With Abby missing in action, Laurieann Gibson pushes the girls out of their comfort zones with professional-level choreography; Kalani and Brynn compete head to head with out-of-the-box solos; the group routine provokes a fight between two mothers. Just like Daviana, Reagan beat Kalani at one of the previous competitions, making her mother Julie believe she is the strongest of the team.

Jill is upset that Kendall doesn't have a solo because Kendall has been on the team for years, so she begs and begs until Cheryl gives in and choreographs a solo for Kendall as well. But that chapter has closed and it’s definitely time for a change. Kalani, Kendall and Nia all dance competing solos in Denver; the minis are in a technically complicated group dance, and the mothers wonder if this addition will ruin their winning streak heading into Nationals. The “Dance Moms” cast wrapped up Season 7 on the East Coast over the weekend, but their big nationals routine was far from the only surprise the Lifetime show had planned.

News spreads about Abby's approaching court sentencing; Abby's denial creates havoc for the team; Abby creates a group dance centered around Ashlee and Brynn's family court battle. One keen-eyed fan spotted a familiar face among Abby’s team after the competition: fan-favorite alum Chloe Lukasiak and her mother, Christi. With three solos going head-to-head for the national title, and a musical theater-style group routine based on Broadway’s The Prom, everyone is feeling the pressure. In the group routine the girls will portray witches, and while practicing Kalani sprains her ankle leading to her solo getting pulled and her also losing her place in the group dance. After charging a $20 entrance fee, all of the profits of which went to charity, fans were welcomed into the Paramount Theatre to watch Abby Lee Miller’s elite junior team duke it out with their longtime rivals, Cathy Nesbitt-Stein’s Candy Apples.The solos kicked off the competition, with two of Abby’s After a several hour break, the ALDC and Candy Apples reemerged from their secluded dressing rooms to watch the two groups show their best.

Laurieann's new routine is inspired by transgender and queer youth. Brynn, Elliana and Lilliana all have solos and Yolanda decides to leave Camille a voicemail informing her the elite moms are not welcoming of her and Camryn on the newly-formed team.

The Irreplaceables and the ALDC both find new choreographers to take Abby's place; Cheryl Burke works with the Irreplaceables; the girls' insecurities and their mothers prove to be a struggle for Cheryl; the ALDC struggles to stay together. Constant changes to the team have the moms worried. The mothers bring in choreographer Laurieann Gibson, which shakes things up; Chloe returns to the competition world for the first time in two years.
The ALDC girls give their take on the episode where Abby’s comeback to competitive dance is put to the ultimate test as the ALDC team heads to nationals in New York City. (CADC placed fourth.) Dancer Nia Sioux said each performer had a character that “spoke” to them.Photo: International Business Times/Rebecka SchumannAbby Lee Miller’s team hugged after their contemporary number won the overall high score at Starboard National Talent Competition in Asbury Park, New Jersey, on Nov. 11.
The veteran moms go on the attack after one of the new moms puts down their kids. Camryn is given the lead, and Yolanda is upset that her daughter isn't in the dance. Brynn was beat out by a “hometown favorite” and took third-place with Chloe placing fourth.The ALDC’s winning streak continued into the group awards with “Is There Still Hope?” bringing home the big win, first-place in the senior group division.

The team returns to Pittsburgh where the stress of proving themselves leads to explosive battles between some of the mothers; Abby questions Camryn's desire to be on the team and gives her one more chance to prove herself. This leads Yolanda to claim that Lilliana's and Maesi bully her daughter, which ends in a huge physical fight between her and Stacey. With two duets and a group, the girls struggle with stamina as well as Laurieann losing her patience with the moms at competition in an explosive face-off. Kalani did the same, placing first in the teen solos.

In part 2, Abby makes an unexpected return to her studio, but not everyone on the team is happy about it. The group routine is an open routine that's a mixture of jazz, contemporary and ballroom. The group routine is a strange, commercial, jazz funk dance that is very different to what the girls are used to. Abby brings in a new dancer with an eccentric mother; Abby encourages Brynn to lead Kalani and Kendall in their trio; the mothers are nervous when Abby assigns the first hip-hop routine since the elites walked out.