Ab
Abby Lee! Abby Lee! Abby Lee! Abby Lee! Abby Lee!
-Are you ready to dance? -Yeah!
Today is the big day,
my first open call audition for the Abby Lee Dance Company.
I know there's a lot of talent out there.
I am going to find kids who want to get better,
who want to attend booty camp,
who want to give me their very best.
Hello! Come on, let's go! Let's go!
File down here! My name is Abby Lee Miller.
I'm here from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
This is a real audition. This is for a job.
I hope that everybody is here because they want to be
a part of the Abby Lee elite competition team.
I'm not looking for somebody to be second place.
I'm looking for somebody that can be my first place
when Maddie's not dancing. Watch, Maddie.
Ready? Let me see what you got. Music! Five, six, seven, eight.
And a one, and a two, and a three, and four.
The team I have right now is way too comfortable.
I want new members who stretch every night
before they go to bed.
I want kids who can learn a routine in one day
and compete it the next.
I want it all! It's going to get ugly in here.
It's right now. One shot, you have.
All right. Let's go. Let's start cutting these kids.
Five, six, seven, eight. And ...
[Lyrics]
Never give up
Never give in
I'm going to make it
I wanna win
My dreams will come true
Hold! Everybody else better thinking, thinking, thinking.
What did they do right? What did they do wrong?
How can I learn from that? You're going to stay.
You're going to stay. You're going to stay.
The boys I'm going to keep. Go head over there. You're gone.
It's not your dancing. It's this.
You got to use your face. It has to change.
And the people that I didn't keep, go back to your moms.
Thank you. Everybody, hands over your eyes.
You're doing it on the left. Start on your left foot.
Good luck!
I'm confident that I'm going to find some kid here
that fits in well with Maddie,
somebody with the same work ethic,
with the same values, with the same goals,
and someday I'm going to have a whole team full of Maddies.
Weren't there some really good dancers in that group?
What happened to them?
I don't think they heard you say go to the left. Sorry.
Take your hands down. Stand up! Who's your daughter?
You just humiliated her on stage in front of all these people.
-Yes, I did. I'm sorry. -Raise your hand.
Whose mother is this? Goodbye.
I'm sorry.
And you just put your foot in your mouth.
I know it, and I apologize. I would never do that.
I apologize.
You would never do that? You just did it!
I can't reteach you. I don't want to reteach you.
Sit! All right. Let's go! Let's get through this audition.
[Lyrics]
I could tell you all about Overcoming adversity
I could show you all the people who don't believe in me
Stay! Go back to that corner. You're staying. You're staying.
You're staying. You can go. You can go.
You can dance next to Maddie. I'm going to let you go.
You have to work on turns.
You need to figure out which arm you're using at the end.
You're staying. You're staying. Everybody else is dismissed.
They can go. You guys hang out over there.
Once more chance, please, Abby, one more chance!
When she's on Broadway, call me. I'll get tickets. Let's go!
Words of advice, don't beg, Abby.
Don't speak for your kid.
She hates when you're talking for your kid.
I don't know who this kid's mom is,
but she's leaving with me anyway.
-That's Fallon. I'm her mother. -What studio?
She is with New Dimensions currently.
Currently? What does that mean?
Oh, we previously came from a studio
for 3 years with Studio5D,
and then this past year, she's been with New Dimensions.
-Studio hopper. -I didn't hop.
I got kicked out of my previous one.
There were some amazing kids there,
and I just can't wait to see what the future holds for them.
Moms, be warned! The ALDC is about to change.
I just want kids that want it.
That want to be the very best that you can be.
And I'm a firm believer in working smart,
not always working hard. You are Orlando's finest!
Don't leave an audition thinking,
"I could have done better." You have to do your very best.
You are auditioning for Candy Apples Dance Center.
Do you know who Candy Apples Dance Center is?
-Yes. -Oh!
So let me tell you something, girls.
You have to be stellar.
I'm the artistic director of Candy Apples Dance Center,
and this is Vivi, and she's going to be
checking you out as far as stage presence.
She has to be dazzled.
So just go ahead and give me your name, please.
-Hi, I'm Caylie. -Hi, I'm Caroline, and I'm 9.
Hello, I'm Maddie.
I don't know if we want another Maddie.
You might get nixed just because of the name.
Sorry. Well, let's go. Anthony, they're all yours.
All right. Spread out, ladies.
You're going to go reach out your hands.
One. Drop. Two. Crane Kick. Six.
But bend your knees, yeah. Five, six, seven, and ah!
Let's go. Let's move on.
Let's get another group in here. We got to see what we got.
-My name is Alina. -My name is Frea.
-Hi, I'm Hannah, and I'm 12. -What's your name? Had?
-Hannah. -Oh, Hannah.
Drop your back. Head to the floor.
I was on "The Katie Couric Show."
I made it into ABT.
-I danced with Mariah Carey. -Wow!
You have to be bigger than life, okay?
-Next group? -Next group.
Boom. Stop.
Did you guys bring your resumes?
-Yes! -I love that!
Where the face, the emotion?
The technique that we're looking
for I'm not really seeing with you guys.
Nothing in that group.
Don't be yourself. Be beautiful.
She was good, but she wasn't, like, knocked me off my seat.
Okay, so, guys. Thank you so much for coming today.
Great job, though, ladies. Great job.
Very nice job.
This is hard work auditioning people, isn't it?
-I'm hungry. -You're hungry also?
I asked for chocolate, and we didn't get any.
Vivi is like my little buddy,
and I trust her because Vivi has a really good insight.
How's your eyes? Are they burning?
-Yeah, and I don't know why. -I don't either.
Hi, there! You are a dancer.
-Yeah. -Yeah! Okay!
Real quickly, what I'd like to know is your name and your age.
Charles. I'm 10.
-Are you sure you dance? -Yeah!
What type of dance do you do?
I like to express myself while I dance.
Sometimes when I get mad, I just dance, and just it calms down.
Very good! Okay. All right. Let's go.
Dance, go! Let's me see who you are!
Guys, let go. Let go! Be free!
Be free! Express yourself. No way, guys.
I'm not seeing enough. I need face!
Okay, guys. Okay. Okay.
-That was inspiring, man. -Thank you.
-Never give up dancing, okay? -I won't.
From a male dancer to another, you have something special,
and keep working hard, okay?
Are you the only boy that's out there? Please tell me no.
Yeah. Yes.
I said please tell me no.
Vivi, what did you think about that last group?
No. I didn't really like them that much.
They were terrible.
I mean, the little girl in the mint, she's borderline.
-Yeah, but ... -And I liked Maddie,
only because she's experienced, and she had ...
-You could see it. -...
she had good ballet training.
You could tell just by the way she held herself.
-Yeah. -What do you think
about the 12-year-old?
I think she's too big for this kind of stuff, mass-wise.
But she's very mature-looking.
I like the one that's 10 better than her.
I mean, she has the facility and the information,
but I think that with her instruments, it's enough.
The three boys that are going to be doing the group dance
all have such wonderful qualities.
So I'm looking for another team player that's just going to fit
right in with these boys, that's going to gel immediately.
So, guys, you are the finalists,
which in in itself, that was a big win, okay?
Charles, step forward please. You are very inspirational.
I want to tell you to keep up the good work,
because the boys are few and far between.
I got chills right now because I know being who you are,
a young little boy,
you get teased and called names for doing what you do.
And I was once this little kid.
Wherever this leads today, continue. Continue, man.
You did ... all did an awesome job,
but we both have decided upon number 80516.
Victoria! It was a hard decision.
Victoria comes from Studio Larken,
and they have a fabulous reputation.
Not only that, I think that Abby has seen them before,
and it's going to be kind of fun if she recognizes Victoria,
and now Victoria's on our team.
All of you are very talented ...
So thank you.
-... and have something special. -You're very talented.
-Thank you. Thank you. -Congratulations!
-All the way up. -Hey.
Would you come with me for a minute?
-Yeah. -Keep going.
-Up. Up! Keep it. -Sorry. I'm sorry.
So, Abby wasn't going to give you this script.
But you found one for me.
Now, Kalani doesn't have a script.
Abby did get a casting call for all the girls to go to.
Jojo, not included.
Jaya gave them all sides to read, not Jojo.
-All right. -So they're ...
We might to go quick.
So this is Ellie, the little girl, 12 to 14.
-So, like, really? -Wow.
-Wow. -Sorry. I was ...
Sorry. I didn't hear anything.
Really? Wow. Thanks.
Jess and Jojo are in the studio,
and they're just, like, rehearsing the script in there.
-How'd they get it? -Where did they get it?
-No, don't do anything. -Then I will.
-No, let them be. -Let them do it. You know what?
Jojo took Kalani's sides and practiced.
She's a rude person.
She took that out of your daughter's purse.
She took that out of Kalani's purse?
Yeah. And she's ... I mean, it's just rude.
If she wanted to borrow it, that's fine.
We would totally give it to her,
but she took it out of your daughter's purse.
It's rude to go in someone's purse.
Sorry. I mean, like, I don't care.
-Go get them, Kira! -She goes it was on the floor.
And Kalani just told me it was in her purse.
To land so good.
Did you go in my daughter's purse?
No, this was laying on the floor.
Then why would she say that you went in my daughter's purse?
Why would I go in your daughter's purse?
I don't know, but that's Kalani's.
-It was laying on the floor. -It's Kalani's, not yours.
-It was laying on the floor. -It doesn't matter.
It's not yours, [BLEEP] [Indistinct] doesn't get one.
Do you not give a [BLEEP] about it?
-[Indistinct] doesn't get one. -Do you not give a [BLEEP]
about it? You just throw it on the floor.
You don't care about it, Kira. You don't ...
Am I the one that threw it on the floor, or did Kalani?
Yeah, probably.
Really, because I think you got it out of her purse.
You don't care about it, Kira. Why don't you start to care?
Why don't you start to care, Kira?
-Oh! -Hey!
-I like your outfit. -Thank you. I like yours, too.
-You girls look cute. -We're in L.A.
The girls have their first casting call,
and I think we're all really excited.
This is a big deal.
Don't talk to me like that!
Do you talk to your wife like that?
You stick your finger in my face!
Oh, my god. -Go ahead.
Is that Abby screaming about a parking spot?
-Let's go! Come on! -What did he just say?
-Hold on! -Oh, my God!
I can't believe she's doing this right in front
of the casting agency.
Is she seriously losing her mind?
L.A. is too much. It's too much for Abby to handle.
Hi, Ms. Abby.
-Hi, Abby. -Hi, Abby.
Do you have any words of wisdom for the girls?
It's our first time together since we've been in L.A.
We haven't seen you as a group for several days,
and it's absolutely disgraceful.
You do realize your mother is calling me disgraceful,
and I'm your teacher.
She needs to learn to keep her damn mouth shut!
You know what? The moment someone says anything to you,
you go back, and you strike at a child.
-I don't strike at a child. -Yes, you did.
Choose your words.
This is what I didn't want to happen.
We have to get these girls inside before we ruin
the whole audition for the girls.
Why don't you guys go work on your scripts with each other?
-Okay. -Hey, girls. How are you doing?
I'm John Barba. I'm the casting director.
I'm going to bring you into the room for a bit, okay?
Nice to meet you.
This is a huge opportunity for the girls to network.
This meeting is what people in the industry call "a general."
It's how new actors pitch themselves to agencies
to get on their must hire list for the future.
Just so you know a little bit about us, we do commercials.
We do music videos.
We did the Taylor Swift, "Shake It Off."
-Wow! -I'm so excited.
I really want to be a singer and become a pop star.
Maybe if I do well today, that dream might come true.
-Hey. -Watch your step.
I guess this is our waiting room.
They gave us a viewing room?
Oh, they're there.
I think Nia's pretty solid. I don't think she gets nervous.
Well, they shouldn't have a manager rattling them,
acting as if it's normal to go across country
and not be seen for two days with no explanation.
That's not normal.
Well, really, the craziness started before Abby
even walked up to us. You realize that?
Something crazy was going on behind us.
I think she's been fired up for two days.
That doesn't help her. Doesn't help her image.
I'm not sure she's worried about her image.
Hello.
-This is Jojo. -Hi, Jojo. Lisa Fields.
-Was she a volunteer? -Yes, I was.
Yes. Absolutely. The very first volunteer.
So if you want to hit that little pink X right there.
Step right on that pink mark.
-Begin to read, okay? -I don't think people realize
just how exciting the anatomy of a cell is.
Bring it down. You're just talking to him.
He's right in front of you.
I had no idea you were into science.
My absolute hero is Albert Einstein.
-That was very good. -I don't think people realize
just how exciting the anonomy of a cell is.
-Anatomy. Can you say anatomy? -Anatomy. I said anonomy.
-Anonomy. -I've liked you since forever,
but I had never imagined you liked me back.
I think is possibility the best day of my entire life.
That was very nice. You did a really great job.
-Thank you. -I'm the joke.
How could I be this stupid? Just get away from me!
Maddie, you're going to make me cry!
Well done, my lady. Well done. It's very, very good.
Thank you.
-We'll see you in a few minutes. -Okay. Thank you.
-This is Nia. -Hi, Nia. I'm Lisa.
Do you have any questions before we get started,
or you would like to just jump right into it?
-I'll just jump right into it. -Great.
Have a stand right out there on that pink mark.
-Hey, there. -Oh, I'm sorry.
Am I in your way?
No. Well ...
I just want to say that I am really impressed
with your presentation in biology today.
-Really? -Yeah.
-Wow, thanks! -She's doing good.
Like Ben would ever have a crush on you!
Why would you? How could you? I never did anything to you.
How could I be so stupid? Just ... Just get away from me.
Okay. She did not take ... She took the character
in a different direction, which was her mother.
Sometimes it's better to go off the script, you know?
Mm-hmm.
And sometimes it's those choices that actually get the job.
The person who does it the way everyone else does not do it.
Did Abby really just go there? Abby ruined Nia's audition
because I held Abby accountable, and it's absolutely cruel.
I was hoping Abby would come to her senses
and not take her anger out of Nia,
but she was obnoxious, vile, mean, and Nia
has to deal with her wrath.
Nia was good, and Abby
is not going to give her any affirmation.
That's pretty much, Jill, what we asked her
before we even made
this commitment to come across country.
Is it going to be any different? And apparently not.
There's a second affirmative for you.
You go out and network yourself and your child
and you do what's best for you.
I want Nia to be successful.
I want her to achieve her dream of becoming a start,
but at what cost?
I'm not a puppet. I'm not going to be a yes person.
But I'm sure not going to stand here and let you say
these horrendous things about any of these kids.
It's wrong. What you just said was foul, Abby, foul.
What?
You're taking away her opportunity.
So if that makes you feel good, so be it.
Trying to protect your child and make her not look
like a complete fool. And that's ...
-Abby, I don't think ... -...
what I'm trying to do, Holly.
... she looks like a complete fool.
I really don't. Am I the only person who ...
-I get it. -Oh, okay.
And we're all acting like this is normal.
Everyone else wants to act
like that's normal behavior, so be it.
Go back and look at your pictures of your personality
when you were a baby, before she made the mini-me.
-A mini-me? That's a compliment. -Oh. And you think...
That's a compliment. Absolutely.
There's nothing that she needs to be ashamed of her mother for.
I am very congenial.