Dance Moms fans, still no screeners this week! We’re diving into another recap, sans screen captures, as we unpack Season 4 Episode 11. The burning question remains: can Abby and Kelly just reconcile already? Maybe then we’ll get those screeners back and all will be right with the Dance Moms world. But until that day, let’s dissect the latest drama.
Abby is buzzing about her latest acquisition, Fallon Chapman, and Fallon’s mother, Cheryl. Hailing from the Orlando, Florida area, 11-year-old Fallon is apparently a title-winning force to be reckoned with, boasting four titles already.
During team assembly, Abby reiterates her plan to cast a brand new dance team. Will it be entirely fresh faces, or a mix of new and old? Abby’s keeping us in suspense, stretching this announcement out since January with zero new dancers materialized so far. At this rate, the new team might debut sometime around 2035.
Kalani is noticeably absent. Abby explains it’s due to Kira’s “sassy mouth” and inability to adhere to the Abby Lee rules. The reality? Kalani was competing at NUVO, but Abby’s narrative is much more dramatic, and perfectly on brand for Dance Moms.
The team celebrates their ninth consecutive group dance victory. Abby marks the occasion with a brief poem: “Nine is fine, but then again, there’s ten.” Ten wins would be unprecedented for the ALDC, and Abby is determined to achieve it.
Pyramid of Pressure: Rankings and Reactions
Pyramid time reveals the weekly hierarchy.
Kendall finds herself at the bottom, bottom for a ninth-place finish the previous week.
Chloe is next. Despite tying for second in the improv competition, her limited move selection disappointed Abby.
Nia follows Chloe. She was the first ALDC dancer eliminated from the improv. The logic is questionable – Chloe placed second but is ranked lower than Nia who was eliminated first – but it’s Abby’s pyramid, Abby’s rules.
Moving to the second row, Mackenzie is recognized for her expressive face during the group dance. Then, Fallon is placed on the pyramid for making a strong impression at her audition. Holly, ever the astute observer, calls “shenanigans,” while Cheryl resorts to flattery.
Maddie predictably tops the pyramid. Abby declares it one of Maddie’s best performances ever.
Toledo Bound and Candy Apple Rivalry
This week, the ALDC is heading to an in10sity Dance competition in Toledo, Ohio, which of course means Candy Apples will be there. Ohio, Candy Apples, Cathy – the rivalry is reignited. The group dance theme is announced: “Red with Envy,” perfectly encapsulating the Abby-Cathy dynamic.
Everyone will be “Red with Envy,” except perhaps Mackenzie, who is occupied with another competition in Pittsburgh.
Fallon, having traveled all the way to Pittsburgh, will be performing a solo. Kendall also gets a solo, titled “Just Rain” or possibly “Just Bring It,” aimed at redeeming her ninth-place finish. Abby warns that another poor performance will result in Kendall being cut. The question hangs in the air: will Kendall intentionally underperform?
Jill, in a transparent deflection attempt, inquires about Maryen Lorrain’s well-being. Abby dismisses it as insincere flattery. Jill persists, suggesting the girls could dance for Maryen to cheer her up. Abby concedes it might be a possibility, hinting Maryen might even visit.
Mom Loft Mayhem and Cheryl’s Initiation
Up in the Mom Loft, the veteran Dance Moms mothers immediately begin to scrutinize Cheryl. Melissa probes Cheryl’s age, mid-40s according to Cheryl. Christi directly asks if Cheryl has fake breasts, which is a no. And just like that, the interrogation concludes.
The scene shifts to Ohio, where Cathy introduces Erin, Blake McGrath’s replacement. Erin is described as brilliant and also from LA. Candy Apples’ group dance is named “The Last Dance,” centered on themes of abandonment and loss. Cathy ominously warns this could be their last dance if they fail to defeat the ALDC. A new, unfamiliar short-haired mom stands beside Cathy, suggesting another new dancer has joined the Candy Apples team.
A Hospice Visit and a Somber Serenade
The ALDC visits the Sterling House assisted living center where Maryen is in hospice. Maryen is impeccably groomed and mentally sharp, accompanied by Stuffed Baby, a somewhat morbid detail in the setting.
A live dog, the puppy Abby gifted Mackenzie, is also present, seemingly unfazed by Stuffed Baby. Maryen, likewise, is unfazed by the live dog.
“You all know who I am, right?” Abby asks the residents and caregivers. Presumably, Dance Moms has a significant nursing home viewership. After confirming her celebrity status, Abby instructs everyone to be quiet.
The girls perform individually for Maryen and the residents. Nia showcases her signature death drop. Chloe sweetly takes a resident’s hand and dances gently with her – a genuinely touching moment.
Fallon’s solo is titled “Voices in My Head,” requiring diverse emotional shifts, which Abby hopes Fallon can execute. Jill joins Cheryl in the studio during solo rehearsals, while Melissa, Holly, and Christi convene in the Mom Loft to discuss Cheryl’s age again, suspecting she’s significantly older than she claims. Christi suggests Jill might not be the best judge of age, given Jill’s own efforts to maintain a youthful appearance.
Back in Ohio, Candy Apple’s Gavin is rehearsing his solo, “Better When You’re There.” Cathy praises Gavin’s quickness in learning choreography and expresses delight. She air kisses Gavin and pats his bottom after his performance.
It’s revealed that Yvette and Hadley Walts are no longer with the Candy Apples team. And Zack, another Candy Apple dancer, has noticeably grown taller. Cathy appears particularly irritable in this episode, perhaps sensing her diminishing role in the Dance Moms narrative as the season progresses.
Solo Pressure and Mom-on-Mom Conflict
Back at ALDC, Abby emphasizes the stakes for the soloists. For Fallon, it’s a chance to join the new team. For Kendall, it’s about staying on the current team. Abby’s “coaching” includes yelling about lacking “guts and butts.”
Melissa confidently declares Fallon isn’t a threat to their daughters. When Abby steps away for a phone call, Holly takes Cheryl aside for a “welcome to Dance Moms” lesson about Abby’s behavior. Moments later, Abby reappears in the Mom Loft to inform Cheryl that Kalani is a superior dancer and more beautiful than Fallon. A harsh welcome indeed for Cheryl, who traveled from Florida for this treatment. Souvenirs include insults, yelling, and age and boob speculation.
Cheryl defends Fallon, stating she’s doing her best with what she’s given. Cheryl begins to cry, expressing that Abby is insulting her child. Abby clarifies she’s not insulting Fallon, she’s insulting Cheryl – apparently a crucial distinction.
Costume Chaos and Competition Catastrophe
On the bus to Toledo, Abby discovers Cheryl failed to bring Fallon’s solo costume. Abby dramatically declares Cheryl an “F in Dance Mom.” The other mothers are amused. Cheryl is proving to be an easy target, unlike Kira and Kalani.
The costume mishap escalates in the get-ready room. Holly and Melissa berate Cheryl for arriving unprepared – no makeup, no hair supplies. Abby likens it to dealing with a “dancing orphan.” She questions how Cheryl, with Fallon dancing since age 8 (Cheryl clarifies, not age 3 as Abby incorrectly stated), could be so inept at dance mom duties.
Gavin’s solo is first. Cathy is overheard saying Gavin needs to “go out and suck the toe of the competition,” a bizarre and hopefully misheard comment.
Vivi-Anne is in the audience! A welcome, if brief, appearance.
The competition stage is unusually narrow, and the auditorium appears sparsely populated. Gavin’s solo is impressive.
Kendall performs next, looking lovely in turquoise. The lyrical choreography suits her, showcasing her elegant lines. She ends the dance on the floor, prompting a viewer to question if it’s a rule for lyrical solos to end on the floor.
Fallon’s solo is next. As foreshadowed in previews, Fallon falters, forgetting her choreography midway through and improvising the rest.
Cheryl loudly exclaims, “She forgot it! She forgot it!” Abby approaches the judges, demanding Fallon’s disqualification for forgetting her routine. The judges refuse, as expected. Abby’s dramatic outburst is purely for show.
Backstage Drama and Withdrawn Routines
Backstage, Cheryl attempts to comfort Fallon before Abby arrives. Cathy enters the ALDC get-ready room to commend Fallon for not giving up. Cathy asserts she would never ask judges to disqualify her own dancer. Smack talk ensues, involving “bubble heads” and “bubble butts,” leaving Fallon bewildered.
Abby dismisses Cathy’s praise, telling Fallon not to cry because it makes Abby feel bad for yelling at her.
In the Candy Apples get-ready room, Cathy dismisses the dancers to practice independently, wanting to observe the ALDC group dance before committing to entering her own. She’s tired of second place and doesn’t want to risk another loss. The Candy Apple mothers question the lesson this sends to their children, but Cathy is unconcerned.
The ALDC group dance, performed with only five girls, looks visually strange and suffers from poor camera angles. However, the dance itself is well-executed, and Fallon holds her own. Abby praises their performance as “outstanding.”
As the Pitt Crew chants for the Candy Apples, Cathy decides to pull her group dance, deeming it “not ready.” She admits to being “Red with Envy” and unwilling to risk defeat. The Candy Apple dancers are visibly upset. Maddie, watching from the audience, reports back to Abby about Cathy’s withdrawal. Abby labels Cathy a “bad dance teacher” and a “coward,” and, of course, “Red with Envy.”
Awards and Farewell
Awards ceremony. In a small competition pool, Fallon places third in solos despite her routine mishap. Kendall comes in second, losing to Gavin by a mere tenth of a point. Abby declares herself “thrilled” with Kendall’s placement.
“Red with Envy” secures the tenth group dance win for ALDC. Backstage, Chloe is the first to hug Abby, and another poem is recited: “One two three. We are Abby Lee. Four five six. You should see our kicks. Eight Nine Ten. We just won again.” The number seven is conspicuously absent from the poem.
Following the celebration, Abby informs Fallon and Cheryl that their time at ALDC is over. Neither Fallon nor Cheryl seem particularly upset.
The mothers then engage in their customary hallway confrontation with Cathy, demanding to know why she pulled the Candy Apples group dance. Cathy declares it’s none of their business, but Christi counters that it is the Apple parents’ business. When Abby joins the fray, Cathy boldly states Abby’s size and mouth don’t intimidate her. The ALDC mothers are taken aback. Lori suggests Cathy has seen footage of Abby’s past confrontations with Kelly. For once, the ALDC mothers present a united front.
Next week promises a return to familiar Dance Moms tropes: picking on Leslie, hating on the Candy Apples, and dancing with drag queens.
So, Dance Moms nation, are screeners worth rioting for? Is Fallon missing school for this worth it? How old do we think Cheryl actually is? Does Maryen truly want Stuffed Baby in her hospice room? And who’s excited for drag queens? Let us know in the comments!
New episodes of Dance Moms air Tuesdays at 9/8CT on Lifetime.
