The latest episode of Dance Moms delivered its signature blend of fierce competition and intense drama, with Abby Lee Miller and Cathy Nesbitt-Stein reigniting their long-standing feud. This week, the rivalry centered around a ballroom dance-off, sparked by Abby’s boastful comments about her stint judging Dancing With The Stars. But amidst the familiar clashes, a new element was introduced: Gino, a young dancer partnered with Maddie Ziegler for a duet. Was Gino truly the “weak link,” as Abby suggested, or was there more to the story? Let’s break down all the drama from this week’s episode and delve into the Gino Dance Moms narrative.
Alt text: Dance instructor Abby Lee Miller reviews the performance pyramid with her young dance team members in the studio.
The episode opened with Abby’s characteristic dramatic flair, labeling the girls’ entrance into the studio as their “walk of shame.” Fresh off a victory, Abby had dismissed her new team, but Sarah, known for her mother’s dramatic antics and her own talent, was permitted to rejoin the original dancers. Abby’s message was clear: drama, and talent, were both valuable commodities. The pyramid rankings reflected Abby’s critiques from the previous competition. Chloe landed at the bottom due to poor turns, while Maddie followed for showing emotion publicly. Kendall was third from the bottom, and Nia was urged to work harder. MacKenzie secured the second spot, and Sarah claimed the coveted top position. Abby then revealed the week’s challenge: a competition in Ohio against their rivals, Cathy and the Candy Apples. The group dance, ominously titled “Broken Dolls,” seemed to mirror Abby’s view of her dancers. Adding another layer of complexity, Abby announced a duet called “I’ve Just Gotta Be Kissed” for Maddie, partnered with Cathy’s former student, Gino.
Alt text: Young dancers Maddie Ziegler and Gino Vanelli practice a ballroom dance routine for their duet in Abby Lee Dance Company.
As rehearsals for the group number commenced, the mothers voiced their frustration with Abby’s “sore loser” accusation. Christ-y, Sarah’s mother from the winning team, surprisingly sided with Abby, suggesting the girls were overly sensitive to the loss. Meanwhile, across state lines, Cathy unveiled her strategy to outsmart Abby. Anticipating Abby’s ballroom focus due to her Dancing With The Stars experience, Cathy enlisted Abby’s “dear friend” to choreograph for the Candy Apples, aiming to create a sophisticated ballroom piece.
The arrival of Gino and his father intensified the drama. Christ-y immediately felt threatened, fearing Gino would steal attention from Sarah. Abby, however, seemed more focused on scrutinizing Sarah, much to Christ-y’s dismay. Holly, ever the voice of reason, reminded Christ-y that Sarah was a guest, while Christi observed the irony of Christ-y’s attempts to gain Abby’s favor.
Alt text: The mothers of the Dance Moms cast watch their daughters’ dance practice from the studio’s viewing area.
Cathy’s strategy proved effective. She aimed to make her duet far more technically demanding than Abby’s. Abby, true to form, seemed more preoccupied with the storyline of Maddie’s first kiss than the choreography itself. Maddie, visibly uncomfortable, wished to postpone the kiss until the actual performance. The awkwardness between Maddie and Gino prompted Abby to demonstrate a kiss herself, much to Maddie’s embarrassment. Eventually, Maddie gave Gino a quick peck before fleeing the studio, highlighting the manufactured drama of reality television. Chloe, ever supportive, expressed excitement for Maddie, emphasizing the girls’ friendship over rivalry. Gino, meanwhile, was left bewildered, and Maddie humorously wished he was Zac Efron.
Gino’s father, sensing an opportunity, impressed Abby with his assertiveness, suggesting Gino as a permanent addition to the team. The mothers, excluding a skeptical Christ-y, were notably impressed. As the girls transitioned to the intricate group number choreography, Abby singled out Sarah for critique. Gino’s father, in conversation with Melissa, further fueled speculation about Gino joining the ALDC team. Christ-y, however, remained unconvinced, labeling Gino’s father a “deceiving charmer.”
Alt text: Dance instructor Cathy Nesbitt-Stein watches her Candy Apples team rehearse a dance routine.
Arriving in Cleveland for the competition, Abby was shocked to discover Cathy’s guest choreographer was someone she knew – a betrayal that fueled her anger. Cathy reveled in Abby’s panic, referring to Gino as the “rotten apple.” Observing Cathy’s duet rehearsal, Abby seethed with frustration. Even Melissa acknowledged the beauty and complexity of Cathy’s piece, realizing Maddie would be competing against formidable rivals. Maddie and Gino’s duet, while charming and entertaining, lacked the technical difficulty of Cathy’s. Abby, preemptively deflecting blame, declared Maddie perfect and hinted at Gino’s potential shortcomings should they lose.
The Candy Apples’ group performance, depicting a dramatic plane crash, impressed and worried the ALDC mothers. During the ALDC group performance, Chloe, despite delivering an amazing performance, slipped and fell. Displaying remarkable professionalism, she recovered instantly and continued dancing. Her teammates rushed to support her, and Melissa comforted Chloe, praising her resilience.
Despite Chloe’s fall, the ALDC group number secured first place. However, Cathy’s technically superior duet triumphed over Maddie and Gino’s. Cathy, frustrated by the group loss to a “silly doll number,” dismissed the ALDC victory. Abby, relieved Chloe’s fall hadn’t cost them the group win, promptly blamed Gino for Maddie’s duet loss, sending him home. The original mothers and girls expressed sadness at Gino’s departure, while Christ-y celebrated Sarah’s perceived victory. In a final dramatic exchange, Cathy attempted to glean information about Gino’s status from the ALDC mothers, ultimately resorting to a personal insult directed at Christi when her efforts failed.
So, was Gino the weak link? While Abby positioned him as such, the episode highlighted a more complex narrative. Gino was a newcomer thrust into the high-pressure world of Dance Moms, partnered with the star dancer, Maddie, in a duet designed more for drama than technical prowess. Cathy’s duet was undeniably more challenging, and blaming Gino seems like a classic Abby deflection tactic. The episode served its purpose: fueling the Abby vs. Cathy rivalry, creating drama around Maddie’s “first kiss,” and introducing a temporary character in Gino to stir the pot. Whether Gino was truly a “weak link” or simply a pawn in Abby’s game remains debatable, but one thing is certain: the drama on Dance Moms is always perfectly choreographed.
