Tonight on Lifetime Abby Lee Miller’s Dance Moms continues with an all new Tuesday July 21 season 5 episode 28 called, “Solo Battle: Round 1,”and we have your weekly recap below. On tonight’s episode, Jeanette officially takes over the Candy Apples and brings an epic routine featuring the Gay Men’s Chorus of Los Angeles to competition.
On the last episode with only four weeks until Nationals, the ALDC was desperate for a group routine win. To make matters worse, the Candy Apples were back with a surprise guest and they were ready to capitalize on ALDC’s current misfortunes. The ALDC was traveling to Arizona and because Kira was still dissatisfied with Abby’s treatment of Kalani, she brought in reinforcements from Kalani’s past, which posed a direct threat to Abby. 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, “Jeanette officially takes over the Candy Apples and brings an epic routine featuring the Gay Men’s Chorus of Los Angeles to competition. Meanwhile, Abby tests the girls with a challenging prop; and Kendall and JoJo go head-to-head in a bracket-style showdown to see who will get a solo at Nationals. Later, Kira and Kalani make a big decision that determines their future with the ALDC.”
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 26 – 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 begins with the girls at 3rd street dance and they wonder if Kira is showing up. They walk about Kira walking out last week and Jill says they need Kalani on the team. Holly says it should be Kalani’s decision. Jess says maybe Abby and Kira didn’t make up from the first fight. Holly says Abby is spiteful and gets back at people when she wants to. Holly says if Kira crossed the line, Abby won’t forget it. Abby yells at the moms to come in.
Abby tells them they won finally. She says it’s great after a win after beating the Candy Apples. She tells them the Candy Apples are back with Jeanette still coaching. Abby says they need to be way above them and set themselves apart. She says Kalani did that last time and they need to do it. Holly asks Abby if she wants Kalani back. Abby says no. Jill says don’t they need her for nationals. Abby says to wave her magic wand and make her kid’s hands and feet look like Kalani’s.
Abby says it’s time to move on. For pyramid, she has JoJo at the bottom. She says her feet look horrendous and she’s not conscious of it. Next is Nia and Abby says she didn’t stand out in the group routine. Mackenzie is next and Abby says she did well but they had to keep correcting her on her lack of expression. Maddie is next and she says she had the lead in the group routine and needs to be knocked down a few pegs. Holly says that was a shocker.
Kendall is at the top of the pyramid. Jill is thrilled and surprised. Abby says she took initiative in the group routine. Abby says they will go to New York Dance Experience and says it’s the countdown to nationals. She says the solos will go to the person on top – Kendall and the person on the bottom – JoJo. Abby says whoever does better will move forward toward a shot at a solo for nationals. Jess thinks this is crazy.
Abby says Kendall will do contemporary jazz and JoJo will do jazz inspired by Miley Cyrus. JoJo says she’s literally her biggest fan and shows her Miley socks. Abby says the group number is Don’t Fence Me In with a barbed wire fence prop. They start group rehearsals. Over at International Dance Academy, Jeanette says she wants the Candy Apples girls to guest on her Broadway Dance Academy team. She says she didn’t expect Cathy not to be there but she didn’t show.
Jeanette wants to do a number about being who you are and about transgender. She says they will all start as girls and three will reveal they want to be boys. Jeanette also says they will collaborate with the gay man’s chorus who will sing while they dance. Liza, Chloe’s mom, is thrilled and says Jeanette could take them to victory. Abby starts group rehearsals with the fence. The girls have to make a pyramid. Melissa thinks it’s a catastrophe.
Jill thinks it’s great and different but says a big prop can cause injuries and it could be a disaster. She says Abby is committed to beating the Candy Apples no matter what. It’s two days before the competition and the moms talk to the kids and Melissa says if Kira has an attitude, she shouldn’t be there. Melissa wonders if they’re coming back. Jill says they all thought she would come back except Melissa then Kira pulls up in the parking lot. They are stunned.
Kalani gets out of the car and Holly says this won’t go well. They get out of the car and Melissa thinks Abby will not be happy about it. They tell Kalani to go on up while they talk to Kira. They ask if she told Abby she was coming back. She says Kalani just wanted to show up. Jill says parents need to make decision. Kira says Kalani is prepared for whatever Abby dishes out. The girls run to hug Kalani who says she came out to finish the season in LA and got to nationals with ALDC.
Abby tells Kalani she should just walk away from her. She does. Abby thinks it’s crazy that she came back after she quit and walked out and isn’t there as far as she’s concerned. Kira says she doesn’t want Kalani there but she really wanted to come back. Kira tells the other moms she doesn’t care what they think. Abby works on JoJo’s solo. Jill tells Kira about the head to head solo competition. Jess says JoJo has always loved Miley Cyrus.
Jill says she does too because Miley is who she is and doesn’t care. Jess is really hoping that JoJo beats Kendall. Abby gives notes then moves on to Kendall. Abby is frustrated and says she’s not listening. She says Kendall always wants what Maddie has so she’s challenging her. Abby says this solo is all about the technique and wonders if she can win with it. Abby calls for the group routine and says Kalani can’t be in it because they are too deep into it.
Kira says Maddie has missed days and can still do it. Jill says that doesn’t compare because Maddie is working on jobs that Abby approved. Jill says she needs to know what battles to fight or walk away from with Abby. Kira decides to go talk with Abby. She goes into the rehearsal room. Abby ignores her at first and Kira asks her to put her in the group number then says Kalani loves her and wants to be with Abby. She cries and says she wants to dance with her.
Abby says the problem is that the choreography has all been worked out. Kira says she could put her in if she wants too. Abby says she already did the work and have worked their butts off. Abby says no and Melissa thinks this is ridiculous. The other moms thinks he needs to just sit it out. Abby says she can’t put the group at risk for her group. Abby says this is not about Kalani but about the group and says the other kids have to work harder because of her mistakes.
Abby says she can’t ask them to all bend over and take it up the ass because of Kira’s mistake. The other moms want Kira to stop before she makes Abby angrier. Abby dials her phone and tells Kira to walk away and be respectful while she makes her call. Kira steps away a little but doesn’t leave and Abby gets upset and says she’s done for the day. Jill says they’re all being punished because Kira pushed it. Kira comes back in and the other moms start yelling at her.
Jill says it’s not fair to the children and she’s getting them all punished. Holly says now they’re down to one day before competition. Jeanette is doing a lyrical group number with the Candy Apple’s girls. She talks about how it’s inspired by a transgender man named Jay who shows up to talk to the girls. The song is part of the It Gets Better Project. Jay tells them his story and his struggles. He says at 34 he finally started his transition and how hard it was before then to live uncomfortably.
Back at 3rd Street Dance, Abby asks Kalani about her religion and she says Catholic. Abby asks if she knows what penance is and says her penance is not dancing and says it’s her fault. Abby says if Kalani wants back on the team, she has to learn a lesson about quitting things. She says Kira needs to also grow up. Abby asks the moms to come watch the group number. Abby yells critique the whole time. She takes Mackenzie to task and says she’s not impressing her.
She tells her this is another level and she needs to go to a darker place. Holly says this is a hot mess and they might as well hand the 1st place trophy to the Candy Apples. It’s competition day at New York Dance Experience. Jeanette approaches them and Jess says she didn’t win with Candy Apples so maybe the name change will help. They ask what the group dance is about and she tells them about the transgender thing. They ask if it’s allowed at competition.
Jill says this theme might resonate with the judges and they’re worried. Abby walks away. JoJo comes out in her Miley outfit. Jess loves it and thinks she’ll do well. Jill puts on Kendall’s makeup and coaches her about technique. She thinks Kendall has a good shot at number one. Abby tells them they’re auditioning for nationals. She says may the best girl win. First up for solos is JoJo. Jess thinks she looks cute and she’s on fire.
Abby sees that JoJo forgot part of her choreography. Jess says JoJo improv’d most of the dance and still may have a shot at a win but doesn’t know how Abby will react. Kalani hugs her and says it happens. They tell her the judges didn’t notice. JoJo is terrified that Abby will be angry and the other girls reassure her. Next up is Kendall. Jill says Kendall nailed it while JoJo forgot and says she has to win. Outside, Abby asks JoJo what happened.
Abby says they would have liked to show off their choreography. JoJo says she didn’t know what happened and thought it was better to improv than run offstage. Abby hugs her and comforts her as she cries. Jess is happy that Abby was nice to her. Kira and Kalani are there as observers but Kira thinks ti’s ridiculous and thinks the group won’t so well against Jeanette’s team without Kalani. You can tell she kind of wants them to win.
Jay and the chorus show up to greet Jeanette in advance of the group number. First up is Jeanette’s group. The number was pretty cool and the chorus sounded good. One of the judges was even clapping along. Melissa says that number was nationals material and she’s nervous. Now it’s ALDC’s turn. They are ready for their big fence number. Melissa says they have to win. Kalani watches from backstage. The girls finish and Abby thinks it was spectacular. She says Mackenzie pulled focus in a positive way.
Now it’s awards time. Solos are first. Kendall takes 3rd and JoJo doesn’t place at all. Jeanette’s BDA group takes 2nd place. ALDC takes 1st place. Holly is thrilled. Jeanette tells the moms and girls it’s about being an artist and telling a story not winning awards. She says she’s proud of them and Abby would never have done it. Abby tells Kendall she’s in the running for nationals and will face off with Maddie next. She says to think about it and tells the girls no more interruptions or chaos.
Jess asks Kira if they’re staying and she says Kalani wants to be part of the team and wants to go to nationals with them so she’ll do what it takes to get her there. She says she hopes Abby will be an adult. Jess asks Abby if things will be back to normal with Kira and Abby says she doesn’t know if things will ever back to normal between them.
THE END!
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