Tonight on Lifetime Abby Lee Miller’s Dance Moms continues with an all new Tuesday March 17, season 5 episode 11 called, “Nia’s Last Chance,” and we have your weekly recap below. On tonight’s episode, the ALDC heads to Philadelphia with a risky non-lyrical routine. Nia, Maddie and Kendall are feeling the pressure with solos, and Nia is singled out with an ultimatum from Abby.
On the last episode, the ALDC girls were fresh off a big win and seemed to be moving forward after their rocky journey to LA. That was, until Abby’s nemesis, Cathy from the Candy Apples, returned with a surprise choreographer who’s sure to rattle the ALDC’s confidence. Abby invited Ashlee and her daughter Brynn to dance at the ALDC and quickly praised her as the next Maddie, which the original Moms did not appreciate. Did you watch the episode? If you missed it, we have a full and detailed recap right here for you.
On tonight’s episode as per the Lifetime synopsis, “this week the ALDC heads to Philadelphia with a risky non-lyrical routine. Nia, Maddie and Kendall are feeling the pressure with solos, and Nia is singled out with an ultimatum from Abby. Frustrated with the lack of support from Melissa and Jill and tired of being victimized by Abby, Holly makes friends with two unlikely allies, which angers and alienates the original moms.”
Tonight’s episode is going to be another drama packed evening, which you won’t want to miss. So be sure to tune in for our live coverage of Lifetime’s Dance Mom’s Season 5 episode 11 – tonight at 9 PM EST! While you wait for our recap, hit the comments and let us know how excited you are about this new episode of Dance Moms tonight!
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#DanceMoms starts at ALDC with the moms and kids prepping for pyramid. Holly says since they came back from LA she feels distant from Jill and Melissa and not part of the team. JoJo says that Cathy was so much crazier than she thought she would be. Abby calls them in for pyramid and congratulates them on the first place team win. She says she hopes their little rival got the message that she’s not in the same league with them.
Jill says our kids do lyrical best. Holly doesn’t think lyrical is preparing their kids for LA or the real world. Holly says she hopes Abby will push the girls more out of their comfort zone. Abby says she wouldn’t say that Nia does well with lyrical. Jill says they can’t always go in to win. Abby says to time out and tells Jill she’s in her studio and says the moms are always pushing her to do other routines. Abby says she can do what she wants and they compete to win.
Abby says she doesn’t care what the moms want and says she asked them all to write about JoJo. Reasons she should and shouldn’t be part of ALDC. She thinks if JoJo hears from her peers, it will help JoJo. Mackenzie comes up and says JoJO is loud, crazy and sometimes off in the group dances but is kind and hard worker. Next is Maddie who says she has timing issues and is loud but is dedicated and hard working. Nia says JoJo takes opportunities from people who have been their longer.
Kalani says she lip syncs on stage. JoJo takes it all in and Abby says she’s lucky to even be a guest and says there’s a lot that makes her a good performer. She offers JoJo a team jacket and a hug and says it’s for the rest of this season, but not for all eternity. JoJo hugs her and Jessalynn is thrilled. She promises no trouble, no lawsuits, no drama.
Abby says everyone is on the same line on pyramid since they all did well at the competition. She says she saw a great intensity. Maddie is on top of the others for winning top scoring solo and Jill makes a face. Abby says this week is Philly and it’s their toughest since so many New York schools compete at New York Talent Experience. She says this year they’re critiquing performances live. Abby says they are taking three solos and one group routine.
She says the group is a musical theater piece called Decadent Darlings. The first solo goes to Maddie and it’s a contemporary called mannequin. The next solo goes to Kendall and it’s also contemporary and has props with a big steamer trunk. She says this may pull her out of her second place rut. The last solo goes to Nia and it’s called The Color Purple. Abby says if she doesn’t place with the solo, there won’t be any for a long time.
Holly says that’s a crazy amount of pressure and she wishes Abby would support her more. It’s two days to competition and Jess tells the moms they’re there to stay and says it’s a relief. She says she can sleep with a smile on her face and JoJo will sleep with her jacket on. Abby rehearses the group routine to 20s style music. Abby says she wants them to learn period dances and says it’s important for any dancer. She says she’s going to risk losing to teach the moms a lesson.
Kira says this is totally different. Jill says the moms are in agreement that there are too many lyrical numbers. Holly and Jess talk about how Abby picks on their kids at every pyramid. Kira says she understands their position. Holly says Jill and Melissa do whatever Abby says and Kira and Jess have her back more now. They tell her to do what she thinks is right no matter what. Holly says she felt let down and hurt by Jill and Melissa. Holly says you find allies in unlikely places.
To start Maddie’s solo, she freezes and Abby carries her out onto the stage. The music starts and she unfreezes and dances. Abby says she has to constantly push Maddie to grow because she’s so good. Melissa tells the other moms that every week it gets better. Jess thinks that Melissa is being very braggy and they’re all tired of it. Next is Kendall’s solo. She critiques her and says she doesn’t have enough story and isn’t showing enough attitude.
Abby says if Kendall doesn’t get in the top five will be good for her and says the judges critiquing her may be the kick in the pants she needs. Holly says Kendall and Maddie’s solos are amazing and yet Abby hasn’t even started working with Nia. She says she’s sick of Melissa and Jill too. Holly tells Kira and Jess that she saw in LA that they supported her and Nia. Holly says that was the beginning of them connecting and supporting each other so they don’t feel isolated.
Jess says they need to stick together and Kira says they can be the three musketeers. Holly says she likes the idea that they will support her. Jess says she likes that an original team member has her back. Jill and Melissa come back and Jill tells Jess to get out of her seat. She asks if they were talking about them and what they said. Holly says she’s surprised she became friends with Jess since they didn’t get off on the right foot.
Jess says they have a different connection. Jill asks what changed it and Holly says at the MattyB video when Melissa and Jill left. Jill says they are the mainstays and Jess will come and go. She says Jess only stayed at the video to benefit JoJo not to support Holly. Jess says they need to know about the pact they made not to let their kids to be treated unfairly. Melissa says Holly is digging herself a deeper hole with Abby and says she doesn’t see that.
Jill says there is no pact and Melissa says she’s not getting involved. Jess asks why she wouldn’t support her friends and says Melissa is arrogant and thinks she’s better than the rest of them. Abby is finally rehearsing Nia’s solo which is more of an interpretive modern jazz piece. Abby critiques her on clumsy footwork. Holly says Nia has added stress hanging over her head this week. Kira says Nia is strong and doesn’t need to let what Abby says get to her.
Kira says what Abby says changes. Nia thanks her for that. Jill thinks the other moms are kissing Holly’s ass and says the only thing their pact will do is create division. Abby tells Nia if she’s not up front being honored for winning in some way, she won’t get another solo especially after all the crap her mom did in LA. Nia asks if they can put that aside when they’re in the dance studio. Abby says she can’t put aside a murderer and teach them to dance.
Abby says she doesn’t like sneaky people and parents teaching their kids to be sneaky. Nia says she wants to keep it separate but Abby says her singing isn’t separate. She tells Nia she’s done for the day and better win. Nia talks to Holly and is very upset and tells her mom what Abby said about them being sneaky and compared them being sneaky to being a murderer.
Holly says Nia has known Abby most of her life otherwise she would move on and take her to another studio. Nia says she really wants to stay with the team but wishes Abby was more supportive. Holly says to channel all that emotion into the dance to make Abby shut up.
It’s competition day and Abby says this week is their toughest yet. She says she’s chosen a non-lyrical routine to teach the moms a lesson. She says this will be the first time they’ve all been judged live and if they don’t handle it with grace and class, she’ll be humiliated. She tells the girls they have to control their breathing and stand still and take it. Nia is really nervous. Holly says Nia is competing against her two best friends and was the only one given an ultimatum.
Holly tells her she can do this and just needs to perform so she has no regrets. Nia is up first. Nia is worried and wants to prove to Abby that she can win. Holly says Nia was amazing and says Abby has to be impressed since she barely coached her. It’s time for her critiques. One judge says it was beautiful. She is told she has gorgeous eyes but is told it was fleeting and says to weave in more of the visual. Another says it was great. Holly is thrilled with the judge’s feedback.
Next is Maddie’s mannequin number. It looks nice. Then the judges tell her they love her facial expression and tell her to watch her supporting leg and says her leg is bending. Another judge says to relax her face on her turns. Abby is not happy that they gave her critiques. Jill is thrilled to hear that Maddie got critiques like other people. Next up is Kendall and she’s hoping that Kendall does well and wins so Abby doesn’t turn on her.
Now Kendall’s critique. She’s told she has great stage presence but needs to connect more with them. One says she loves the story and wants to see more of where she is. Abby says Mattie and Kendall got more criticism from the judges and wonders if Nia will place in the top five. Jess asks the other moms about joining the pact and Jill says she takes offense that Holly thinks she’s not there for her. Holly says she’s missing the point. Abby and the girls come in.
Holly says she hopes the girls aren’t picking up on the tension between the moms. Abby tells the girls she doesn’t want to hear about their knees not being straight from the judges. Then the girls head out for their group number. Jill says she’s nervous now that they hounded Abby into not doing lyrical. The judges tell them it was beautiful and they all looked fantastic. Another says great teamwork but they looked a little rushed here and there and could use the floor a little more.
Now it’s time for awards. First up is solos. 5th, 4th and 3rd go to other studios. 2Nd place goes to another school. 1st place goes to Maddie. Neither Kendall nor Nia placed. Holly says Jill gets special treatment from Abby so Kendall will likely still get solos even though she lost. Now is group awards. ALDC takes 3rd place. Jill says the girls did everything they could then says maybe Holly is to blame for a lack of team camaraderie.
Abby asks the moms who flapped their gums and says they didn’t want to do lyrical. She says Holly and Jill both said that and says she’s doing lyrical from now on and Nia is getting no more solos. Jill says the moms were talking about the pact and tells them to explain it to Abby. Holly says if there is inequity or injustice, you would support each other without worrying about the ramifications. Abby says their bickering is causing problems with the team.
Abby says to support her or find another team. Abby says she will not tolerate this behavior any more. Holly says she has a problem with this and says the way she talks to her child is a problem. Holly says the murderer analogy is a problem. Abby says it was an extreme example and Melissa says she always does go to extremes when she draws examples. Holly gets up to leave and Jill asks her to go and says it’s just a misunderstanding. Holly tells Jill that she doesn’t have to take this anymore and tells Melissa to stop coming to Abby’s defense.
THE END!
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