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Monday, October 3, 2011
11:00 am
46 Comments
Hiya Gasmi! Did you miss Dance Moms last week? I’m not sure what the point was to skip a week, but I’m not going to complain about it. As always, there is lots and lots to talk about with this bunch, so I guess we should jump right in!
After a quick review of what happened last time (Cathy tried to show up Jabby and failed miserably, Kelly bitched and moaned, and Melissa worked out more financing for her girls with her boyfriend), we are ready to get down to it.
The gang arrives in Lake Tahoe for the Nationals of Starbound. You guys might remember that Starbound was the regional competition held in Voorhees (you know, right outside of New York, according to Jabby). Jabby tells us it all comes down to this; there’s no more next weeks and her girls have GOT to WIN.
As opposed to every other week when they HAVE to WIN
We get it, Jabby, winning is everything.
She tells the girls this week will be tough because they have to learn a new group routine, and this one has props. I love how she always sets them up for success, don’t you? But before we get to that, Jabby wants to reflect a little bit on the past two weeks. Oh goody!
Try to contain yourselves, ladies
She says she keeps telling them that they have been given an amazing opportunity; they been hand selected to go across the country and do these competitions, but they are not stepping up to the plate. She wants to see energy, enthusiasm, fun.
Does this work for you?
If they don’t want to do it, there’s probably a hundred other kids that would love to be here getting belittled and yelled at by a giant woman right now. She gives them the whole shpiel again about it being her reputation on the line, but then throws in there that it’s their names and reputations too.
Of course, mine is more important…..
Pyramid time.
This time around Paige is at the bottom of the pyramid. Yeah, I’m not surprised given what happened last time with Kelly and the choreographer and all that. As usual, Mackenzie is also close to bottom, and she’s followed by Nia. Chloe is next from the bottom, then Brooke, and our pyramid is topped with (who else?) Maddie.
It’s nice to be on top
Maddie will be doing a solo, and she’ll also be dancing a duet with Chloe. Chloe will also be doing her solo, Paige and Brooke will be dancing a duet, and so will Nia and Mackenzie. All the girls, including Mackenzie, will be performing in the group routine. Yeah right, I predict that Mackenzie will be on stage for that performance about 10% of the total time. She’s in it to bring down the average age. Mark my words.
Can’t I just go play like I normally do?
Mackenzie tells us she’s a little scared to be in the group number because she doesn’t want to mess up. I don’t blame her, after all, she gets to hear Jabby belittling everyone week after week, poor kid just wants to go have some fun.
They start rehearsals and Jabby tells them the group piece is called “Beautiful”. It’s about beauty that’s within and taking a good look in the mirror, not at what you see, but, like, the internal mirror.
We have mirrors inside us?
The props for this number are hand held mirrors that the girls dance with. Hey, at least they’re not giant square lollipops! I think these girls can handle any props after those monstrosities. Well, maybe not Maddie since she didn’t actually have to perform lugging around said giant square lollipop…..
The moms head outside for some fresh air. The message Christi took away from Jabby’s little speech was that everyone sucked. Melissa thinks they did great. Of course she does. But enough talking about the kids, Melissa has news for them. Christi asks if she’s pregnant. HA! Isn’t it funny how moms always go there? She’s not preggers, she is leaving to go on vacation with her boyfriend!!
Girl……..I hope you packed new knee pads!
This time she’ll be leaving the girls with Gia. Christi can’t believe that Melissa is leaving again, and honestly, neither can I. Then again, who am I to judge? Dance classes are super expensive and apparently Melissa has to work hard for that money. I’m sure Maddie and Mackenzie TOTALLY understand, right?
Jabby pokes her heads out to tell them she needs them in there. In fact, she needs them to be in observing rehearsal the whole entire time. Why? I don’t get that. Although it does quash my comment about the ladies leaving and not spending all THEIR time at the studio if Jabby is actually requiring them to be there.
Anyway, Jabby is ready to rehearse Chloe’s solo. While the rehearsal is going on, Christi notices that something is off about Chloe; she’s not her normal self. Christi can see that something is wrong.
I think the tears may be a little bit of a giveaway.
Chloe and her mom sit together and Chloe says she’s tired of dancing. Poor kid. She’s exhausted. Chloe tells us that even though she loves dance, sometimes she doesn’t WANT to dance. I think given the schedule they’ve been keeping this is completely understandable. She’s nine for crying out loud!
Christi has interpreted this as Chloe telling her she doesn’t want to dance anymore and tells us that is very hard for her to hear because she thinks Chloe is extremely talented. I think she’s jumping to the extreme (I know, so uncharacteristic of her) when what Chloe really needs and means is that she wants a BREAK from dance. I don’t see Chloe as a kid that wants to quit dance altogether.
The next day Jabby decides to call the moms together in a room without their kids for what she calls a non-combative conversation. And then she proceeds to insult them and/or their children.
How do your kids suck? Let us count the ways……
She tells Holly that Nia needs to work on her feet and talking to her is like talking to a brick wall. Holly thinks Jabby uses poor word choices and tells Jabby that. Jabby doesn’t care what Holly has to say and thinks she wants special treatment for Nia.
Moving on to Chloe; Jabby says she still needs to work on her self-confidence; she is still second guessing herself. Christi says that’s just how Chloe is and acknowledges that they do need to work on that. Wow, that actually went better than I thought it would.
Next Jabby tells Kelly she was disappointed in Brooke in the group routines. She’s thirteen and should be picking up the choreography quicker than she is. She tells Kelly her kids are slow, they don’t pick up quick and Kelly counters that she should go through it step by step with them. She says her kids are not trying to be Maddie and Chloe, and Jabby wonders why she wants her kids to be mediocre.
Because I love their mediocre asses for who they are!
Kelly doesn’t care if her kids are number one, she loves them. Period. End of story.
Does not compute
She thinks Kelly should invest in them like this is their future; she thinks they’re talented and Kelly should push them to do better. Kelly thinks it’s too much; she doesn’t want her kids to have a mental breakdown because Jabby wants them to be the best. She points out that Kelly’s kid just won another title. Kelly tells Jabby she can have the crown back. She will think about it.
Take the crown and shove it up your ass!
LOLOL!! I love when Kelly gets all crazy. At least this time the kids aren’t all sitting around watching her lose it, right? Jabby tells her to go.
I guess that’s the end of the meeting. Funny how Melissa doesn’t get any critique for Maddie, huh?
It’s now three days to competition and the girls are rehearsing the group number again. Chloe seems to be getting a lot of critique at this rehearsal and Jabby tells us she doesn’t know what is going on with her. She thinks Chloe hasn’t been rehearsing or performing with any enthusiasm or energy. She says Chloe needs to pull it together; there’s no more time for woe is me.
From group rehearsals we go next to Maddie and Chloe’s duet rehearsal. They will be dancing a Black Swan duet with Maddie as the white swan and Chloe as the black swan. I actually think that is perfect casting, and not because I think Chloe is evil; I think she can probably pull that off acting-wise better than Maddie.
The next day Jabby is taking the girls out on a field trip to the lake without the moms. She says the girls really need it, but I think she wants to get away from the moms as well. But before they leave, Christi wants to have a word with her.
Again??????
Christi tells her that Chloe has said she doesn’t want to dance anymore. Jabby looks like she doesn’t believe that and Christi tells her she is serious. Okay, but she has a whole group of kids here so she doesn’t have time for this right now. Christi just wants to make sure Jabby is aware of what’s going on with her daughter.
Jabby says that’s fine, if after they get back Chloe wants to quit, that’s fine. She has a whole list of people ready to take her spot.
Are you fucking kidding me?!?
It’s funny how Jabby always goes to that old standby the minute she perceives any sort of criticism, isn’t it? Jabby says everyone is replaceable. The problem is, I don’t think she counts herself in that everyone she is talking about.
Off they go on their trip. The scenery is beautiful and Jabby says she wanted to get them out of the studio for a little while They don’t really get away from dance because she uses the time to do some stretching with them and talks to them about beauty. She wants their surroundings to help provide some inspiration for the group number they are working on this week.
While the other girls relax, Jabby pulls Chloe over to the side to have a little conversation with her. She tells Chloe that her mom mentioned that she was thinking about quitting. Chloe tells Jabby she just thinks it’s a lot of rehearsal going from early in the morning until late at night, and she just feels like it’s a lot.
Jabby says that Christi thinks Chloe doesn’t want to ever dance again. Not the case, Chloe say, she just thinks she needs a break. I knew it! The kid is just exhausted and worn out. Jabby says it’s okay, everyone needs a break once in a while and instead of leaving it at that she ruins it by telling Chloe that she is totally replaceable. COME ON!!
I will support and berate you at the same time!
She does tell Chloe that she thinks the kids is born to dance which obviously means a lot to Chloe. She asks Jabby if she thinks Chloe could be on Broadway or be a rockette someday. Absolutely. But she really needs to work on her confidence level. You know, Jabby drives me crazy, but I do like these moments when you can tell she really does believe in these kids. I just wish she would show it more and not be on the attack the minute someone criticizes her.
The break from the studio continues and the moms and kids head over to a bowling alley to have a little fun. Kelly is happy to get herself and her kids away from Jabby for a little while. Melissa’s happy to go out and have a little fun with the kids since she is leaving tomorrow for her vacation.
Melissa’s happy mood isn’t going to last long because in strolls her ex-husband, Kurt. He has heard from a little birdie about Melissa’s plans to go off and leave her kids with one of the dance teachers. He asks her why she didn’t tell him she was going on vacation and she says she did. She DID tell him, he just doesn’t listen to her!
What?
They go back and forth arguing about whether or not Melissa told him and really Melissa doesn’t know what the big deal is anyway. Melissa doesn’t appreciate him checking up on her. Kurt tells us that dance had a lot to do with the breakup of his family. He’s their dad and he has a right to know who’s watching his kids. He tells us he’s not going; he’s staying here to be with his kids. I’m sure Jabby will LOVE that!
It’s now the day before competition. Kelly is excited that her kids are doing a duet together until Jabby sends them into the other room to work with a guest choreographer while Jabby and Gianna stay in the main room and work with Maddie on her solo. She wants to know why there are two teachers in with Maddie. This is why Maddie wins and her kids don’t, she says.
Ummmmmm……..I’m just gonna pretend I’m deaf.
Of course Kelly doesn’t just say her peace once; she repeats her complaint over and over, getting louder and louder every time. Jabby can hear her in the other room. You know that this is not going to end well, right? The two of them begin to yell at each other through the door separating the studio. Yeah, that’s great to be yelling about all this in front of the kids. What the hell?!?!
Jabby finally has had enough and tells Kelly to come into the studio where she is. Jabby says she has no problem with Gianna teaching the girls, but they’re going to have to wait. Kelly doesn’t think that the TWO of them need to be in here with Maddie, but because Maddie is the priority OF COURSE her kids are going to be short changed.
Does she know I’m standing right here?
As she walks away, Kelly yells out to Maddie that she can go ahead and win. WOW. That was uncalled for. No matter how annoyed she is she certainly shouldn’t be lashing out a KID. So not cool.
Kelly pulls what has become her signature move and stops rehearsals with her kids. She’s done with it and doesn’t care if they ever dance again. She’s leaving. Again, the frustration is understandable, but the way Kelly handles it is ridiculous. The only people she is hurting by stomping out of rehearsal is HER KIDS. Now they’re not working on the dance at all. Is she pulling the number again? AHHHHH! I don’t get her.
Competition day has arrived and Christi says she thinks they are all feeling the pressure. After all, Jabby is not used to having losing numbers and they don’t want to be the ones to tarnish the name of the studio. They are going to bring it.
Kurt arrives and comes into the dressing room to see his girls. Maddie goes over to give him a hug and he asks her if she’s going to win again. She says she doesn’t know and he tells her not to worry about anyone else; just be herself. He’s trying hard to give her the encouragement she would normally get from Melissa, but let’s face it; if you’re used to your mom always being the one there it can be a little awkward when your dad tries to step in. And that’s without the whole divorce thing added in as well.
Okay, you can go now.
She says her dad makes her nervous. He freaks her out sometimes because it’s not the same as having her mom there. Christi gives her a little “mom hug” before they perform since her mommy isn’t there. It’s funny, Christi drives me nuts sometimes, but it’s these moments that she shows she does care more about the kids than them winning all the time.
She tells us that she thinks the comparison between Chloe and Maddie is really wearing on Chloe and it’s not fair. Chloe is a completely different person than Maddie and she should be treated as such.
Maddie goes out to do her solo and does a great job as usual. Kurt tells us he loves watching her dance and she amazes him every time he sees her. Then it’s Chloe’s turn. Maddie gives her a big hug backstage and then she heads out to perform.
Poor Chloe chokes during the solo. She forgets a part and then panics and instead of making something up and continuing, she freezes like a deer in the headlights. Oh man.
She is breaking my heart
Christi says she just wanted to run up there and grab her and give her a hug and get her offstage. Me too, Christi. Meanwhile, Jabby looks on with a look of disgust. She tells us she was surprised by Chloe; she knows what it looks like when someone forgets their dance, she knows how awful that is. She doesn’t understand why Chloe didn’t just make something up and get off the stage.
Backstage Chloe is crying and Maddie is hugging her and saying she’s going to make her cry. Aww, that was sweet. Christi hurries backstage and sweeps Chloe up into her arms for a giant hug. She tells her she was beautiful, and that’s it okay. These are the moments that I really REALLY like Christi.
At solo awards, Maddie wins. It doesn’t look like Chloe places which isn’t a surprise given the freeze. Kurt is proud of her and he hopes she can continue her success without it going to her head. Maddie is happy to have won another crown; she has nine now. They don’t all fit on her shelf so she’s going to ask her mom for a new one.
Back in the dressing room, Christi tells Chloe again that she couldn’t be prouder of her even if she had the world’s biggest crown.
More of this please, Christi
Time for the duets. Kelly is still annoyed about how the whole thing went down with her girls so she goes backstage with them. Their dance is sloppy and their timing is all over the place. Jabby blames it on the fact that they left rehearsal yesterday, and I have to agree with her on that one.
Chloe and Maddie are next and Chloe is really hoping to well on this one especially because of the mess up with her solo. They really do really well, particularly Chloe. She really sold it. Even Jabby comments on how gorgeous Chloe was in this number. She thinks this was Chloe’s opportunity to redeem herself in front of this panel of judges, and she did just that.
See? My kids would do great as well if Jabby worked with them!!
Again, I understand her frustration, but I do think she needs to shoulder SOME of the blame for them being unprepared. At least this time around.
Brooke and Paige end up placing fifth for their duet, and Maddie and Chloe get first. I’m surprised we didn’t see Kelly’s gray matter exploded all over the place. You know she was PISSED.
They get ready backstage for the group number. Jabby gives them a pep talk which includes telling them not to freak out if their boob pops out of the top. After all, the judges have seen it all. Kurt pops into the dressing room again and Jabby stops him at the door this time, making him leave the room.
She pulls him out to the hallway and tells him she doesn’t want him near his daughter. She’s told him before; this is not the place or the time. I think this is one of those situations again where she is actually not doing a bad thing but the way she says it is WRONG. If Kurt makes his kid that nervous, he should probably wait until she’s done performing to see her, but Jabby needs some serious lessons in how to talk to people.
Whatever
I think it’s hilarious when she says Kurt is rude to other people. That’s the pot calling the kettle black, isn’t it? As you can imagine, he doesn’t take kindly to getting kicked out of the room and the conversation gets heated between them. The he says Jabby knows just what dance has done to him and his family and she says that doesn’t force Melissa to be at the studio; she’s there because she wants to be there.
Meanwhile…..
Why is no one pulling her away from that door?
There are plenty of adults in that room, did no one think it was a really bad idea for Maddie to be eavesdropping on her dad and Jabby?
He tells Jabby that he is going to do everything in his power to get his kids out of that studio. I don’t think she’s too worried about that; she knows Melissa’s not pulling her kids out of that place.
The girls get ready to perform their group number and Jabby wants them to WIN. She doesn’t want to place; only winning the whole thing will be good enough. This performance is definitely not their best; they have some timing issues that make the routine look a little sloppy, and Jabby thinks they were more like six soloists up there than a cohesive group.
At awards the emcee says that just a single point separates second and first place. And Jabby’s girls take the top prize!
Jabby is happy and proud of the girls. She says no one will ever forget the name Jabby Lee Dance Company. Uh, Jabby? I don’t think that’s because of this routine.
Backstage they do some cheer about how awesome they are and they just won, and then Kurt pops us to tell us again that he’s going to be trying super hard to get his kids out of there. Inside the dressing room, Jabby tells the girls she has a surprise; they are going back to L.A. She doesn’t tell the moms why; she only says she has a surprise for the girls. Yipee.
And there you go, Gasmi. What did you think of this week’s show? Did anyone else think that this one was the season finale? I sure did. Next week, they audition for a music video, but there can only be one star. Looks like Melissa will be breaking out those knee pads again!
Thanks so much for all your well wishes on the last recap. You guys are AWESOME. Can’t wait to hear what you thought about this one!
SWAK, PottyMouth
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46 Comments
I think what was obvious from the way Maddie interacts with her dad is that Melissa is probably using her as a girlfirend, bitching to an 8-yr-old about what an a-hole her dad is, so that Maddie feels guilty if she’s even nice to her dad or loves him. I totally believed him that Melissa’s obsession with Maddie dancing 24/7 helped ruin the family. I hope he makes good on his threat to get the girls away from Jabby. I was glad to see that, even after she won, her dad still thought Jabby was a bad influence on his kids.
“Looks like Melissa will be breaking out those knee pads again..” bahahahah…If she had gotten as much use out of those things with Kurt as she is now, I don’t think he would have cared how much time she spent at the studio!!
When Chloe asked Jabby if she really thought she could make it on Braodway…I knew Jabby would say something to hurt her feeling, she didn’t and I swear I watched Chloe float. I wanted to jump through my TV and time to snatch Chloe up, her face was an open book of emotions:(. I enjoyed the duet with Maddie(my brother called her Toofy) and Chloe, Chloe truly shined.
So Chloe, Nia, and Kenzie placed first for their pieces last week and Maddie got second yet she’s at the top of the pyramid and the other three are at the bottom? WTF?
Thank you for pointing that out kittkatt!!!!! Wasn’t last week that Maddie didn’t have a solo or was that the week she took second place(I watch way too much tv to keep up)
Another great recap! Anyone else starting to feel kinda sick to their stomach thinking about Jabby and her obsession with Maddy? Especially since she keeps making this kid perform all these pieces about abuse and neglect. SUPER CREEPY. I also am happy to see Christi stepping up for Chloe. That kid needed a hug from her mom more than anything and she was there for her in a way that the other moms dont seem to be. Next week a shot to be in a music video in LA! Wow, I’m guessing Maddie will star, Chloe and possibly Brooke will have like 2 seconds of airtime and the rest of the girls will be filler. Unless of course Mia rocks that death drop again
The moms are all pretty lousy excuses for parents, but their biggest offense is simply allowing their kids to be demeaned and insulted by that giant tub of self-loathing. What really gets me about this show is the kids. They’re all so sweet and quiet and obedient. Even the 13-year-old only stands up for herself in a respectful manner, and then caves in to whatever her mom wants anyway.
I hate the way Jabby talks to those kids and I hate the way she does everything in her power to try and make every other mom hate Maddie, and then yells at them for being petty and hating a little kid. I think Maddie is cute as hell and she seems like a nice kid. Most kids her age put in that situation would turn into snotty little diva bitches, but you never see her being snitty or rude or conceited towards the other girls. I guess it could just be editing, but she seems like a great kid.
I have questions: In light if Maddie’s teef situation,are there special knee pads that appeal to orthodontists? When do these girls go to school, slumber parties, have normal lives? Does Jabby really think she is irreplaceable, especially after the viewing public has seen the abuse she heaps on her dancers? Does anyone else think that Jabby is intimidated by Holly’s education? Why do these mothers leave their daughters in such an abusive atmosphere? And finally, were these the nationals Jabby? THE NATIONALS??? Are there more Nationals this year for some reason? If not, how do the mothers explain to their daughters that it is permissible to exaggerate or lie for a television show? A show that purports to be real?
I need to quit watching this. It is one thing to watch and laugh at delusional adult famewhores like Jabby, but I hate watching children put down and hurt. it brings out my protective instincts and just kills me. There are obviously wonderful, supportive dance studios run by talented teachers. Wish I could see them!
Did anyone else notice how when Kurt came into the dressing room the first time, he hugged Maddie & then when Maddie pulled away he hugged MacKenzie? Then, Maddie steps back up, and I thought, “Oh… Sweet! Group Hug!” but then it looked like Maddie was trying to pull MacKenzie away from their Dad. Either Melissa has been working overtime to demonize this guy or there is more going on here than meets the lens. Creepy either way!
She is her Mother’s toothy little minion
I honestly thought that Christy brought up the whole “Chloe doesn’t want to dance anymore” right before the trip not to threaten Jabby, but to get Jabby to talk to Chloe about it. But I don’t think Jabby gets subtlety. Actually, come to think of it, I’m not sure Christy gets subtlety either, so maybe I’m wrong.
Chickenlips I agree and Chloe got what she needed from Flabby:-)
Great recap, did anyone notice MacKenzie’s awesome comment about Jabby on their trip to the lake?
“Sometimes I don’t think Jabby has any idea what shes talking about”
Love that kid!
As much as I never thought I would defend Abby, I think that everyone has really missed the point of what she was saying to Chloe. I don’t think she was telling her that she was replaceable, I think she was saying “I have so much faith in you, that despite the fact there are a lot of great dancers who would like the opportunity you have, I chose you. I have faith in you.” She doesn’t know how to phrase things, but if you watch again she actually says “just remember, I have a whole long list of people who want to be in this group, who want to do duets with Maddie. You’re my first choice. And I think you were really born to dance.” I really don’t think it was meant in a threatening way, as in “if you don’t commit more I will replace you” but more in a “you are the best and I want you to succeed.”
Can’t wait for this show to reach us. I looked up Jabby’s website and could not find her qualifications anywhere on it. Does anyone know what they are? Also what is it with learning the new routines in what looks to me like a few days before the competitions? We are teaching new routines now for next year. It seems to me that you are setting the kids up to fail that way.
Plucked right of the Lifetime site:
“Originally from Pittsburgh, Abby got her love for dance from her mother, Maryen Lorrian Miller, who is a 50-year member of Dance Masters of America. Maryen owned seven dance studios in Miami, Florida, prior to marrying George L. Miller of Pittsburgh and giving birth to Abby. Maryen taught classes all over the city before opening her main studio in Penn Hills. Abby took classes at her mother’s studio throughout her formative years. After traveling with her mother to several national dance conventions, she was inspired and captivated by the newest “dance craze” competitions! At just 14 years old, she started the Abby Lee Dance Company. In 1980, she opened her own dance studio and estimates she has taught 3,000 to 4,000 students throughout her career. Now known for her incredible dedication, discipline and passion, Abby is one of the most sought-after dance teachers in Pittsburgh, as she has turned out numerous professional dance stars.”
Her credentials seem to be “took dance from a pro”. But don’t the choreographers do most of the work anyway?
Anyway, I really wish people would stop demonizing Maddie. The poor kid is NOT making herself Abby Lee’s diva darling; Abby Lee is doing that herself, and possibly upon urging from the producers. When I saw those two girls in the scenes behind the curtain they were loving and supportive. I didn’t see hate or snobbery of any sort. They seem to like each other, despite their moms. And after seeing how Maddie treated her dad it made me dislike Melissa the mom wh*re all that much more. You KNOW she was responsible for that.
P.S. Does anyone ever think that Abby might have problems stemming from her childhood? Maybe some of her conversations with her mom went something like this:
Five-year-old Abby: Mom, do you think I could become a world-famous dancer some day?
Mom: Sure Abby, you can do anything you set your mind to because you are special and you are capable. But do you think you should hold your feet like that? Honestly, you look like a buffalo ready to attack.
14-year-old (and 100-pound) Abby: Mom, do you think I could open my own dance studio and teach other kids how do dance as beautifully and as gracefully as I do?
MOM: Sure Abby. I believe you will be a great success with whatever you do in your life. I say go for it sweetie and always know you are the best. But slow down on the Big Macs; you just ate a whole sandwich. For pity’s sake, do you want to be a 350-pound dance teacher when you get older?
Jabby is going to be on the Today Show in a few minutes.
Aw man, I missed the Today show today. I’d love to see Jabby get interviewed. I’m sure if Matt asked her any questions that were the least bit critical, she freaked out. She can NOT take any kind of criticism, and I’m sure it’s from her childhood. I can imagine that her mother spent years berating Jabby and trying to make her an award winning dancer, and it just didn’t work.
I don’t think we can judge Melissa for the fact that Maddie’s dad makes her nervous – how do you all know what kind of person he is? No one can say that he’s totally innocent and the divorce was Melissa’s fault. Who knows what went on?
I think Christi is a good mother – they made her look crazy early on, but she clearly loves Chloe. Kelly is the nuttiest one if you ask me. And how could she keep yelling when Maddie was standing there. Gimme a break and grow up. I agree with the point she was making but just approach Jabby calmly and discuss it.
Can’t wait to see this music video!
Christi redeemed herself in full this episode: good for her for knowing that performing like that is NOT EASY and that Chloe needed her support.
Despite Jabby’s few good moments, it’s clear that overall she just doesn’t get it and really doesn’t care near as much about the girls as she does about winning. I’d say she proves the old saying “those who can do and those who can’t teach,” except that she’s no great shakes as a teacher, either. The kids win, but at what cost? If Jabby keeps up her act, she’ll crush their self-esteem and make them hate dance.
In the Jabby/Kurt battle, I have to say I’m on Kurt’s side. We’ll never know the whole story, obviously, and he was making Maddie nervous, but he was there, trying to be supportive: he gets points for that. (Where are all the other dads, BTW?) I was shocked at Melissa: she’s going away for ANOTHER vacation with her boyfriend/sugar daddy and leaves her children not with their father, but with a dance teacher. Unless Kurt is some kind of monster, that’s nuts. It really seems that she’s trying to keep his kids from him, probably so he doesn’t interfere with the stardom she wants for them. Now THAT’S creepy.
Merry, right, where are the other dads?? And how can these moms just take weeks of vacation to go to all these special competitions? And what about the other kids? Doesn’t Christi have a really young baby? Who is taking care of the other children?? That’s why I think McKenzie is in this group, so Melissa can take both her children with her. It’s obvious she’s not at the same dance level (since she’s only 6!) as the others in this group – especially when there is a “long list of kids wanting to be here!” heh. Although Potty is probably right, she brings down the age group. I did see her on the stage for a bit during the routine, but then left half-way through it..
I really hate the way Abby is with these kids. I don’t think she cares a heap about them. I think if it would mean perfection and winning, she’d prefer to have dancing robots, instead of kids. Ugh, and her so-called “teaching skills.” I loved when Holly called her out on it, saying “try harder” means nothing to a kid. And Abby had the nerve to say you can’t compare her teaching skills with Holly – who I’m sure has multiple degrees in education!
I am, however, very impressed with these girls and how well they handle all this crap that Abby and their moms throw at them. Despite how much the heated competition between Maddie and Chloe is made out to be, those girls are really supportive of each other! They were so sweet backstage together.
Oh, and I really wanted to see the other duets!
Here’s the Today show clip:
http://theclicker.today.com/_news/2011/10/04/8145257-dance-moms-defend-their-methods
None of them were too snarky, which is completely surprising!
Most of the dads are probably working to pay for the dancing & travel. Christi is married, so Clara (the 2-yr-old) is probably getting some dad time at home. I don’t remember if Kelly was married or had other kids, nor Holly. I think you’re right about Jabby putting Mackenzie in this group to accomodate Melissa.
There probably are a lot of other kids willing to be in that group…just not a lot of other parents willing to put them on TV!
Well to answer the question where the dads might be…Bre is right, someone has to pay for it all. But from personal experience (my daughter dances competitively) I can tell you that my husband will go to the first competition and then skip the rest. I am running back and forth getting her ready for the next number depending on how many there are and the poor guy is sitting there for hours on end, half the time without me. It is my experience that most of the dads don’t go. If you have other kids it’s alot to ask them to sit there for sometimes up to 8 hours depending how many sessions they are in. No, not many dads at the competitions lol.
Sahara, these special competitions don’t happen as often as you think and you only travel for nationals. They are doing this strictly for the show. There is a “season” for this kind of thing. You prepare, competition season comes and then its over. Rest, repeat….
Oh and Crabby, Kurt can go to court show the tapes from the show and show what a detriment it is to his girls (dancing 6-7 days a week, not home until almost midnight, constantly taken out of school) and have them removed or the hours cut down.
Love your recaps, I will miss them when this train wreck is over!
When Chloe was about to go onstage and Maddie kissed her on the cheek, I almost cried. It was the sweetest thing. And then the two of them fussed to get Maddies lipstick off of Chloes cheek. It was adorable; bothers me so much that they act like the two are enemies!
Kimmi Paul is right – most dads will go to a local competition but not travel. Also here in Oz dance comps are usually held on a weekday for solos with the pre schoolers and primary school kids held during the day and the high school and university kids at night. So dads are usually at work. Groups are held on the weekend and most dads are then taking boys to football, cricket etc. Most dance comps try to hold them during the school holidays so kids don’t miss too much school. We don’t have nationals although there is for example a Queensland competition that anyone can enter – you don’t have to compete in regionals first. There is one thing the girls here don’t have and would LOVE – the crowns. Here you only get a medal or a trophy and sometimes cash – around $20. No one here ever makes a profit! It’s all for the love of dance.
I could have reached through the tv to punch Abby during the beach conversation with Chloe. The kid just wanted some reassurance. At first I was pleasantly surprised when Abby complimented Chloe, told her she was born to dance, yada, yada. But of course, she had to ruin it and tell her she was replaceable. I also could have cried when Chloe froze during her solo; poor kid!.
Thanks for all of the hilarious recaps, Potty!!!!
Nia’s mom has 2 boys too.
I just love, love, love Chloe. I really hope she gets some confidence. She’s cute and a great dancer.
I think the dads aren’t featured b/c the show is called Dance “Moms,” and like Bre said, someone has to pay for all of this shit.
Hope Dance Moms is back for another season. I wonder if we will get new dancers? Will Brooke fulfill her cheerleading dreams?? Will Nia get to break out of Flabby’s ethnic mold? Will Paige ever be feature for longer than 5 seconds?? I MUST KNOW!!!!!!
Love Chloe http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ddSl47R_6hg
Thanks, Moli!!!! Glad Chloe got to shine!
Thanks, Moli All the girls and Moms are precious!
To me, it feels like Melissa is all showy nicey on the outside, but a total pig about everyone but her Maddie on the inside. Meanwhile Christie is a total pig on the outside about Maddie, but on the inside is a really loving, supportive person to ALL the girls. Jabby is just a pig about loving Maddie on the outside while disliking the other girls, and loving Maddie on the inside while disliking the other girls. Tough break for everyone, in that scenario.
It’s funny, when Kurt tells Jabby that he is going to do everything in his power to get his kids out of that studio, I don’t think Jabby starts the whole, “whatever. everyone is replaceable” speech she usually does. Confident that the kids will stay? or maybe Maddie is, in Jabby’s eyes, not replaceable.
I was horrified by the today show segment when i found out that it was Jabby who sent Milissa to Seven. That was an extremely underhanded move. To send your favorite’s mom to make your favorite more favorable to the judges makes me wonder. I thought Maddie’s incredible talent speaks for itself! Appears as if Jabby is more worried about Chloe than she lets on. Leveled playing field my ass! And my god, I thought Melissa was a shameless hussy and a whore before, but that look of anger when Chloe won the spotlight and the look on Steve’s face when he saw Melissa at the studio–me thinks at least a blowjob took place.
I couldn’t help but feel that the video represented all the girls equally–except for Chloe who shined. Loved how much airtime Nia got.
Darling girl. Jabby and Melissa saying that it is better that Maddie didn’t get the spotlight so that she can shine just dancing–total case of sour grapes.
it was mean of the director to insinuate that they all had a fair shot at the spotlight when there was no way Nia would get that spot and they knew it. Bastards. At least recognized it and took advantage of it anyway. Go Nia!
I really don’t get why everyone is so down on Christi. Even when it’s something sweet like dancing in the yard of her old house with her little girl. It made Chloe happy, who cares what the frigging neighbors thought. Melissa is the one who yelled at Maddie to dance when she was sick and dismissed Mackenzie when she was overwhelmed dancing with older kids and wants to stop. When Chloe messed up on stage and left crying, Christi was totally supportive. Christi is jealous of the time and attention Maddie gets, and she should be. The only thing Christi is doing wrong is not tsking Chloe to a different studio where she would be the star.
After learning the story of the video – that the lead was supposed to be Lux as a girl – and after seeing Lux, was there any doubt in anyone’s mind that the role was going to Chloe? She was a dead ringer. Chloe is my favorite too, and between killing the Black Swan and getting the lead in the video, she had a VERY good week!
@ Juno, I also felt Chloe looked just like her, boy would I have been pissed if the win went to Maddie when Chloe fit the part so well. I bet Jabby was thinking the same thing, hence all those machinations with Melissa and the director.
I don’t like Christi. Instead of encouraging her daughter to do her best it was always a competion with Maddie. The coach’s job is to say who’s the best on the team. So I have no problem with how Jabby handles the situation with Maddie.
Maddie seemed super sweet and she’s happy for other girls when they win and sad for herself when she loses. Normal reactions.
Jabby knows Maddie is ready now for the spotlight and pushes her forward while some of the other girl still need some coaching before they are ready. Because they are the girl’s mothers they see their kids as being slighted. When that is not the case. The first time I watched the show I saw Maddie was better than the other girls. As a coach myself I deal with the same things Jabby goes through but my issues are playing time and parents thinking their kids are better than what they really are. I’m the coach. Let me coach. If not you’re welcomed to remove your child from the team.
Four items:
One – There must have been some editing magic on the last episode, because they made Chloe up to look exactly like Lux, so I think she knew she had the part even before they went to the stylist.
Two – Both Melissa and Christi need to give the Maddie/Chloe competition a rest. All the girls want to do is dance and be friends. The moms could take a lesson from their kids.
Three – Important mental note for Melissa: BRING THE RIGHT KNEE PADS TO LA! Of course in LA, sometimes the right set of knee pads won’t do you a damn bit of good.
Four – I’m gonna miss Cathy. The moms are giving her a run for “biggest head case” right now. Wonder how many moms yanked their kids out of that horrible dance studio after seeing the owner act like Glenn Close in Fatal Attraction?
I read that Cathy and Vivi would be back for season 2, but most likely not in all the episodes.
THERE’S A SEASON TWO?!?!?!? AWW YEAH!!!
I know, right? I am so excited. What did I do on Wednesday nights before Dance Moms? I literally leave my ballet class, race across town, and go home to watch it!
I finally found where to download this show and I have watched every episode up to this one. It looks to me that Maddie’s dad turned up to add some extra drama. Especially with the dramatic speech about how he will make sure they don’t go to Abby next year. I fully agree with Abby about getting him out of the dressing room BECAUSE he is a MALE and he was in a room where little girls were getting dressed. I wouldn’t care whose father he was. I would tell him to go if I had a daughter in that room. The organisers of the competition should not have allowed him backstage.
I’m so upset with our society that men are all viewed as some type of predator!!!! I personally have no problem with men(with their children or there because of child/family member)being backstage or at ‘female/women’ events. I would have DIED if my Father had been told he couldn’t give me my backstage good luck kiss RIGHT BEFORE going on stage and my good luck high five before each and every sporting event. Any of my friends or classmates that didn’t have a Father called him Dad and most of the ones with Father’s still called him Dad. Big Bro coaches elementary school girls basketball(champions)and not one parent looks at him in any way.[/rant] I do think that Maddie’s Dad was there for the drama though.
@Bluedog – If Abby had said that the reason she was shooing Kurt out of the room was because the girls were changing, that’s fine (after all, Brooke, at least, is 13 and probably would be embarrassed a little). But the girls WEREN’T changing at the time, and that’s not the reason she gave. She shooed him out because “You make Maddie nervous” and “You know better that to come and see her 5 minutes before a show.”
That said, most experienced dancers could not care less who sees them changing. When you’re in a show, and you have 5 minutes or less to get changed, you’re stripping off clothes as fast as you can, regardless of who’s watching!
Is it bad that I got a tad excited every time the commercial for Dance Moms 2 came on? I mean really happy…
I hate to add something serious to what is a fun site but @sarakate and @Moli unfortunately that is the world we live in today. I have changed in lots of dressing rooms and don’t really care who sees me as you are right – sometimes it is so quick and sometimes I even have had to change side stage regardless of who was there. But I am an adult and we are talking about children. Over here NO males are allowed backstage unless they are in a show or working behind the scenes. Despite anyone working with children having to have a “blue card” which is a card that states you have been checked by the police and have no complaints or convictions regarding children, unfortunately it is not a perfect system. I think it is better to be paranoid and overzealous if it keeps our children safe from predators.
Am I the only one who found the group number costumes really awkward? It looked like they bough wal-mart bras and hotglued stuff all over them.