Marissa Ziegler // Dance Moms

Stealing the Show

"Do it again. You have to hit, you can't just go through the motions." Matt tells me as I'm rehearsing my tap solo since I'm gonna have one this week! I'm super excited since I haven't had one in a while

"All right, you're good to go. You did good, and I'll see you again at some point to go over it one more time" Matt dismisses me after I hug him and I make my way to the dancers den

"Hey, baby, how was tap?" Mom asks me once I sit down next to her so I could take my tap shoes off. The rest of the girls and moms were also in here, getting ready for pyramid

"It was good. I was just practicing my solo" I respond quietly as my mom fixes my ponytail

"Girls! Let's go, hurry! Get in here!" Abby yells and we all run into studio A. I take a seat next to Kenzie so she can lean against my shoulder since she's tired

"Let's talk about Starbound Competition. Can we have a round of applause?" Abby asks and we all clap

"Okay, so Brooke, Mari, you blew them away. The people sitting around me were in awe when you two did your handstand twist." Abby compliments making the two of us smile and high-five each other

"But, Brooke, why all the drama with the hip? Hmm? If you are seriously injured, you don't need to go to your mother and get everybody worked up. You come to me, and that needs to be clear, yes?" Abby explains and Brooke nods

"I want to talk about this week's competition" Abby begins before turning the board around

Brooke
Mari Maddie Chloe
Nia Paige Mackenzie Vivi-Anne

"Do you see there's somebody new on top? Yes. Brooke, you are here because of your performance. You worked through an injury. You did what you had to do. You were a team player." Abby tells Brooke. "You are getting a solo this weekend"

"All right, Chloe, Maddie, Mari, you are also getting solos this weekend. The bottom row, what am I supposed to do with you four? You need to step it up. You need to get your butts back into class and start working in your technique. And you know what? Since we're in Pittsburgh this weekend, I'm giving every single one of you a solo." Abby says and we clap

"Moms, it's going to be a busy week. I expect them to be amazing. Do you understand? Yes? Sit up straight. Ladies, let's go." Abby claps once and we all stand up

Five days to competition

"Watch that land on that heel after your jeté!" Abby yells as I'm rehearsing my Oasis solo

This week, both Maddie and Mari are doing two solos. Maddie is doing one to the music Cry, which she competed several weeks ago, and the other is a new tap routine. Then Mari is doing her Wondering solo that she won everything with from a few weeks ago, along with a new tap solo
| Abby Lee Miller |

"Head up! Let's see that pretty face and make sure to use it!" Abby exclaims while I'm dancing

"Penché and go" Abby says and I do three scorpion turns. I think scorpion turns are one of my signature moves because I have them in pretty much every dance I've done since I was 10

I love doing solos. I feel like I'm the best at them and I always dance the best when I dance alone
| Mari Ziegler |

"Okay, you're all set for now, babydoll." Abby high-fives and I exit the room

Four days to competition

"Hi, guys." My mom smiles to everyone as we walk into the dancers den