Never Second [Dance Moms]

Ballerinas to Showgirls

(Season 1, Epiosde 9)

Once Robyn found out that the team wasn't going straight back to Pittsburgh, she wanted to pass out. She was still feeling unwell, so traveling this much was a nightmare. At least they would be going to L.A. after, so she'd be able to see her husband and be in the comfort of their house there.

Robyn was knocked out for almost the entire flight.

The competition ended on Wednesday, so they flew back that Thursday. The next day, they were back in another rental studio. Robyn, still tired and nauseous, stayed in the hotel. The girls were brought to the studio by Kelly.

Abby: "Here we are in Las Vegas, Nevada. We're here to attend the Thunderstruck competition. Vegas is really important because have two more competitions before nations in Tahoe."

"Welcome to Los Vegas!" Abby cheered. "I want to reflect on Starpower last week. Some of you did really well, however some of you as a whole, not so great. I brought Brandon in thinking that it would do the trick, but the dance was a mess. The competition we're going to this week is called Thunderstruck and we have four days to prepare. As a group, this particular group, has never not placed in the overall high scores, so you need to be flawless this week."

Abby turns to the pyramid. She revealed the first picture which is Vivi-Anne with her face crossed out. "Vivi-Anne. Not here. Her mother made it quite clear that she was not traveling to Los Vegas. So, you know what. This poor little girl is going to suffer. Her mother didn't follow the rules. Let this be a lesson to all of you and all of your mothers. If you don't follow the rules and you don't give me one hundred percent, I will yank your number from the competition."

She revealed the next two pictures. "Next up, Layla then Mackenzie. You two had a duet, you won first place! Vivi-Anne abandoned you, but you went out there and you showed her that you didn't need her. However, Layla, there were tons of mistakes on your end. I think in this duet, Mackenzie out-danced you."

Layla's smile dropped. She really tried her best, but maybe it wasn't enough to make Abby happy. "This week you two will not be competing, but keep stretching and practicing your skills because next week, you two will definitely be dancing."

The girls smiled and nodded.

Mackenzie: "I don't care if I'm not dancing. I just like to hang out at the pool."

"Paige, your performance is good, but you're not winning and you're not placing in the overalls. I feel that you should definitely be placing in the top ten. This is your city. You have the long legs, you have the look, yes? Because of that, Paige you're getting a solo."

Abby moved up. "Second row. Nia. Last week in Orlando, you finally won your category. I think you need to do that all the time. So, I hope that your mother now trusts me and doesn't question my every move. I had it with that. It's what you do on stage that matters. Not the choreography, not the costuming. It's you and your technique. It felt good to win didn't it?"