Before we take a look at this episode, let’s get caught up on Abby Lee’s potential prison time. Because it’s that, or do the million things I need to get done before Christmas. How is it that even when skipping Christmas, you still have a ton of crap to do?
Basically, Abby Lee filed for a bankruptcy on her business. There are several types of bankruptcy, but for brevity’s sake, Abby was not asking to have any debt discharged, (like the Giudices did) she was simply restructuring the terms of her debt repayment. This is considered a zero loss bankruptcy. It means no one loses any money, but the people the company owes may have to wait a bit longer for payment. The thing is, Abby hid around three quarters of a million dollars in Dance Moms related income from the bankruptcy trustee. That’s a felony. I think what she did was have some of her payments made out to her mother before she died and then eventually inherited the money which would be taxed differently, if at all. Her sentencing date has been changed a million times and is currently the same day as our 45th president will be sworn in, which means it will get zero coverage. The main reason for the delay is there is an appeals court hearing another zero loss bankruptcy case and that ruling may result in prison time being removed as a sentencing option in zero loss cases. So there is a chance that the law will change and she will not have to do prison time for this debacle at all.
But then, the last time Dance Moms went to Australia in 2014, Abby took $120,000 in cash payment and divided the money up into 12 bags and had the cast and crew carry in their luggage. If you bring more than $10,000 into the country you have to claim it on those forms you fill out on the plane when returning home so that Uncle Sam can take some. She got busted for that while awaiting sentencing on the other felony. Because, genius. It was actually a bankruptcy judge who saw Abby on Dance Moms one day and realized she had to be hiding income. So this week, the Feds say they want Abby to forfeit the entire $120,000 when she comes in for sentencing. #YouCantWinWhenYouPlayDirty
On to this episode of Dance Moms. Apparently, Abby went on a tirade about fake scenes and producer manipulation after this show aired and it is now gone. More on this at the end of the post.
This week it is Daviana against Kalani in head to head solos. The loser is off the team. Two of the minis are back, one will be in the group dance.
It takes Daviana less than thirty seconds to realize that her choreography is well below her skill level and she is being set up to lose. There is much crying over this. Crying never helps anything on this show. Welcome to reality TV, Daviana.
The practice goes on with the usual trauma to the girls and Jill needling the moms from the mini team. Kira goes after Daviana’s mom, etc. Maddie has told us that all the mom fighting is scripted. Even if that is so, it often escalates to a point that it doesn’t need to.
Daviana gets her big solo moment on national TV. She did a fantastic solo. She’s quite a talented dancer. But these competitions are like the Olympics. You know how you watch gymnastics or diving and they have scores out of a total number of points in their routine? If Abby gave Kalani a more complicated choreography, the Daviana has indeed been set up to fail.
Kalani’s choreography didn’t seem more complex that Daviana’s at all. In fact, Kalani had a major error in her routine that even I noticed. Daviana’s solo was much better based on what I saw.
The group dance has tons of elaborate costuming of… woodland creatures. It would be just great of Lifetime would give us some photos of things like this. I don’t know why they don’t.
There is a lot of pressure on the mini. Dayum! That little mini was spectacular! She was the star of the dance and everyone else was just background. It was incredible. It was also a very long piece and we got to see the whole thing. They slung her around like a rag doll and she would land and be right in sync with the other girls. It was REALLY good.
Or at least I thought so. Abby gave it the over her head applause, which is a good sign, but she seemed expressionless. Then the whispering starts. The mini did something wrong. In one of the last groups of lifts there was a bit of a hiccup but it was because of the juniors passing her around and she landed right on beat and it was barely perceptible. I rewound a few times to figure out why the mini is sobbing backstage.
At awards, out of ten dancers, Daviana comes in sixth. I thought she was amazing. Kalani takes first. This reeks of bullshit. The group takes first.
After the competition, Abby immediately cuts Daviana from the team. And the DVR cuts off before there is much reaction.
I sadly knew that happened because of a piece I read about Abby ranting about Daviana getting cut. She claims that was all production and she fought hard for her to stay on the team. Who know what is real anymore, but it is clear that Daviana is a great dancer and would have been an asset to the team.
Is it just me? Or was she better than Kalani?
Here is Daviana
And here is Kalani
Theses are the entire solos. It looks like we saw the best parts of Daviana’s and the worst parts of Kalani’s. Even so, I think Daviana was fantastic.
Here is the group number. I think maybe the steps the mini took after her very last lift were probably not supposed to be there.
I would be the worst criminal in the world. My face says EVERYTHING I think or feel. Lying is way beyond anything I can accomplish. The stress of committing these crimes amaze me. Gotta have balls I guess. The dancing really was entertaining. Been a while since seeing diversity. Really liked it.
That’s too bad you missed the end with the DVR cutting off – the European Dance Hulk mother was PISSED.
It’s pretty obvious how staged the competitions are now compared to the good old days; I don’t think there’s even real judges anymore to be honest. They place them according to what will drive the story line and that’s been obvious for a while now.
If Abby is one thing she’s a liar. She can talk shit about someone right before they enter the room and then swear on her mothers grave she didn’t say it despite the fact it was caught on camera. I don’t believe for a minute she faught for Daviana – she just wanted to redeem Kalani, the girl she literally wants to BE.
And I knew Daviana was gone the second she showed up. Her mom was incredibly unattractive and brought no drama – the opposite of what they’re looking for.
My recording was 62 minutes and it seemed to start on time. I don’t understand why Lifetime doesn’t conform to a normal time slot anymore. They do Project Runway the same way,
All the mini moms are unattractive, all of them. Daviana’s mom must have pissed someone in the lighting department off royally! They could not have made her bags look any worse, it was disturbing. Even more disturbing than wonky eyes mini mom.
I wonder what they think watching these shows air, I know I would be horrified. If they are any part of the region I guess we will see if they show up with decent makeup at least.
They probably wonder why the Internet folks are so comfortable saying nasty things about their looks in a forum that all of their friends and family can read.
That’s what I think.
I feel like you should be making a lot of money on a reality show before the whole would can treat you like shit with no idea what you have lived through. But that;s just me.
I am 100 %sure that Abby should be left alone by all legal people. Look at what the Clinton’s get away with.
Thank God you came here to make this declaration. All legal people will definitely take heed.
lol I feel like you have been here a lot longer than you have, 25.
Anyone that has had a GREAT dance teacher in their lives has had an Abby Miller!!!! I went to Buddy Ebsens dance school, yeah Jed Clampett was a classic dancer, and was taught by a Hungarian woman that was a Russian taught ballerina that was married to the head choreographer for Disney . (And still is 50 yrs later) If we did not leave class dripping wet and shaking we weren’t working hard enough!!!! These dancers and parents signed up for PROFESSIONAL training to be able to flourish in entertainment industry so they need to stop whining or move on!!!?!
Davi’s solo was beautiful but Kalaini was better and here’s my reasoning. I hate 2 use Maddie as a comparison but b4 the other girls were able 2 do this, Maddie’s dances were seamless. Never a beat between moves, never a thought of what’s my next step, it was just cohesive start 2 finish. Kalaini is now at that level. Despite the fact that her dance wasn’t as full as her obvious capability, she danced it seamlessly & except for the “bobble”, it was perfect. If you watch Davi closely, she is technically perfect, but you can see the momentary hesitation prior to many moves. It breaks up the dance & shows her insecurity (bc of Abby’s threat?) & possible inexperience.
She didn’t need 2 b kicked from the team tho, I think the team is much better w/o the minis working with the Jr. Elite Team. If this studio does continue (on TV, or not), they should just get another teacher to supervise / teach (like Gia) the minis, under Abby’s guidance. Keep the teams apart!
Remember, this is just one opinion..I think all the girls are amazing and happy that their winning streak is starting again!
If it really was production that demanded Abby cut Daviana, she certainly could have handled it in a nicer way. She was so nasty to her. No one could make me be that nasty on camera. I also thought the mini was great in the group dance. I have no idea what everyone was talking about. She was in step with them, her feet were great…all the negativity after the dance was odd.
I’m also wonder how much scrutiny Abby goes through every time she flies now. I had a relative inadvertently try to take more than the allotted amount of money out of the country. He was detained for hours being questioned. Now every time he flies, he gets the very special screening treatment so he has to always plan for extra time with security.
I thought Daviana’s solo was beautifully complex and well executed. Kalani’s was much simpler and still she made a mistake. Dance so subjective, but Daviana should have had a much higher score.
I think kalani had more flexibility and fluidity. . I I definitely think she executed her dance better.
The mini in the group dance was awesome, such a talent ! I was floored when Daviana came in sixth and Kalani won. I would have loved to see the dancers in between them. Dance Moms production is ruining a good show. I now fast forward when the moms come on and only watch when Abby is teaching the dancers and when they are dancing. I like it much better now. Thank you for a spot on recap Tamara.