ℒ𝒾𝓋𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝒪𝓃 𝒯𝒽ℯ 𝒟𝒶𝓃𝒸ℯ ℱ𝓁ℴℴ𝓇 [𝐁𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝟏]

𝟏.𝟎𝟏- 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐁𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐬

˚✧.⋅₊˚ ‧ 🩰⋅୨୧ ⋅🦢  ‧₊˚ ⋅.✧˚

["Dance To Express, Not Impress"]

The girls had finished taking a few more headshots under request of Jeff and Bryan. They had been pulled out of school for this once again. Emily had spent that time talking to Nia and getting to know her a little better. The two had never been very close. Emily hoped they would become close though.

[You want me to say that it's the first day? *Jeff nods* Today is the first day of competition season. Emily competed last season and she won several crowns. I hope for her sake Abby notices her a little bit more though] - Katie Cooper

After interviews they had the girls take turns being filmed walking in as if they did that every day. They had Abby greet them at the front desk, which never happened.

Jeff cued Emily from inside and Emily pushed open the studio door with a large smile plastered on her face. Her mom was trailing behind her.

"Hello," Abby greeted in a rather cheery voice.

"Hi, Ms Abby," Emily said, waving a little and heading for the dancers den.

"Hey, Ab," Katie said after her daughter.

Then they finally let the kids change into their dance clothes. Once all of the girls had changed they went into the dancers den and saw no one was there. Studio A was where their mom's were waiting with the camera crew and Abby.

"I don't want to be on this stupid show," Mackenzie complained and rested her head in Emily's shoulder.

Emily looked at her curiously, "Why not, Kenz?" she asked.

"I want to do karate with my friends from school. They all get to play together at recess," Mackenzie answered.

Abby never let the girls play at recess because they were under risk on hurting themselves. God forbid they tripped and scraped a knee before a dance competition.

"Where are our moms? The viewing room?" Maddie questioned.

Brooke shook her head, "They're in Studio A with Abby and the cameras," she told the other brunette.

"Should we go join them?" Nia asked this because she didn't want to go in alone.

"Why would Brooke and Kenzie go in with us? They're supposed to be in the older and younger classes?" Chloé commented.

"For the show we're supposed to dance with you guys," Brooke informed the group.

"Okay, then let's go so that they don't have to wait any longer on us," Emily said.

Mackenzie was the first to storm in, she clearly didn't want to be at dance right now. At least it was clear to the girls, Abby and the camera's wouldn't be able to tell.

The girls were confused when they went in to see a large chalkboard facing away from them, Abby standing beside it, and the moms standing in the back against the ballet bar. This was not their normal routine.

"Girls, come sit right here," the girls were hesitant to go sit on the floor in front of t of Abby. "Quickly, there's no time to waste," the girls then obided and sat in front of her. Emily sat between Maddie and Chloé.

[I am the artistic director and the chief choreographer of the Abby Lee Dance Company right here in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. People around the country know me. They know Abby Lee because I produce stars. I produce amazing employable dancers. I know how to groom these children and raise these kids. Some of them as if they were my own. I'm preparing them for a career. We do it all in my studio so when they get to real-life, they're ready.] - Abby Lee Miller