Maci Ziegler |DANCE MOMS|

Shes a Maniac

S3 E13

"Let's go. Now!" Miss Abby demands.

We all enter studio A and like always us girls and the moms line up.

"All right. We went to Powerhouse Dance Competition in Cincinnati, Ohio....and we won" Miss Abby says.

We all clap.

"The overall high score winners! With Cathy, sitting in that audience, having to watch you guys win that overall, priceless"

Jill and Mom laugh.

"This week, we will be attending Dance Expressions in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Now let's start the pyramid" Miss Abby says.

She reveals the first headshot. "We have Brooke. Not only did you forget the routine, but you talked to Rosa Parks. Why are you talking to Rosa Parks?" Miss Abby asks.

"I was like "Oh my gosh, I just messed up so bad" and she jumped on the thing. I wasn't really—" Brooke says.

"And she said "What do I do" "what do I—" Nia says.

"And I was like, oh, my god" Brooke laughed.
Then we all laughed even Kelly.

"Kelly, you're laughing?" Abby's tone cut through the silence.

Kelly blinked, still half-smiling. "Because she was funny."

Abby's voice rose. "I don't think it's funny. We could have lost. Do you have any idea what happened up there?"

"She forgot, Abby! She's human. Just like every one of these kids has forgotten their dance onstage before!" Kelly says.

The other moms shifted, uneasy, a few of them standing too. Christi crossed her arms, Holly's eyes darted between them, and Melissa tugged on her sleeve nervously.

Abby took a step forward. "So I've come to the conclusion that you need a break." Her voice was cold, steady. "I'm dismissing you today."

I raise a brow.

"Go ahead. You can go," Abby said, motioning toward the door.

Brooke froze, eyes wide, before quietly walking out. The door clicked shut behind her.

Kelly's chest rose and fell fast. "Is she not supposed to come this weekend?"

Abby didn't even blink. "She is not traveling with us. She is expected, however, to be in class."

"All right. Next, I have Mackenzie."

She held up Kenzie's headshot.

"You didn't dance," Abby said with a shrug. "Tell me, how's the foot feeling now?"

"It's getting better," Kenzie said quietly.

Abby tilted her head. "Have you learned that if you stay off of it and rest it, it will heal?"

Kenzie nodded.

"So doing swinging-through cartwheels isn't going to help you," Abby warned, her tone sharp but not cruel.

Kenzie nodded again, cheeks pink.

"Next—Nia." Abby flipped the photo. "You were outstanding."

Nia straightened with surprise.

"I thought you were the right choice, and I thought you were beautiful in that white costume," Abby said. "I think Rosa Parks would be very proud."

We all clapped, Nia smiling softly.

Wow. I wasn't expecting her to be that low on the pyramid.

"Next—Maci."

My stomach flipped when Abby lifted my headshot.