Marissa Ziegler // Dance Moms

The Competition Begins

"Mari, can you grab Mackenzie's dance bag from the kitchen?" Mom asks me as we start getting into the car to go to dance

I run inside and grab her purple dance bag that says Mackenzie on the side. I then go back out to the car and put it in the trunk before my mom closes it. Then we're off on the 45 minute drive to the Abby Lee Dance Company

Today is the first day of the new competition season. But this year, it's going to be a little bit different. We're going on a reality show! It's called, Dance Moms, and it's basically going to follow our daily life. It's supposed to be about 13 episodes long. I can't wait!

"So, are you girls excited for dance?" Mom asks me and my sisters

"Yeah, I can't wait to see everyone and compete again" I reply and my sisters agree

After the long drive to the studio, we finally arrived. I open the door and hop out, before grabbing my blue dance bag from the trunk.

Then me, Maddie and Kenzie, walk ahead of our mom and into the studio

"Hi, girls" Abby, our dance teacher, greets

"Hi" I smile before we walk through and into the dancers den

Brooke, Paige and Kelly Hyland are already here. I immediately take off my sweatshirt and leggings to reveal my dance outfit. I'm wearing a purple top with black outlining and then plain black shorts. Then I put my hair into a ponytail and a purple bow.

Once I'm all ready, I sit in splits next to Paige and we talk while everyone starts getting here. After everyone's here, Abby calls us in. I sit in front of a big board, and Maddie sits on my left.

"All right, girls. It's the first day of rehearsal for the new competition season. Ladies, you all know why you're here. You are the cream of the crop in your age group. And I have lots of new ideas in store. I am going to do something that no other studio is the country does. Every single competition, we are doing a new routine" Abby tells us and we look over to our moms

"Uh-uh-uh-uh, girls, don't look at your mothers. I am the coach. I am the teacher. I can make you or I can break you." She says before turning around the chalkboard

Mari
Maddie Chloe
Brooke Paige Nia Mackenzie

"Everyone wants to be on top, of course. But you have to work for it." Abby points to us

"Everybody wants to be front and center. I hear it all the time. And you know what? Whoever is in the front and center, they can't make a mistake. They are holding that group together."

"So at the top right here I have Mari because she is dedicated and because of her stellar record last year" Abby explains and my bright blue eyes look up at her and my lips form a smile

"Mari, are you ready to be front and center? Can you handle that pressure?" Abby asks and I nod

"Our first competition, it's going to be in Phoenix, Arizona. Ladies, I chose Phoenix, Arizona because I want you to experience some of the best competition teams in the country."

"We are going to do three new numbers. A high-energy, really cute, adorable routine with Mari, Maddie, Brooke, Chloe, Paige, and Nia. And then also a trio with Maddie, Chloe, and Paige. And lastly, Mari, you will be doing a solo" Abby says and I smile again

"Unfortunately, Mackenzie, you're too young to compete at West Coast Dance Explosion. But you're still going to go with us anyway."