- I don't think your mother has any idea
who I am or what I've done.
I think she's a small town girl with a small mind.
- Hi everyone.
I am OG Dance Mom, Christi Lukasiak,
and on this episode of "Dance Moms Epic Showdowns."
- This is my domain.
- Outrageous Abby blowups
that led to some serious showdowns.
- I will not be bossed around in my own studio.
- [Christi] Brace yourself for some of Abby's
most memorable flip outs.
- Get the hell out! Go!
- [Christi] Over the moms.
- You humiliated me in a competition.
How dare you?
You are so lucky that you stand in this room.
- [Christi] The dancers.
- I don't want a brat on my team.
I do not raise brats.
- And her enemies.
- Abby, did you enjoy our solos today?
- I didn't see them, I'm sorry.
- Yes, you did.
- [Christi] This is "Dance Moms Epic Showdowns:
Abby Flips Out."
- You have a problem with your kid, get some help.
- It is no secret that Abby and I clashed a lot
over the way she treated my daughter Chloe.
You have sabotaged my daughter,
and the rest of the kids.
- Your daughter's a little sneak.
- So when Abby gave Maddie the week off,
and put Chloe at the top of the pyramid,
I was very suspicious.
- Chloe, you wanted this shot.
Your mother, all I hear is
[Abby imitates fast talking] Bla, bla, bla, bla.
Well, you know what? This is your shot.
Here we are in Las Vegas,
and you better win.
- I know why Chloe's at the top of the Pyramid,
and it's to set her up to fail.
- Bigger jump.
That needs to be big.
- When Miss Abby's tough on me,
it's definitely not the greatest feeling.
- I'm sick and tired of hearing
"I never win, I never win.
It's not about me, it's not about me."
It's about you.
You have a new solo,
go out there and win.
- Of course I wanted Chloe to win,
but I was not gonna tolerate
the way that Abby treated Chloe along the way.
- All right, well let me-
- I need to talk to you.
- This is rude, again.
Come on.
- All I'm asking you for is to treat my daughter
with a little bit of respect.
Per usual, Abby turned a simple request
into a nuclear bomb.
- When you are in the picture,
your child looks at you.
- Because she's afraid of you. - She's like this.
It's like she's competing with you and me,
and you and me,
and you and me.
When she's there with me all day,
she's loving that studio.
I've been doing this for 30 years.
There is a great comradery,
a wonderful, beautiful relationship
between the child and I,
and the mother is jealous.
You have a problem with your kid, get some help.
- Oh, Abby.
- She is a beautiful dancer.
She's a great kid.
But she looks for you with one eye like this,
scared to death to fail.
- Oh my God, all she does is fail.
All you do is set her up to fail.
- She's holding two national titles.
- You went out,
you went backstage before something,
and said "Be like Maddie."
Who does that to a kid?
I just wanna leave kind of
and move forward because we're obviously
kind of stuck with each other.
- I agree.
- You've said it point blank,
you don't like me.
- I said "I can't stand you."
- When it came time for Chloe's solo,
let's just say I called it.
I am hoping beyond hope
that Chloe kind of squeaks into the top 10.
- [Announcer] Our first place overall champion,
routine 116-
- No more Abby shows favorites.
Your kid was the favorite this week,
and, you know what, she blew it.
- Yeah, Abbey couldn't stand me,
but that's because I wasn't afraid to call her out.
- Show me, show me right now.
Show me.
Do 10 pirouettes.
Show me.
Show me now.
- Pyramid, always tense,
but it was much worse when your kid was at the bottom.
- Hannah, it's aggravating that I hand chose you
from kids from all over the country,
and you're hitting seventh.
Seventh place has no place on this team.
Do you have anything to say for yourself?
- I thought she did a fantastic job.
She went out there,
she gave it her all.
- Okay, Ann, if that was her all,
her all is not good enough.
- She didn't exceed your expectations?
- She exceeded my expectations for the Hannah that I know.
- As an educator, you should-
- Wait a minute.
The hick from Indiana is gonna tell me
who I have taught all over the world
what an educator is?
- I'm not talking about dance steps,
I'm talking about morals,
and leading children.
She couldn't beat GiaNia's with her piece, Abby.
It was not as difficult.
- Because she can't do anything more difficult.
- [Ann] She can. Give her, let her try.
- Show me, show me.
Show me right now.
Show me.
Do 10 pirouettes.
Show me.
- [Christi] Oh my God, are you serious?
- Show me now.
- She can't do 10 pirouettes, you know that.
- Then shut your mouth.
- Whatever.
- Yes, Abby could have used a lesson
in constructive criticism.
- Stop crying.
Stop it.
There are children dying of cancer.
Do you understand that?
- Abby always had her favorite targets,
like me and Chloe.
Or should I say Chloe and I, you idiot?
If you know you know.
And another favorite target was Joanne
and GiaNina.
- I don't want a brat on my team.
I do not raise brats.
- So when Gia and Joanne dared to question
Abby's creative vision for one of Gia's solos,
Abby lost her damn mind.
- GiaNina, you're a rich girl,
go over to that side,
and let me just see you strut.
If I ask you just to strut on out there, go.
And strut,
two, three, four.
Turn around.
- It's my first solo for Miss Abby,
and I just really hope that I can please her,
but jazz isn't my favorite
'cause I feel like it's not so competitive.
- [Joanne] How are you feeling?
- Well I haven't done cheesy jazz since I was eight.
I know life's not fair,
but it's like she's literally setting me up to fail.
She's never happy with me.
- Maybe Abby wants her to fail
because if she lets Gia be Gia,
then everyone else doesn't look sparkly.
- Meanwhile, the other mothers
accused Joanne and Gia
of being less than a appreciative.
- [Joanne] Gia's feeling like it's not the best dance for her.
She's actually crying. - She's crying over the dance?
- She's crying that Abby gave her a jazz,
and she doesn't know why Abby would give her jazz.
- I'm not trying to tell Joanne how to parent,
but if I heard my daughter talk like that about a solo,
I would have a huge problem with that.
- [Joanne] Gia's feeling like it's not the best dance for her.
She's actually crying.
- When Abby assigned Gia a jazz solo,
both Joanne and Gia thought it was
not quite up to her level.
When their critiques got back to Abby,
she didn't like it very much.
- I can only do what she gives me,
so I'm just gonna make it my best,
and hope that I come out on top
because her words don't matter.
- Abby's words don't matter?
And Abby's opinion doesn't matteR?
Those words to me are disrespectful to Abby.
- GiaNina, you have a sassy jazz dance.
So this should be easy peasy for you.
- I love my dance,
and I feel that it also fits my personality well.
And I love all the tricks,
and things that are in my dance.
- [Ashley] Okay, Joanne, seriously.
- [Ashley] Okay.
That's not what you've been saying all week.
- Wow, and all morning.
- What?
What are you talking about?
- That's the exact opposite
of the entire conversation of the week,
and this morning.
- You actually called her dance cheesy jazz.
- Yeah, Gia's not, Gia does,
Gia, right.
- GiaNia, I don't appreciate
some 13-year-old kid talking about
my choreography or Gianna's.
I don't want a brat on my team.
I do not raise brats.
- Gia's not a brat, so.
- She just said before she actually
doesn't care about Abby's opinion or her words.
That came out of her mouth.
- I am so frustrated that everything my daughter's saying,
Ashley and Stacy are twisting.
They're feeding it to Abby, it's ridiculous.
- We have raised winners.
Winner after winner after winner after winner.
And a child who dances for me with my name on your back
is gonna talk that way about anything at the studio?
No, no way.
- Abby used this as an opportunity
to give one of her infamous life lessons.
- Stop crying.
Stop it.
There are little kids that can't afford to take dance class.
There are children dying of cancer.
Do you understand that?
There are kids that don't have legs
that can't even dance.
You should be grateful for these opportunities.
You should be grateful that you have a mom
and dad that can put you into these things,
and leave work,
and come and deal with this every weekend.
There's kids that are in pain,
and you're crying?
You have issues.
- The only issue here was Abby getting her own way,
which she always did
by torturing everyone else around her.
And in the end Gia did do her rich girl jazz solo,
and ended up in fourth place,
which not so good.
- That's a big Prada bag.
Do you need some help, Ab?
- When Abby expanded the ALDC to Los Angeles,
she was in way over her head.
And when she wasn't blowing up at us,
she was flipping out in new
and innovative ways.
- Hello.
- What's on the floor over there?
- How does all that stuff fit in your bag?
- Uh, that's a big Prada bag.
Do you need some help, Ab?
- [Abby] Yeah, I'm looking for silver earrings
that I threw in here.
I'm looking for earrings.
- I know, I'm looking. - I need earrings.
- So we're having rehearsal
or is she cleaning out her purse?
- Oh, there's a cookie.
- [Abby] That's a new cookie, I just bought that.
You can eat that.
- Oh look, I found your medicine.
- That's a Good & Plenty.
- Oh, look, I found your fingernail.
Here's her fingernail.
Abby, here's another one.
- [Abby] Wait, there might be things in there
that children shouldn't see.
- Is there anything we can do
to maybe help speed it up?
'Cause I know time is limited.
- Well you, I like your earrings.
What are they?
Are they charcoal?
- It's not important for you to have earrings for pyramid.
You are not going to a lunch date, this is pyramid.
Gosh, it's like we're wasting so much time here.
As much as Abby wants to be in LA,
LA does not bring out the best in Abby.
It just brings out the crazy.
- I don't think you can hold LA accountable
for Abby's crazy.
Pretty sure she was crazy in Pittsburgh.
- Holly, I am coming to your school,
I'm walking into your office,
and I'm gonna interrupt you. It's ridiculous.
- Fine, you go ahead and do that,
I have parents who do that all the time.
- Out of all of the dance moms,
Holly was always the voice of reason.
- [Abby] What?
- I have a huge problem with Nia portraying the bully.
- I finally give you a part, kid.
- I know.
I want her to be a featured part,
I just want her to be part of the dance.
- Abby was always great at causing
even the most calm
and rational moms to flip out right along with her.
- This week, my next soloist will be Nia.
We also have a trio
with Maddie, Chloe and Paige.
- But when Paige suddenly had to miss the competition,
Abby wouldn't even consider Nia for a replacement.
- It would be nice if Nia could be considered for the trio.
Here was a possible, potential opportunity for Nia.
Once again she's overlooked.
I'm getting really sick and tired of it.
- I knew exactly how Holly was feeling.
Fighting for our kids was a full time job.
If you really feel that strongly,
then maybe it's best that you tell Abby.
- Here is my kid giving 110%,
and there's Abby- - Can't even give her 50.
- She can't even give her 50%.
- Holly was fed up that Abby
kept overlooking her daughter Nia for a trio,
so I suggested that she maybe talk to Abby,
but nothing infuriated Abby as much as when we pushed back.
- One, two, three, four.
Why are you interrupting my rehearsal?
- Can I see you for a second outside?
Just for a moment.
- Holly, I am coming to your school,
I'm walking into your office,
and I'm gonna interrupt you.
It's ridiculous.
- Fine, you go ahead and do that,
I have parents who do that all the time.
- I don't think there's anything more invasive
than being interrupted.
Holly is now a principal.
She of all the mothers should understand.
- I would like for Nia to be considered for the trio.
You said you would consider her,
yet you looked at her,
and you looked beyond her in pyramid,
and didn't even give her the courtesy
of being considered for that.
- You are so far off my plans,
you have no clue.
I was already planning on Nia being the swing
for Paige in the trio,
but Holly can't even give me three seconds
to let me tell her this.
No, she has to come in,
interrupt my rehearsal again.
Paige might not be able to do it,
Nia's in.
- Why didn't you just say that-
- And Nia has a solo.
Because you come and interrupt me.
You don't need to do that.
You don't know what my master plan is.
You have no idea.
- You would think that she would
have a little bit of respect.
- What I asked was that we're on the same page.
That's all you had to say,
"Holly, we're thinking the same thing."
That's all you had to say.
- Yeah, but, Holly, it's not about what you're thinking.
I don't give a crap what you're thinking.
- You know what, it does matter what I'm thinking
'cause I'm her mother.
A mother looking out for her daughter
trumps the word of a dance teacher all of the time.
- Not inside this studio it doesn't, sweetheart.
This is my domain.
I'm the principal here.
It's my office.
- What you fail to realize, Abby-
- I don't fail to realize anything.
- Is that you don't control me.
- I will not be bossed around in my own studio.
I give Nia a solo,
and then I think about putting her in the trio,
but that's just not good enough for Holly.
Nothing's ever good enough.
Well, you know what, detention is good enough.
Get out, go!
[mothers gasp]
- What did she say?
- She got solo tonight.
- Abby. - And you just blew it.
Holly didn't do Nia any favors.
She ruined this entire evening's rehearsal.
Nia didn't even get a chance to learn the trio.
What has Holly accomplished?
Nothing.
- There are no amount of solos, duos, trios
which are worth this aggravation.
- Are you leaving?
- I am never setting foot in this studio again.
- Of course Holly did,
and eventually Abby did allow Nia
to compete her solo,
which ended up third in the competition.
But, was it worth all that drama?
Yeah, no, I don't think so.
- You humiliated me in a competition.
How dare you?
You are so lucky that you stand in this room.
- [Christi] The rivalry with Studio 19
always seemed to lead to a massive Abby flip out.
- Abby, what are you doing?
- [Abby] I'm filing a police report.
- Like the time Michelle
and her daughter Sarah got accused
of wanting to go back to Studio 19,
which God forbid.
- It's from Studio 19.
That's what it is.
- Why would they be sending you gifts
and flowers and balloons?
Did you contact them when you thought
maybe you weren't gonna be allowed
to stay on this team?
- [Michelle] No.
- [Christi] When the news got back to Abby,
she took it out on Sarah.
- Honey, you can't be here today.
- Oh God. - Uh-oh.
- Oh God. - Sarah.
- Sarah, what's wrong? - Honey, what's wrong?
- She told me I can't,
she told me I have to leave.
- Oh my gosh.
She told her she had to leave.
- Michelle was willing to do anything
to get her daughter Sarah back on the ALDC,
and Abby reveled in that.
- Michelle was a complete embarrassment
to me and my company.
She's a nuisance.
And she's gonna have to work hard
to get back in my good graces.
So, Michelle, while you're upstairs,
I want you to take these paper towels,
and wipe off these pictures
that were on the Wall of Fame.
- Oh my God, sticky.
- Is this like punishment?
- No, I'm asking you to do a favor.
Just do it and be quiet.
It's important for Sarah's future.
- So there's still a chance for Sarah
to have a future here?
- Well, we'll see.
We have to have a talk,
and your talk begins with that box.
And there's three more.
You have to earn my respect.
- This is so pathetic, Michelle.
Stop.
You need to stop.
What the hell is happening?
- There's nothing I can do.
Abby's rules, Abby's studio, I follow.
- Sometimes Abby's flip outs even left us speechless,
which is kind of hard to do,
like the time she made Michelle
clean up a bird's nest prop
full of dirty sticks
and bugs as punishment for stirring up drama
with Studio 19.
- Look at this mess.
This looks like a job for my little Pittsburgh helper.
Michelle, just how badly do you wanna get back on the team?
Hmm?
Roll up your sleeves,
and get to work.
Michelle, clean up the nest,
get it out of here.
There can't be one twig or piece of dirt
or bug left in here.
Take care of this now.
- But humiliating me-
- You humiliated me at a competition.
How dare you?
You are so lucky that you stand in this room.
- Really?
- Yes, really.
Yes, really.
Yes.
Do what you're told, follow the rules or get out.
- My daughter's dream is to dance on the ALDC team,
I gave up a job,
I gave up family,
and I have pursued it 100% for her.
But there is a cost,
and there is a limit to how much you can give.
And there is a point where you become bankrupt.
- Oh my heart.
Abby eventually let Sarah back on the team,
but that didn't mean the drama with Studio 19,
which led to the original flip out here, was over.
- Abby, did you enjoy our solos today?
- I didn't see them, I'm sorry.
- Yes you did. - You're a liar.
- Oh my gosh. - Wow, I was run over.
[dramatic music]
- [Christi] It was three weeks to nationals,
and the taunting from Studio 19 just wouldn't let up.
- We get here today,
and sitting on the desk in the reception area
is a gigantic fruit basket,
and a special little card from Studio 19.
- "Dear Michelle and Sarah,
Studio 19 can't wait to see you
at competition this weekend,
Love Tammy and Katie."
What in the actual hell is happening?
- The moms blamed Michelle
for all of the drama with her original studio,
but most of all they were afraid of Abby's reaction.
- She's already gonna be upset.
Last week she was already crazy.
This is gonna put her over the freaking edge.
- [Christi] At the competition,
Abby actually tried to stay out of it,
and leave it between the moms.
- What is wrong with these people?
I don't need your nonsense, I'm a dance teacher.
So I'm gonna be backstage watching these numbers.
- At first her strategy seemed to work.
ALDC beat Studio 19 in the group dance.
[audience cheering and applauding]
But Studio 19 owners, Tammy and Kate,
weren't going down without a fight.
- Oh yay, I got to come in.
- Guys, it's fine. - You're not welcome.
- Michelle, do you wanna go out there to talk to them?
- [Michelle] I don't.
I'm telling them to leave.
- Well, maybe if we ignore the chaos
it will all go away.
- [indistinct], excuse me.
- Abby, did you enjoy our solos today?
- I didn't see them, I'm sorry.
- Yes, you did. - You're a liar.
- Oh my gosh. - Wow, I was run over.
[indistinct chatter]
- How pathetic.
- Oh my God.
They tried to talk to her,
and she kind of ran them over.
- The guy did stand in front of a moving wheelchair,
but maybe he should have filed a hit and run with the cops,
like Abby would have done.
- Congratulations, Abby. - No class.
- And I'm gonna tell you,
the next time you approach my son-
- Excuse me.
[both yelling]
Don't touch me. - Don't touch her.
- No, she just ran over my son.
- Michelle, get your friends out of here, Michelle.
This is your doing, Michelle.
[indistinct chatter]
- You touched me, get out.
You touched me.
You put your hands on me,
and you touched me.
[indistinct yelling]
- Michelle, why don't you go with them?
Go, go.
- You should be ashamed of yourself.
- Ashamed of myself?
I tell them to get out,
they [indistinct].
[indistinct]
- You crossed the line.
- After flipping out at Tammy,
Abby didn't even stick around
to celebrate her dancers' victory.
- I just wanted to celebrate the kids who won first.
But instead Abby's gonna leave,
and it's just unfortunate that the situation has exploded.
- Thanks, Michelle.
Hope you're happy.
- Well, that's a wrap for me
in this episode of "Dance Moms Epic Showdowns,"
but just like anyone who ever threatens
to leave the ALDC-
- I'm done with this.
- I have had enough. - We're done.
- I've had it. - Now, we're leaving.
- Enough already.
- You know I'm coming back.