Good morning, guys.
Good morning.
Hey, where's your friend?
Not here yet.
I walked into the studio and Gia's
sitting at the front desk, and I just assumed that Abby is
at a headband sale somewhere.
Over the past three days, Mrs. Miller has not been well.
- Oh, you're kidding. - Mm mm.
Abby's mom is very, very ill and getting
sicker, and sicker by the day.
But it's not like Abby not to show up.
So I'm really concerned that something's really wrong.
If Abby doesn't show up today, I don't
know what I'm going to do.
She has to pick costumes and assign solos.
I can't make those decisions without her.
I'm just gonna start the group.
I have the group music.
Oh, that's good.
It's called "Just Be."
It's pretty It's not, like, hard,
and James is here to help me, so.
Do you know where we're going this weekend?
No, but wherever we're going, we have to have a group dance,
so. [interposing voices]
- OK. - Come on.
Still no Abby, but at least we have Gia and James,
and they are Abbey's best teachers.
And we also have a group song, so I guess that's a start.
Abby always talks about loyalty and dedication
to the team, and here are these kids working their butts off,
and their teacher doesn't even have the decency to show up.
The group routine this week is called "Just Be."
I'm going to keep it very simple, very elegant.
James is a very unique choreographer,
and I'm so excited that he's helping me this week.
And hopefully, Abby will be appreciative, and not fire me
for doing our own choreography.
Kelly.
Yeah?
Hi.
Abby's not here.
I don't know where she is, but anyhow,
the girls are learning a group dance,
and since you kind of made your statement
that you're back on the team, I would
suggest that you get here.
Come on down.
OK.
All right.
All right, I'll talk to you later.
Excuse me.
My kids are here to learn the group dance.
OK.
I'm already stressed out enough with Abby not showing up,
and now Kelly walks in the door.
If I stop Kelly from entering, it
will be a huge blowout with the moms,
and I don't have time for that.
[excited squealing]
Hello.
You're by yourself again?
[phone ringing]
She still not here?
Abby?
Good bye.
Guess she's not coming.
I guess that answers my question.
I'll was just gonna ask you, is she here.
You know, the first day of not having Abby present
is pretty good.
It's like having a substitute teacher.
Day two, I'm not too sure.
She needs to come home.
She needs to do her job.
Did Abby give you any instructions
about this week at all.
We're going to the Believe Talent
Competition in Sandusky, Ohio.
[applause]
It's a fun one.
It's a good one.
As far as I know, all nine of you
are going to be in the group dance this week.
Nine kids.
That's a lot, so Giana has her work cut out for her.
This is the first time we're going to a competition
without Abby.
I mean, it's a really big deal.
It's going to be tough, but I think we can do it.
One, two, three, [inaudible]!
Again.
How great would it feel to win first place?
I hope so.
And Abby hasn't been here all week.
Abby hasn't done a single thing.
This would be on you and Gia.
It's so important to me today that the girls dance their best
to show Abby that I can pull this off,
that I can pull out a win for her team.
I need them to be as strong as they ever were.
[music playing] - (SINGING) We'll just be.
We'll just be in our melody.
[applause]
It has been a long time since I've felt so emotionally
invested in a group dance, and if these girls
can pull off a win without Abby, this might
be my favorite victory ever.
9-11, small groups.
Second place, entry number 85, "Seasons."
Oh, my god. Oh, my god.
Oh, my god. Gia!
Your highest scoring 9-11 small group will
be entry number 81, "Just Be."
[applause]
I couldn't be more thrilled right now.
These kids just won this group dance without Abby,
and they beat really good dancers.
[cheering]
Can you believe Abby was not here for one step?
How do you guys feel about that?
I miss her.
I do too.
I wish Abby was here to see our [inaudible] win.
Abby should have been here.
She would have been proud of you guys, but she wasn't.
It was her choice.