I get the feeling that Maesi was not someone who Abby chose to be on the show. She certainly has some sort of vendetta against Maesi’s mom. Nia was on top of the pyramid this week which is a minor miracle. Abby is generally reluctant to give Nia her due.
There are three duets and a group dance this week. Abby doesn’t like competing in Fresno because for some reason they always score poorly there. I suppose that is why there are no solos this week. But with nationals drawing closer, I would think she would want her top soloists getting all the practice in they possibly could.
And since Abby has two black dancers, she chooses to do a group dance based on the movie, The Help. She proceeds to tell Nia that her role makes the statement for the whole dance and if they don’t win, it’s on her. No pressure. I knew there would be a catch to her being on top of the pyramid. At leash she is not making her dress in a dog costume. I expect that Nia’s big moment will be a shit pie. Daviana is back to be the third maid.
Holly and Camryn’s mother, Camille, try to explain that segregated communities still exist. The discussion is awkward. As a country we need to be able to talk to each other about things like politics and racism, unfortunately we are raised to believe those are two of many taboo subjects. Every other country in the world discusses politics from a very early age. When I was in college, dating my way through all of the international students, one thing they all had in common was confusion over why young people didn’t discuss or have much awareness of politics in the United States. It really is quite odd.
Maesi and Elliana’s duet is a gymnastic number called, Invaders. This is causing some problems because one mini, Lily, is not dancing this week.
Camryn has a washboard stomach. It’s rather amazing. Her duet is is with Brynn.
Kendall and Kalani’s duet is called Tango Para Tres where there is essentially an invisible male dancer they are fighting over. I’m not so sure they are being set up to win.
When they get to Fresno, Jill reminds us that Fresno is where Abby had the on camera meltdown in her bra.
Elliana’s mom, and Maesi’s mom get into it almost immediately in Fresno. Elliana’s mom feels some kind of way that Maesi is her kid’s duet partner and not the other mini. Elliana’s mom says in front of everyone, including Abby that Maesi’s mom has been mocking Abby over her impending incarceration. Okay, now we know why Abby hates Maesi’s mom. Abby gets up and goes to the director to scratch their duet moments before their performance.
Maesi’s mom goes to Abby and asks if she “tried to” pull their routine. Abby holds up scissors and tells the mom to back off and calls her a bitch and a joke. I almost commented that Abby seemed fairly sane during pyramid. But crazy in Fresno Abby is back. Abby storms out of the room and flips the mom off in the process. Abby does not sit with the moms but sits along in the back of the auditorium, which seems pretty empty to me.
While looking for photos to pull for this post, I found out that Maesi and Elliana did dance their duet and that Abby screamed out from the audience that it was not to be judged and instructed the girls not to accept their awards. Wow.
Kendall and Kalani
Well the duet was good. It was not a tango of course, and they seemed to be tossing some flamenco into the mix with the usual lyrical moves. It was interesting and could win. I don’t think anyone understood they were fighting over an imaginary guy. But it was an enjoyable dance to watch nonetheless.
Brynn and Camryn
Their duet is called “Snap That” and it’s a jazz routine, allegedly. Their routine was actually contemporary in my opinion. Also, it’s very sexy professional cheerleader and not particularly age appropriate. These two are not as together as Kendall and Kalani. I don’t see how this wins.
During the intermission, Elliana apologizes to Abby for her mother’s behavior. She is not happy with her mom.
The Group Dance
The audience for the group dances seems much larger. Amazingly, the group dance was fantastic. They should definitely win first. The music helped get the theme across a lot.
Awards
In the duets, Camryn and Brynn take first and Kalani and Kendall take second. While I am thrilled that Camryn got her first win, I don’t think the judges got it right. The group dance took first overall. Kendall got up to snatch the award that Nia should have accepted. Abby actually complemented Nia. Abby doesn’t give Daviana a spot on the team. She says she will bring her back as a swing if she needs six dancers. The moms are very concerned about having a solid team at nationals.
Next week: The two minis have solos. Yolanda dresses up like her kid and does her own dance. I’m shocked that Elliana was not cut from the team for Yolanda’s behavior. But then again, it was all very scripted.
Abysmally Miller.
Thank you for the recap Tamara. The two duos were awesome. I will say the Kendall and Kalani dance theme was confusing and I think that is why they didn’t win. I thought Brynn and Camryn did have a cohesive dance and that was why they won. The group number was a winner. I never watched The Help, I just couldn’t get past the poop pie.. I have a weak stomach and didn’t want to put myself through dry heaving .
Appreciate that you still recap Dance Moms, T! If I could only watch 10 shows a week, DM would make the list. It really is a well packaged drama, from pyramid through post-award wrap-up. The girls are incredible, especially Kalani. The way the dancers support and encourage one another is exemplary and delightful. The behavior of the Moms, on the other hand, is typically atrocious. I agree, the show would benefit from more interesting conversations like the admittedly awkward discussion of segregation–as well as less insults and juvenile hazing. And Abby? Yes, I despise her when she humiliates and disparages the girls. But when she is teaching, demonstrating and inspiring, she is effective, magnetic and entertaining. Her flamenco/tango and apron drop scenes were terrific. You know, in sharing that famous quote this week she was not only applauding the heroes of “The Help” era, but also herself: “Well-behaved Women Seldom Make History.”
So heartbreaking when an eight year old has to apologize for her mother’s behavior. And from the looks of next week, she may have to again. Sad.
I wish Abby would reconsider letting both the two older girls have permanent spots on the team. They just add that something special they haven’t had since Maddie and Mac left. I really like them. I didn’t care at all for Bryn and Camryn’s duet. It wasn’t together and the color of their costumes clashed in a way that made it look even less together. That being said I’m glad they won because maybe that will buy Camryn one more week. I liked the other duet but also felt like it didn’t interpret the theme she was going for. Had I not known I would never have guessed they were fighting over a boy. They really should have had one the boy dancers Abby used this year in the dance. Group dance however was great. I didn’t have much confidence in it as Abby spoke about it but she really pulled off great choreography on that one
I so admire Abby that she isn’t making excuses or justifying her legal issues as we are too used to on the other shows. I think it’s really awful of the moms to bring it up, when it’s none of their business or their place to comment. It really seems to get to her and seems mean.
Abby has finally proven she CAN do grown up choreography well, instead of depending on younger dancers to continue learning that old choreography we can all watch by multiple dancers on youtube. Abby even seems to be happier – could it be she’s even feeling better about herself with winning choreography?
Now that she’s proven she CAN win, she needs to dump the minis. She doesn’t need Maddie anymore and she’s styled them all to look like little Maddie robots. Can’t Abby see that her studio would be much more desirable if she has multiple successful dancers on the team instead of just one?
Bad on Kendall for taking the trophy for the group dance that Nia had to earn. Clearly it should’ve gone to Nia since Abby made it such a point to pin the win/loss on Nia.
Thanks for the recap on this show TT.
I suspect that it is GIA doing the majority of the choreography now. I can’t imagine Abby having the frame of mind to do it a this time. I think Abby just approves it and gives notes during rehearsals for the cameras.
That’s my GUESS (I really have no idea which is part of why I still like this show) separating fact from fiction isn’t that easy because I don’t investigate much.
100% agree about Gia. Was wanting to give the studio props for winning with the older kids’ choreography.
And hopefully Abby got an esteem boost out of the win too – not happy with her trying to be another Teresa G, but I am a sap for losing family and I just hate it that her mother passed away.
I’ve noticed the smaller audience at some of these events too. I’m sure there’s a story behind that, but I’m with you…I just wanna watch this and not think too hard.
The only people Abby was attempting to hide money from was the IRS. Which is stupid. Because you can’t do that. Her bankruptcy was a business restructure where the plan was for everyone to get paid just not when they would like.
The Giudices stole $14 million dollars from small business owners as well as the IRS. To me it is a different thing.
Abby is not flaunting wealth by ill gotten gains, she just owed the IRS essentially. This is why an major appeals case could keep her from doing time and simply paying steep fines if she can come up with the money.
I don’t see why I need to pay to house and feed her for a few months when she has a legal business and can be paying back into to the government system like everyone else.
That’s how I see it anyway. I think she has learned her lesson. The Giudices? Not so much.