Bittersweet | Dance Moms

BULLETS AND BALLET (s2 ep7)

"Ladies! Let's go! Come on!" Abby's voice echoed through the studio as the girls quickly scrambled into place, lining up against the mirror.

"We have a lot to go over—it's gonna be a busy, busy, busy, busy week," Abby announced, her tone leaving no room for excuses. "No coming late, no leaving early. Got it?"

The moms exchanged knowing glances, bracing themselves for what was about to come.

"Now, Texas. We had all these plans made to go to New Jersey, and then, at the last minute, we had to completely flip it. There are a lot of dance companies in this country that would've said, 'Fine, we're not going,' but we didn't do that. We went. And I must say, some great things happened... and some really bad things happened."

The girls shifted nervously, their eyes darting from one another.

"This week, we are going to Hollywood Vibe right here in Pittsburgh. I want to see 100% from every single one of you. Remember, we're in our own backyard. You have a target on your back. So do I."

The room grew quiet, the weight of her words settling in.

"The group number is called Private Eyes. I'm gonna arm you with a secret weapon. You're going to be using guns in your routine. When you step on that stage, I want you to kill it. You're going to blow them away."

The girls gasped slightly at the mention of guns, excitement and nerves bubbling up at the thought of such a bold concept.

"Alright, let's move into the pyramid," Abby declared, pulling back the first cover. "At the bottom, we have Mackenzie. Mackenzie, you went from first to worst in one routine. You always have to keep working."

Mackenzie's face fell, but she nodded, biting her lip to keep from crying.

"Nia," Abby continued, pulling the next cover back. "You had a pretty dance. I thought you did well. No problem."

Nia offered a small smile, grateful for the neutral critique.

"Kendall," Abby said, turning to Jill's daughter. "I understand that the costume was an issue. Jill, I'm sure you have something to say about it, but I'll tell you what—it doesn't matter what you wear. Ultimately, at the end of the dance, it's your technique that counts. That's what you need to work on."

Jill started to open her mouth, but a sharp look from Abby silenced her.

"Next, Maddie," Abby announced, revealing Maddie's spot on the pyramid. "Maddie, you got third again. Is this a streak? It better not be. You could've been seriously injured."

Maddie's eyes widened, and her lips quivered slightly.

"Get the pout off your face, Maddie," Abby snapped. "You know you made that mistake, and that's what you get. So let that be a lesson to everybody—don't change your mind midair."

Abby pulled the next cover back. "Moving on, Lacey. You got fourth in the Elementary 4-6 solos. You could've had more facials because you had a gorgeous lyrical routine, but you did good."

Lacey gave a small nod, her mom looking relieved.

"Chloe," Abby said, revealing her next. "It was good, but obviously not good enough."

Chloe nodded, keeping her composure despite the harsh critique.

"Virella," Abby called, finally pulling back the next cover on the pyramid to reveal her photo. "You weren't here last week. I had a beautiful contemporary solo lined up for you—one that would have been absolutely perfect—but you didn't get the chance to perform it." Abby's tone softened slightly, a rare occurrence. "So, you're gonna do it this week."