
[uplifting music playing]
[announcer] Who's ready for some awards today?
Our third overall goes to contestant number 24,
"Follow You."
[cheering and applause]
And our second overall goes to contestant number 22, "Cry."
[cheering and applause]
And our first overall, our highest-scoring solo here is
23, "The Game of Love."
[Christi]
I don't even know what to say or do.
I mean, of course, Mackenzie and Maddie
have beat Chloe in the overalls because
that's the way it goes in the Abby Lee Dance Company.