The drama, the dances, and the moms – welcome back to season one of Dance Moms! This episode brings us iconic moments and classic Dance Moms’ chaos that set the stage for the entire series. Let’s dive into the highlights and lowlights of this memorable episode.
The episode kicks off with the moms reacting to the new costumes for the group dance, “Electricity.” Holly’s face perfectly captures the initial shock: “this is a joke, right?” The costumes, shall we say, are revealing. Christi doesn’t hold back, delivering two legendary quotes. First, “So, I guess we’re going for skin to win.” Then comes the unforgettable line that perfectly encapsulates the moms’ feelings: “They look like prosti-tots!”
Kelly’s expression, “oh, well this is happening,” shows a more resigned acceptance of Abby’s questionable choices. Melissa, ever supportive of Abby, chimes in with a less critical, “don’t you look so cute,” aimed at Maddie. Christi’s “just shoot me now” expression is all of us watching this unfold.
Christi’s outrage isn’t unfounded. While the girls have worn small costumes before, these “Electricity” outfits felt overly mature and inappropriate for their age. Chloe, bless her heart, announces she loves the costume and the dance, oblivious to the mom drama brewing. Abby, of course, is completely unfazed by the moms’ opinions, proving early on that mom input is largely irrelevant in Abby’s world.
Next, Abby’s favoritism starts to become glaringly obvious. Vivi-Anne gets a private lesson and is rewarded with a duet with Mackenzie. This is a significant moment as it’s our first time seeing Mackenzie really dance on the show. As Mackenzie and Vivi rehearse, Cathy Nesbitt-Stein makes her grand entrance into the moms’ viewing room, marking her official introduction to the Dance Moms universe.
Cathy’s arrival is anything but subtle. The moms are busy embellishing the “Electricity” costumes when Cathy breezes in, immediately inquiring if someone will be stoning her costumes, as she has a personal seamstress at her studio and doesn’t sew herself. The comment, dripping with condescension, earns her immediate eye-rolls and icy glares from the other moms. First impressions matter, Cathy, and this wasn’t a winner.
Later that night, Christi experiences a mini-meltdown. While the show might have portrayed it as a dramatic overreaction, it’s clear Christi was struggling with the sudden upheaval of their lives. Before Dance Moms, the girls weren’t at the studio for six hours daily, and the moms weren’t constantly present. This new reality, the intense schedule, and the constant filming, was overwhelming. Christi, feeling the pressure of this massive life transition, understandably cracks. It’s actually commendable that she chose to leave rather than escalate the situation, and wisely insisted Chloe stay for crucial practice before the competition.
Competition day arrives, and the team faces a four-hour bus ride from Pittsburgh to Lancaster. Cathy, apparently prone to motion sickness, looks green on the bus – much to Abby’s amusement, no doubt. Despite Cathy’s discomfort, the bus ride actually looks… fun? The girls seem to be enjoying themselves – chatting, watching movies, listening to music, and generally creating a chaotic, yet entertaining atmosphere. Even getting ready on the bus seems like a fun challenge.
Upon arrival, Maddie and Chloe are already prepped and ready for their solos. Chloe’s “Baby Mine” solo is genuinely captivating. Rewatching it, it’s clear how strong and emotionally resonant it is. Fun fact: The original music was “Ma, He’s Making Eyes At Me,” but was replaced in the show due to copyright. Maddie’s solo is, as expected, beautiful and technically impressive, highlighting her prodigious talent.
The show tries to manufacture drama by suggesting Abby favored Maddie after the solos, but the reality seems different. Abby praised both girls equally, though Maddie might have received a hug while Chloe got a correction. However, it’s plausible Chloe received a hug off-camera and Maddie a correction instead. Abby even states at the competition that they were “neck and neck.” During awards, Maddie wins Petite Miss Starquest. The show implies Chloe lost to Maddie, but forgets to mention age categories. Chloe actually won 1st place in the Junior division, but wasn’t entered for Junior Miss Starquest. Both girls were winners that day!
After the solo awards, Vivi and Mackenzie perform their duet. Cathy, in another insightful (and slightly shady) comment, remarks that Mackenzie isn’t “heads and shoulders above Vivi.” While Mackenzie is young, her talent is undeniable, and even at this age, she’s clearly very advanced. While Vivi might have been working her sass, Mackenzie was performing impressive acrobatic moves. Regardless, the duet, surprisingly, doesn’t place.
Finally, it’s time for the “Electricity” group dance. The episode hilariously juxtaposes the ALDC’s mature number with clips of other studios performing age-appropriate routines. During the dance, it’s noticeable that Chloe is center stage for a significant portion, suggesting she was initially the lead, despite Abby’s pyramid announcement that Maddie would be. It’s speculated that either Chloe and Maddie switched positions during the dance, or, more likely, for the second “pick-up” filming after the competition, they swapped their positions to create the narrative of Maddie being the lead. Either way, the dance doesn’t place, and Abby’s insightful critique is, “maybe the judges didn’t like you.” Classic Abby.
No Dance Moms episode is complete without a screaming match. The episode concludes with Holly and Christi confronting Abby about the inappropriate nature of the “Electricity” dance. They voice their concerns about the maturity level, but Abby, predictably, dismisses their opinions entirely. The confrontation ends with everyone frustrated and Abby dramatically claiming “verbal abuse.”
Overall, this episode gets a 2 out of 5 stars. While it’s packed with drama and introduces key storylines, the behind-the-scenes shadiness, particularly downplaying Chloe’s accomplishments and potentially manipulating the dance lead narrative, is a major drawback. Acknowledging Chloe’s 1st place win and her initial lead in “Electricity” would have been fairer and more representative of the actual events. Hiding a child’s achievements is never a good look, especially on a national platform.
The episode ends with a teaser about Brooke’s back issues worsening and a looming opportunity from Abby. Will Brooke prioritize her health or her dance career? And a tantalizing preview for the next episode’s group dance, promising a fan favorite routine.
What were your thoughts on the “Electricity” number? Were you Team Holly and Christi, or Team Melissa and Abby? Do you think Abby showed favoritism? And am I the only one who thinks that bus ride looked kind of fun? Let us know in the comments below!
