A dance journey

Nationals 90210

Claire POV

"Let's go. Get in here. Isn't this nice? Lots of space, we can run our numbers. Hello everybody."Abby said

We all walked into the new studio space. Ready as we could be for today.

"In10sity Dance was intense. I saw lots of mistakes. And yet this was the week where every solo needed to strive for perfection. This was the last competition before we went to the Nationals. You were duly warned. We won that 2011 national title. I want to win it again. Now this week, we're going to stay right here in sunny Los Angeles. But we are going to the most famous zip code."Abby said

Melissa gasped as she said, "90210. Sorry."She said

"We are going to 90210, Beverly Hills. We are going to the Energy Dance National Invitational. So let's get to the pyramid. On the bottom, Claire. Even though your duet with Chloe won first place. You ran off the stage and forgot your solo. That should've won the whole thing. Next, Paige. You knew you were going to be there. You also forgot your dance. You have so much more talent than you're able to show. A because of an injury and B because you don't remember what you're doing. Next, Nia. I thought you could have been better. I need you to be as strong at the end as you are at the beginning. Next, we have Cassandra. You haven't been dancing so you haven't been impressing me. Simple. Next, I have Chloe. Chloe, you've been consistently in the top 5 for most of your life. 6th is not good enough for you. Kendall, you came out there strong. You were excited. You were energized. Your tricks were clean. Your movements were sharp. You attacked them, everything a great jazz dance needs to be. When you started your turns, they were a bit sluggish. Even your mother pointed that out to me. But on the more positive side, your duet with Cameron got second place. Moving along. Brooke. You won. You were in the overall high scores. I was proud of you. But you know what? You are capable of doing more. And you're lazy. And you're sitting there saying, this is good. I can coast. I'm still winning. I'm still getting the platinum. I can just step out there and do one chin stand and get a platinum. That's what I see happening. Next, Mackenie. It's the easy stuff that you mess up. The roundoff back handspring was great. The side aerial was great. The aerial walkover was great. This? Come on. Then I have Cameron. Cameron had two duets. One placed fourth, and the other placed second. And Maddie, you're on top of the pyramid. Are you glad to be there? The duets were both not great. Fifth and fourth. Wasn't too thrilled with that. But your solo won. Is it better to win? Or is it better to sit in the audience while everybody else gets better?"Abby asked

"It's better to win," Maddie said

"Now not everyone is in the group routine. Cassandra, you said you're not feeling well this week. Sad that you got sick during nationals, but we have to keep moving. Cameron, you already know who isn't in the routine. And Claire. You are not in this number. You need to focus. This group routine is very disturbing. And the title is "My Lasy Text." This routine should leave the judges feeling something."Abby said

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Claire interview:

"I'm pretty upset that Abby isn't letting me do the group dance for nationals. But I'm just going to hope that me and Chloe have our duet since we won the competition. And I can at least dance at nationals."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Energy dance is allowing us to do six additional routines. Four solos, two duets. Mackenzie, you're doing a solo this week. Maddie, you will have a solo because you just won the overall. Brooke, you will be doing "The Dairy of Anne Frank." Paige, you will not have a solo this week. I want you to concentrate on the group dance. And I want you to remember it. Nia, Kendall, and Chloe, we're going to teach all three of you the same choreography. Claire, Cassandra, and Cameron, you will not be doing solos. The two guests go as promised. Kendall and Cameron, and Claire and Chloe. Don't screw this up. You guys aren't usually duet partners. Mom's you dismissed, girls spread apart."Abby said