This weekend, we will be traveling to Intensity
Dance in Woodbridge, Virginia.
Your replacements will be at the competition
along with the rest of the studio.
When the moms walked out of my studio, I replaced their kids.
That's what you do.
Two of those replacements, Kaeli and Bella,
are going to be attending the dance competition this weekend.
And I'm sure that they want nothing
more than to beat my team.
Chloe, I know acrobatics is not your forte.
But your mom has stood out that desk
and told me on several occasions that you
have your standing back tuck.
So that's how the number is going to start.
Oh, no.
Chloe is not doing a standing-- - You're going to set your tuck.
Oh, yes, she is. CHRISTI: No, Abby.
I refuse. ABBY: Yep.
CHRISTI: No, Abby, she does not have permission to do that.
You just said that she had it.
I said that months ago.
Right, so it should be better.
Chloe, do you think you're confident enough?
Be honest, Chloe.
ABBY: Why would you come and tell me
your kid could do a back tuck? - Because she--
When parents come and tell me things,
it's because they want me to work it into the number.
No, Chloe, you are not doing it in the routine.
You know she is afraid of gymnastics tricks.
She is not allowed to do it.
You know what?
You had Paige do a standing back tuck in that dressing room,
and she broke her foot. - No, I didn't.
Yes, you did.
I want to see your standing back tuck.
Can I try it?
No, this is cement underneath this carpeting.
You said, I want to see that standing back tuck.
Chloe, you are not doing it in the routine.
WOMAN: But the more we sit here and argue,
the more they're not practicing.
ABBY: I'm not arguing.
I invited a child to do a trick that her mother
said she could do.
Chloe, you were supposed to do a solo this week.
But after the performance your mother just gave,
we're going to hold off on that.
OK.
Ab, can I talk to you for a sec before you leave?
ABBY: Yeah. What?
MELISSA: I really would love for Maddie to prove
to you that she can win.
I know, Melissa.
But you have to realize that she was
just in a duet with Kendall.
And even though she was a lot better than Kendall
and a lot stronger, she didn't blow me away either.
And I know that.
And I called you--
- I know you did. - I called you.
I didn't call every one of those mothers.
You know what, my daughter is special.
You risked your kid's special on Paige and Brooke.
I would have never picked up the phone
and called Sophia if Maddie would
have been in this building working her butt off.
You know, we all make mistakes, Abby.
I've been committed to this studio.
Yeah, but what you did, you hurt your own kid.
You didn't hurt me.
I-- I realize that, Abby.
No solo this weekend.
There is no way, Melissa.
You did this to Maddie, not me.
MELISSA: Get dressed, Mad.
Get your shoes on.
Who's going to have the other solo this week?
Well, Melissa just asked me if Maddie could do a solo.
After that duet? WOMAN: No.
ABBY: No way. WOMAN: No.
And now she wants a solo.
MELISSA: It's OK.
[SOBS] I just really want to do it.
I know. You work hard, Maddie.
You don't miss classes.
You're a good girl.
OK?
Put the mats away.
Any news on the solos?
I think Chloe has one.
Chloe has a solo?
CHRISTI: No, not as far as I know.
Well, she was supposed to.
Didn't she learn one today?
CHRISTI: She was supposed to.
When you asked her yesterday for a solo, what did Abby say?
MELISSA: Oh, she just kept ranting.
I gave your daughter all these opportunities.
And I'm like, I did a lot for you through these years.
She says we're ungrateful. And ungrateful--
CHRISTI: That's being ungrateful.
She's ungrateful. - Right.
CHRISTI: Well, Melissa, I'm glad you stuck
with us in the parking lot because I know
that was hard for you to do. - Me too.
WOMAN: I am too.
And don't regret what you did.
A true friend would not be treating
you this way or your children.
MELISSA: I know Abby is still angry at me
for walking out on her during the silent protest.
And now Maddie's suffering from it.
I'm really beginning to wonder if I made the right decision
walking out with the moms.
You are dismissed.
I want to talk to you.
Chloe looks like she wants to throw up.
Come here, Chloe.
I don't think you deserve a solo, not the way your mother
speaks to me in the Pyramid.
I want what's best for you as my dancer.
We could have been finished with your solo.
It could be done by now.
Let's go.
Now, the theme of the dance is haunted.
It's scary.
It's dark.
And the movement is similar to what we just did
in the group dance, understood?
5, 6, step across.
7.
Chloe is doing a lyrical contemporary piece
entitled "Haunted."
Chloe really has to be an actress
to pull off this routine.
She needs to be a haunted character.
The best way to think about that is by thinking of her mother.
Really beautiful leg.
Get that leg up and wing that foot.
And, Chloe, it's not OK to make your own thing
up and just keep going.
That is unacceptable now.
That was for a little kid.
I will see you tomorrow morning ready to get on that bus.
And I want perfection.
When you step out on the stage, we should have goosebumps.
All right, ready? Hit play.
Let's go.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
(SINGING) They say you're doing well.
CHRISTI: Every time that Chloe has a solo,
I'm always trying to be like, oh, you know, it's OK.
But I want Chloe to win.
I really want her to go out there.
And I want her to prove that she is a force to be reckoned with.
ABBY: Girls, if we bump into those kids
that showed up to replace you, you will be nice.
And you will say hello like I have taught you.
OK, make me proud.
I will.
- Make yourself proud. - OK.
OK.
ABBY: The kid that came in that replaced you,
you're now up against.
Let's go.
Head up.
Confident.
All right.
You're going to be beautiful, right?
Be gorgeous.
ABBY: Hey, ladies.
- Hey, Abby. - Hi, Abby.
How are you?
Girls, this is Bella.
And this is Kaeli. - Hi.
ABBY: Tell them how old you are.
I'm 11.
You-- when did--
where you not 10 at that audition?
ABBY: Oh, you did?
OK.
So, Chloe, you're 11?
So all right.
Well, best of luck, ladies.
Looks confused.
You're very tall.
Yeah, I'm confused why they had to ask
their moms how old they were.
They just had birthdays.
I think it's just a little--
Because they compete at different age.
You know the rules.
They can be different age--
January 1 is the age.
I just was wondering.
WOMAN: Are you really, like, making fun of our kids?
CHRISTI: No, no.
I was just wondering because we have problems with people
all the time saying fake ages.
So that's what we were wondering.
WOMAN: No, no, no.
CHRISTI: We run into the Studio Blue dancers in the hall.
And Abby is like, oh, tell them how old you are.
And the kids are like, how old am I?
Like, how do you not know how old you are?
ANNOUNCER: All right, coming to the stage
next, in the junior solo division,
this is entry number 21, Isabella
with "Over and Over Again."
[MUSIC PLAYING]
(SINGING) Picture of you ingrained in my mind.
I couldn't help coming undone.
Nothing works out in the end.
I will still be here over and over and over again.
ABBY: Bella was not as good as I thought she was going to be.
I think Chloe has a good shot now.
ANNOUNCER: All right, up next in the junior solo division,
this is entry number 22, Kaeli with "There's Always Hope."
[MUSIC PLAYING]
(SINGING) A gentle touch, a soothing word
just can't be enough.
And to this world--
enjoy the ride 'cause everything is going to be all right.
[CHEERING]
ABBY: Kaeli is an incredible dancer.
She's strong yet graceful.
She has lovely lines.
And she can turn like nobody's business.
CHLOE: I'm a little bit nervous before my solo
because I don't really like it when
Miss Abby gets mad because she gets
really loud and kind of scary.
ANNOUNCER: All right, coming to the stage next in the juniors
solo division, this is entry number
20, Chloe with "Haunted."
[APPLAUSE]
CHRISTI: Let's go, Miss Chloe!
[CHEERING]
[MUSIC PLAYING]
(SINGING) They say you're doing well.
You're doing just fine.
I hear it all the time.
And though I give a smile, I can't help but feel
like I've been left behind.
Oh, I'm hearing these stories.
I've learned new found glory.
And I can't help but crumble inside.
And I thought it'd get easy.
But it's getting harder.
It's getting harder to hide.
I'm haunted.
I'll get you when I close my eyes.
Oh, baby, you're climbing while I'm falling.
When I wake up, wake up, wake up,
I just fall back to the start.
[APPLAUSE]
When Chloe dances from the heart, it's such a difference.
And I don't think that she connected with this piece.
I think she did really well.
I think she hit her turns.
But it wasn't quite what I know Chloe can do.
ABBY: What did you think of Chloe's performance?
I thought it was good.
And I-- I was very honest with Chloe.
I thought she did it better in the studio.
I know Chloe can be great.
I've seen her be great.
We need to get back to being great.
I-- I realize that.
And that's what I said to her.
And I'm sorry, Kelly, if this offends you.
But Chloe's future can't be at the expense of your two kids.
Melissa, you can tell all the other moms about it, right?
MELISSA: You know, sometimes people make mistakes.
And you make mistakes Abby, too.
I've made lots of mistakes.
MELISSA: OK, so have I.
You are more worried about your friendships
with all of these women than your own kids.
And you know it.
MELISSA: My kids-- no.
ABBY: The same thing about worrying about a guy
instead of your own kids!
Yes.
MELISSA: My kids come first to me.
ABBY: Going from one husband to another--
MELISSA: So?
ABBY: --instead of just worrying about your kids?
Please.
MELISSA: We have a happy household.
Well, your kid doesn't look very happy to me.
Really? - Absolutely.
ABBY: I think Sophia Lucia rocked her world.
One more thing.
All of you kids, you need to listen up.
If one person really has the dreams and the passion
to do this for a living-- - Good job.
ABBY: --nothing should get in their way.
MELISSA: Keep it together.
Melissa, listen to what I'm saying.
I'm hearing you.
ABBY: Nothing should get in their way.
- And I know. - Not your personal life.
MELISSA: I don't have a personal life.
ABBY: Not their dad's personal life, not some other kid.
It has nothing to do with that.
Maddie needs to focus.
MELISSA: I know.
The dance studio is the place that she thinks of as home.
I know that.
And you ripped her out of there
and let her sit in the parking lot for 12 hours.
I feel sorry for Maddie.
She had a good thing going.
Melissa, you're doing your kid an injustice.
ANNOUNCER: We're going to jump now to elite junior soloists.
Fourth place is Miss Isabella with act number 21,
"Over and Over Again."
[APPLAUSE]
Your first runner up from our elite junior solar division
of competition is Miss Chloe with act number 20, "Haunted."
ABBY: Just imagine if Chloe worked over the break.
If she had her mother being nice, and sweet,
and paying her bills on time, Chloe would have been first.
Chloe would be amazing.
ANNOUNCER: And last but not least,
that top spot in the elite junior solo division
of competition is Miss Kaeli with act number 22,
"There's Always Hope."
[APPLAUSE]
ABBY: Chloe beat Bella.
But she didn't beat Kaeli.
Not even close.