Last night’s episode of Dance Moms delivered the usual rollercoaster of emotions, showcasing the girls’ resilience against a backdrop of intense maternal drama and questionable coaching tactics. As always, the young dancers demonstrated remarkable talent and maturity, contrasting sharply with the often-petty behavior of the adults around them. This week, the spotlight intensified on issues of fairness and favoritism, particularly concerning young Chloe and the ever-present shadow of Abby Lee Miller’s preferences.
It’s pyramid time again, the weekly ritual that sets the tone for drama and hierarchy within the Abby Lee Dance Company (ALDC). Abby Lee Miller, despite acknowledging the team’s overall high scores, quickly shifted to individual critiques. Kendall found herself at the bottom, a harsh reminder of her still-provisional status in Abby’s eyes. Brooke joined her, not for her back spasms, but for what Abby perceived as a lack of courage to communicate her injury sooner. This immediately raises questions of empathy and understanding from Abby, setting a tone of blame rather than support. Paige completed the bottom tier, penalized for missing rehearsal due to a broken foot – an absence hardly within her control. This initial pyramid segment immediately highlights a recurring theme: Abby’s tendency to find fault and instill fear, often overlooking legitimate reasons and focusing on perceived weaknesses.
Image alt: Dance instructor Abby Lee Miller reviews the pyramid rankings with the Dance Moms cast, highlighting Kendall and Brooke at the bottom.
Moving to the middle of the pyramid, McKenzie was placed there for crying after Abby’s harsh words – a reaction seemingly punished rather than addressed with understanding. Maddie joined her in the middle, a somewhat unusual placement for Abby’s star pupil, while Chloe followed, her position attributed to a perceived lack of confidence. Finally, in a moment of genuine positivity, Nia claimed the top spot, celebrated for earning a standing ovation. This recognition, however, came with the daunting task of being team captain, requiring her to critique her peers – a heavy burden for a young girl and a potentially awkward dynamic within the team. The team’s destination was announced: Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, setting the stage for the week’s competition and further drama.
The group dance this week centered around Maddie, a concept that, while showcasing her talent, inadvertently fueled the existing competitive tension. The dance depicted the other girls’ aspirations to reach Maddie’s level, and the subsequent frustration leading them to “pull her down.” While Abby may not have explicitly intended to create division, the choreography itself played into the existing narrative of Maddie’s elevated status and the other girls’ struggle to compete. Meanwhile, Jill’s and Kendall‘s precarious position was further emphasized. Abby publicly reprimanded Kendall, reiterating her “guest” status and demanding she “earn her spot.” This public dressing down, particularly in front of the other dancers, highlights Abby’s often-cruel methods and the immense pressure placed on these young performers.
Image alt: Maddie Ziegler takes center stage in the Dance Moms group performance as the other dancers encircle her, depicting the theme of aspiration and competition within the team.
Adding fuel to the fire, the mothers’ drama escalated. Melissa faced criticism regarding Maddie’s dance skills as the other moms, led by Christi, voiced their opinions. Christi’s outburst, delivered within earshot of all the children, underscored the mothers’ tendency to engage in conflict without considering the impact on their daughters. The situation exploded when Christi accused Melissa of an affair, prompting Melissa to storm out in tears, followed by a distraught McKenzie. This level of personal attack and public confrontation among the mothers creates a toxic environment, directly contrasting with the supportive relationships the young dancers often display amongst themselves.
At the next rehearsal, Jill, ever opportunistic, saw Melissa’s absence as a chance for Kendall to gain ground. This highlights the mothers’ competitive drive extending beyond their daughters’ achievements to vying for Abby’s favor and perceived opportunities within the ALDC. Simultaneously, Candy Apple Cathy made her grand entrance, announcing her team’s participation in the Myrtle Beach competition. Cathy’s characteristic theatrics and boasts about her “hot” group dance and “private choreographers” immediately amplified the competitive stakes and Abby’s already volatile temper. Cathy’s dancers’ aggressive table slamming further emphasized the rivalry and Cathy’s confrontational style.
Image alt: Cathy Nesbitt-Stein and her Candy Apples dance team strike a confident pose, ready to challenge Abby Lee Miller’s ALDC at the Myrtle Beach competition.
Abby, predictably, was furious about Maddie and McKenzie’s absence and Cathy’s presence. Kelly suggested Melissa was avoiding confrontation, further fueling the negative narrative around Melissa’s departure. Dance captain Nia, placed in an uncomfortable position, was tasked with calling Maddie. Maddie revealed her mother’s refusal to bring her back, highlighting the immense pressure and conflict within the Ziegler household. Melissa eventually relented, dropping off her daughters but avoiding the studio herself – a compromise that spoke volumes about the toxic atmosphere fostered by the show’s dynamics.
Abby’s focus then shifted to Cathy’s “ringer” dancer, determined that Maddie could defeat him. When Abby confronted Melissa about her absence, Maddie being offered a solo the night before the competition became a point of contention. Melissa, concerned about the pressure, declined. This decision sparked outrage from Christi, who questioned why Maddie would be rewarded with a solo when Chloe had been consistently present and working hard. In a twist, Chloe was then given a solo to compete against Cathy’s star dancer, Justice. This set up a direct confrontation, placing immense pressure on Chloe to not only perform well but to also prove her worth against a competitor positioned as a significant threat. The mothers’ bickering continued relentlessly, their “Mean Girls” behavior overshadowing the young dancers’ dedication and hard work.
McKenzie and Kendall prepared their duet, with Abby expressing concern about their chances against the Candy Apples. Abby then attempted to persuade Maddie to do a solo behind Melissa’s back, demonstrating a manipulative approach and disregard for parental boundaries. Maddie, despite her loyalty to Abby, sided with her mother, further infuriating Abby. Abby then laid the blame for any potential loss at the Candy Apples’ hands squarely on Maddie and Melissa, showcasing a pattern of deflecting responsibility and creating scapegoats.
Arriving in Myrtle Beach, Abby immediately sought intel from Jill about the Candy Apples, exploiting Jill’s recent defection for competitive advantage. Cathy’s “guest star” performing with Justice, revealed to be a non-studio member, was deemed “dirty” by Abby, highlighting the intense and often personal nature of the competition. Chloe was the first to compete against Justice. While Chloe delivered a beautiful performance, Justice’s routine, described as reminiscent of “Lord of the Flies” and strangely disconnected from the music, was nonetheless impressive in its own way. Despite this, in the dressing room, Abby entertained the idea that Chloe could beat Justice, but immediately pivoted back to how Maddie’s solo would have provided two chances to defeat him, revealing her unwavering focus on Maddie and minimizing Chloe’s efforts.
Image alt: Chloe Lukasiak executes a graceful dance solo during the Dance Moms competition, showcasing her technique and artistry.
Maddie shone in the group dance, solidifying her star status. The Candy Apples’ group performance suffered a setback when Cathy stopped the music due to a missing prop, leading to an embarrassing restart. The Candy Apples’ costumes were also criticized as inappropriate for their age, raising further questions about Cathy’s judgment and priorities.
In the junior solo awards, Chloe lost to Justice by a mere tenth of a point. Abby’s immediate reaction was to attribute the loss to judges favoring male dancers, deflecting from any potential critique of Chloe’s performance and reinforcing her biased perspective. Christi anticipated Chloe facing Abby’s wrath, a sadly predictable outcome. The Candy Apples’ “burlesque number” placed third in the group category, while Abby’s troupe took first place. Despite the group win, Abby fixated on Chloe’s second-place solo, lamenting the missed “clean sweep” and directly blaming Chloe for it. Instead of congratulating Chloe, Abby questioned Maddie if she now understood why she should have done a solo, further highlighting her favoritism and lack of empathy. This callous remark understandably brought both Maddie and Chloe to tears, best friends caught in the crossfire of Abby’s relentless pursuit of victory and blatant favoritism. Abby then made a sexist remark about being beaten by boys, further revealing her prejudiced and unprofessional attitude.
McKenzie and Kendall’s duet, initially dismissed by Abby, surprisingly triumphed over Justice and his partner. Despite her prior doubts, Abby would undoubtedly take credit for their win, showcasing her consistent pattern of claiming success while deflecting blame. Kendall and Jill’s position within the troupe seemed more secure after this win. While Abby didn’t achieve her coveted clean sweep, she still secured a victory. The episode concluded with a confrontation between Abby and Cathy, joined by Melissa, ensuring the drama would continue.
Next week’s preview hinted at hip hop challenges for the girls and even more drama among the mothers, promising another episode filled with tension and conflict.
In conclusion, this episode of Dance Moms vividly illustrates the toxic dynamics fostered by Abby Lee Miller’s coaching style and the mothers’ competitive behaviors. “Justice” for Chloe, and arguably for several of the dancers, was certainly denied as Abby’s favoritism and relentless pursuit of victory overshadowed fair assessment and positive reinforcement. The episode leaves viewers questioning the ethics of such a competitive environment for young dancers and pondering the long-term impact of this “dance mom” culture.
TELL US-WHAT DID YOU THINK OF LAST NIGHT’S EPISODE? DOES ABBY NEED TO GET OVER HER BEEF WITH THE CANDY APPLES?
