This morning began like any other for Destiny, starting with getting ready for another intense day at Abby Lee Dance Company (ALDC). She chose a magenta cropped hoodie, proudly displaying the ALDC logo in gold, paired with black leggings and her black, white, and magenta Jordans. Her hair was pulled back in a ponytail, ready for a day of demanding rehearsals. Accompanied by her mom and sister, Destiny headed to the studio, anticipating what Abby had in store.
Upon arrival, the usual routine of dropping bags in the den and warming up in Studio B commenced. The familiar call of “girls let’s go” signaled Abby’s entrance. The dancers quickly assembled, rolling out the ramp for Abby and lining up, ready to face the day’s challenges.
“Well you all got your wish Brady’s gone,” Abby announced, her words hanging in the air. Destiny, along with the other girls, looked down, processing the news. The moms, Joanne and Stacey, voiced their opinions, clarifying that Brady’s departure wasn’t their wish, highlighting Abby’s decision to send him home.
Abby continued, explaining, “Brady has been a decoy, he draws the focus somewhere else, but Brady’s gone, so don’t rely on him to mask the mistakes and don’t rely on Destiny either.” The pressure was on. Moving swiftly on, Abby transitioned to the pyramid, the weekly ranking that always brought a mix of anticipation and anxiety.
The pyramid revealed the hierarchy: Destiny, GiaNina, Brady, Pressley, Savannah, Sarah, Hannah, and finally, Lilliana at the bottom. “On top of the pyramid with the highest scoring senior solo is Destiny,” Abby declared, prompting applause and a smile from Destiny.
However, the positive atmosphere was short-lived. Joanne challenged Abby, questioning the scoring and even producing score sheets, creating immediate tension. “This is ridiculous,” Destiny thought, observing the unfolding drama. Abby, in her characteristic manner, dismissed Joanne’s concerns, telling GiaNina, “Sweetheart take this home and frame it cause it’ll never happen again.” Joanne retorted confidently, “Oh yeah it will and I’ll bring it back to you.”
Abby chuckled, “No it’s not, it’s not gonna happen, you’re not gonna beat Brady and certainly will never beat Destiny.” Despite the harsh words directed at GiaNina, Abby moved on, announcing the upcoming competition in Sewell, New Jersey: “This weekend we are traveling to Fierce National Dance Competition.” The solos were assigned to Sarah, GiaNina, and Destiny, with Savannah getting an off-show solo.
Destiny learned about her solo: “Destiny your solo is entitled ‘Your The Reason’ and it means that maybe you are the reason many people dance and they want to be like you, like maybe people in this room, you’re the reason they dance and they want to be like you.” The moms exchanged knowing glances, seemingly skeptical of Abby’s praise.
The group dance was revealed to be “The Widows,” a piece portraying wives celebrating the loss of their husbands. A large coffin was brought in as a prop. Abby, inquiring about funeral experiences, explained the concept and the required acting, setting the scene for a dark and dramatic performance.
Initial run-throughs of “The Widows” showed promise, though some dancers struggled with the coffin. After a run, Abby provided extensive corrections, pushing for improvement. Later, Destiny focused on refining her solo, finding satisfaction in her routine.
During group practice, Abby emphasized the need for heightened acting, demanding audible crying. Another run followed, which Abby stopped to single out Lilliana for correction. Abby’s focus intensified on Lilliana, making her repeat sections alone and warning her about benching if mistakes occurred at the competition. Destiny couldn’t help but feel sympathy for Lilliana as Abby seemed to be unfairly targeting her. The pressure was mounting as competition day approached in two days.
