Bittersweet | Dance Moms

STEALING THE SHOW (s1 ep4)

"Alright, ladies! Can we talk about Starbound? Round of applause! Woo-hoo!" Abby exclaimed, her voice filled with energy as she clapped, prompting everyone to join in.

"Okay, so Brooke, you blew the competition away. The people sitting around me were in awe when you did your press-handstand twist," Abby praised, her tone genuinely impressed. But then, she shifted gears, her expression turning more serious. "But why all the drama with the hip? Hmm? If you are seriously injured, you don't go to your mother and get everyone worked up. You come to me, and that needs to be clear, okay?"

Brooke nodded, not really acknowledging Abby's point.

"I wanna talk about this week's competition," Abby started as she turned the chalkboard over, ready to reveal the new pyramid. The room fell silent, the girls' attention fully on her, anticipating what was to come next.

Brooke

Virella         Maddie          Chloe

Nia            Paige         Mackenzie        Vivi-Anne

"Now, you all see there's somebody new on top," Abby announced, pointing to Brooke's headshot at the top of the pyramid. "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 praised Brooke, her tone filled with approval. Brooke couldn't hide the smile spreading across her face, proud of the recognition she had earned.

"You are getting a solo this weekend," Abby announced, much to Brooke's delight.

"Alright, Chloe, Maddie, Virella, you are also getting solos this weekend," Abby added, pointing at their headshots, though she pointed in the wrong direction. The three girls smiled at each other, excited to showcase their talents.

Abby then turned her attention to the bottom row of the pyramid. "The bottom row, what am I going to do with you four? You need to step it up." The smiles faded from the faces of the four girls. "You need to get your butts back into class and work on your technique. Virella has a ballet and technique private every week at least once or twice," Abby emphasized, her tone sharp.

Not all of us can afford a private ballet and technique teacher, Abby. Tessa is off limits to anyone that isn't named Virella Ashford. — Kelly Hyland

"But, since we're in Pittsburgh, I'm giving every single one of you solos," Abby announced with a tone that left no room for objections. The room erupted into applause as the girls exchanged excited glances, though Virella noticed that Paige's smile was a bit forced. Paige never liked solos; the pressure of dancing alone without the support of her teammates often made her nervous.

As the applause died down, Abby's gaze swept over the group. "Moms, it's going to be a busy week. I expect them to be amazing, you understand that?" she stated, her voice firm and authoritative. The girls nodded eagerly, some with more confidence than others.

"Sit up straight," Abby instructed sharply, eyeing the girls with the precision of a hawk. Instantly, the girls adjusted their posture, sitting up straighter.

Abby clapped her hands, signaling the end of the meeting. "Ladies, let's go," she said, her voice cutting through the air like a whip. The girls stood up, ready to head to their respective rehearsals. The moms began to gather their things, but not without sharing a few anxious looks among themselves. They knew this week was going to be grueling, especially with solos for every dancer.

As they prepared to head upstairs, Abby's voice cut through the murmurs. "Remember, this isn't just another competition. We're in Pittsburgh. This is home turf, and I expect nothing less than perfection. So, get your heads in the game, and let's show them why the Abby Lee Dance Company is the best."