Remember when Dance Moms was less about the off-screen drama and more about, well, the dance? It feels like a distant memory, especially with the constant whirlwind of controversies. Speaking of controversy, Sia’s “Elastic Heart” video dropped, and while some lauded its artistry, others raised eyebrows at the pairing of Maddie Ziegler with Shia LeBeouf. But let’s be honest, amidst the artistic debates, many of us were just happy to see Louis Stevens (Shia!) dancing in a cage.
While Maddie navigated the press circuit with grace, explaining the “open to interpretation” concept of the video to a bewildered Jill, bigger drama was brewing in Ohio. Cathy Nesbitt-Stein and her Candy Apples Dance Center were back, and this time, they were fielding a “premium team” of Abby Lee Dance Company (ALDC) “rejects,” as Kira eloquently put it. Abby was, naturally, less than thrilled.
The pyramid reflected the previous week’s solo performances, with Kendall Vertes and Nia Frazier at the bottom, and Maddie Ziegler predictably perched at the top. No solos this week, however, as Abby wanted to capitalize on Maddie’s duet fame by assigning duets to the girls instead. Maddie would dance with Kalani Hilliker, and Kendall would be paired with JoJo Siwa for a “Freaky Friday” themed piece. Mackenzie Ziegler and Nia were given a spooky duet, foreshadowing a murder-mystery group routine.
Cathy’s Candy Apples Strike Back: Assembling a Team of ALDC Rejects
Meanwhile, in Candy Apple territory, Cathy was rallying her troops – a “new premium team.” She even brought in a So You Think You Can Dance winner to choreograph, aiming for nothing less than a Candy Apples victory over the ALDC, a feat she hasn’t accomplished in two years. Cathy’s focus, however, seemed less on the dancing and more on the mothers, specifically their perceived shunning of Abby. One particularly enthusiastic (and slightly unhinged) mom, who had previously been ejected from an audition for autographing Abby’s book, was ready to bring the drama.
Back at the ALDC studio, the girls were rehearsing a “Clue”-inspired group number. Jessalyn Siwa, ever the source of intel, confirmed the new Candy Apples recruits were indeed “five-star insane,” based on her experience with them from Abby’s reality show project (likely referring to Abby’s Ultimate Dance Competition). She even prank-called one, getting promptly cursed out and hung up on. If anything, this external threat united the ALDC moms, a welcome change from their usual infighting.
Media Frenzy and Cathy’s Controversial Comments
A local news crew arrived to interview Maddie about the “Elastic Heart” video, much to Melissa Ziegler’s delight, who bragged about calls from major media outlets. Maddie, ever humble, downplayed the video’s glamour, describing it as the “most tiring” and “dirtiest” job she’d ever had, appreciating its ambiguous narrative.
While Maddie handled the press professionally, Cathy was facing her own media attention. TMZ called to get her take on the Sia video, and Cathy didn’t hold back. She declared watching it made her “want to vomit” and left her feeling “very uncomfortable.” Clearly, Cathy and Sia’s artistic visions were not aligned.
Duets and Drama: Abby’s Motivations and Holly’s Bold Move
Abby revealed her reasoning behind pairing Nia and Mackenzie – she was “inspired” by their teamwork in a previous group routine. This felt like a thinly veiled attempt by Lifetime to soften Abby’s harsh treatment of Nia, especially as the scene cut to Holly Frazier, in a seemingly scripted moment, calling Aubrey O’Day in the studio lobby. Holly, ignoring Abby’s explicit warning, proceeded to interrupt Nia’s rehearsal for this call. Melissa, predictably, deemed Holly’s actions “unprofessional,” contrasting it with her own (selective) dedication to Maddie’s practice time. Jessalyn, ever the gossip, relayed Melissa’s complaints to Holly, sparking a predictable “F-You!” from Melissa. The irony of Melissa’s outrage, given Maddie’s frequent absences for external opportunities, was not lost on the other moms.
The focus quickly shifted back to Cathy when Melissa read Cathy’s TMZ interview. The moms were incredulous at Cathy’s need for attention and her audacity to criticize the “brilliance” of the Sia video. Jill, ever eager to stir the pot, pointed out Sia’s public apology for any offense caused by the video. Melissa, in denial, refused to believe Sia had apologized or that anyone could be offended. The other moms, however, insisted Melissa shouldn’t shield Maddie from potential criticism. As Jill began reading negative blog comments about the video, Melissa dramatically buried her head and covered her ears.
As the girls continued rehearsing their “Clue” number, ET cameras arrived to interview Maddie, with Abby swiftly ushering the other girls out of the room. Jill, highlighting the double standard, questioned Melissa’s hypocrisy, comparing Maddie’s exclusive interview to Holly’s phone call. Jill voiced her concern that Abby’s focus on promoting Maddie at the expense of the team would lead to an ALDC loss against the Candy Apples.
Competition Day: Tensions Rise and Dances Take the Stage
At the competition, the ALDC arrived to cheering fans, while Cathy and her new, somewhat intimidating, mothers lurked in their dressing room. Abby, surprisingly unfazed, even hugged one of the Candy Apple moms, much to Cathy’s visible annoyance. Jessalyn, in her signature style, offered the Candy Apple mothers a chance to touch JoJo’s ALDC jacket, implying it was the closest they’d ever get to the real team, before engaging in a shouting match with the book-signing mom. The hugging Candy Apple mom, seemingly forced to declare her loyalty, warned Abby that the Candy Apples were “ready for war.”
Kendall and JoJo’s “Freaky Friday” duet was undeniably cute and showcased JoJo’s performance energy, though the theme itself was a bit unclear. Nia and Mackenzie’s duet was a standout, effectively telling a story through dance, with Nia demonstrating impressive acting skills. However, Abby remained unimpressed. Book-signing mom seized the opportunity to yell about how “sick” Maddie’s video with Shia made her, decrying the pairing of a young girl with an adult man. Jill, ever the opportunist, proclaimed, “I told Melissa she shouldn’t let Maddie hear the negativity from the outside world first!” as Kira encouraged the audience to applaud for the video. Kalani and Maddie, as expected, delivered an exquisite duet, showcasing their technical prowess.
Abby, feigning outrage, criticized the Candy Apples for their “tacky” behavior of badmouthing another team at a competition. The ALDC group number, inspired by “Clue,” was a highlight, and Holly agreed it was strong, but questioned if it was enough to defeat Cathy’s hand-picked team. The Candy Apples’ group number was technically proficient but somewhat confusing thematically, with Jill comparing her confusion to her general dislike (excluding Sia videos, of course).
Results and Aftermath: Candy Apples Fall Short
At the awards ceremony, Kendall and JoJo placed third in the duet category, Nia and Mackenzie took second (a well-deserved win for Nia!), and Kalani and Maddie predictably claimed first. A visibly shocked and seething Cathy watched her group number place third, while the ALDC’s “Clue” routine took the top prize. Cathy, in a moment of sour grapes, dismissed Kendall and JoJo’s duet as “terrible.” Abby, pleased with her team’s victory, expressed hope they could maintain this momentum as they headed back to Los Angeles.
Despite Cathy’s efforts and her “premium team” of ALDC rejects, she couldn’t break Abby’s winning streak. This episode highlighted the ongoing rivalry between Abby and Cathy, fueled by personal animosity and competitive dance. While Cathy aimed for a triumphant return, Abby and the ALDC ultimately proved victorious once again.
What did you think of Cathy’s new team and her comments about Maddie’s video? Is the Abby vs. Cathy rivalry getting old, or is it still the most entertaining part of Dance Moms?
