Ep 27. The Understudies

In Dance Moms season 4 episode 27, titled "The Understudies," the moms and their daughters prepare for an important competition in Los Angeles while also dealing with the stress of Abby's looming legal troubles. Abby assigns solos to both Maddie and Kalani, but decides to also have understudies ready in case anything goes wrong. This decision doesn't sit well with the mothers, who feel that their daughters are being overlooked.

As the girls work on their dances, tensions rise between the moms and Abby. Holly questions Abby's decisions and is met with harsh criticism, while Christi and Kelly express frustration with Abby's lack of communication. Meanwhile, the girls all struggle with the added pressure of being understudies, unsure of whether they'll get a chance to perform on stage.

One of the stand-out moments of the episode comes when Abby brings in former Dance Mom, Cathy Nesbitt-Stein, to sit in on rehearsals. Cathy's presence only adds to the already tense atmosphere, and the moms and Abby exchange verbal jabs throughout her visit. The girls, however, seem to relish the chance to show off their skills in front of Cathy and perform flawlessly during rehearsals.

As the competition approaches, the moms are on edge. Abby's legal issues are weighing heavily on their minds, and they fear that it will affect their daughters' chances of success. However, they put their concerns aside to support their girls on stage. Maddie and Kalani shine in their solos, but so do the understudies, proving that they were all deserving of a chance to perform.

After the competition, Abby announces that she has decided to take a leave of absence from the studio to deal with her legal issues. The moms are shocked, but also relieved to have a break from the drama. However, they know that this is just the beginning of a new chapter in their dance journey.

Overall, "The Understudies" is a dramatic and emotional episode of Dance Moms. It highlights the intense pressure that both the dancers and their mothers face, as well as the complicated relationships between Abby and the moms. Despite the tension, the girls all prove that they are incredibly talented and deserving of their time in the spotlight.