this week we are in las vegas and i'm super excited,

we enter the studio we are renting this week and we line up for pyramid

|Pyramid|
"you are in one of worlds best places for entertainment there are more shows employing dancers than on broadway right now" Abby says

i smile

"last week you had a big win i loved the routine Black And Blue and although i wasn't present for the competition you told the story everybody got it."

"Abby can i ask a question before we get to the pyramid, just in general how did you go about creating the pyramid since you weren't at the competition." Holly asks

"well i know the results of the last two competitions we get the score sheets from every competition and the comments so obviously i know how everyone did but last week i was in rehearsals i worked on the numbers." Abby says

Abby walks over and reveals the first headshot of the pyramid

"Paige, until you are to improve the big amount in the technical area you're not going to be moving up the pyramid."

"and next Brooke, Brooke you did a solo in Ohio you came fourth you never used to get fourth last year going into nationals you were really strong you won a national title as of todays date you're still holding onto that title."

"i think you should go back and look at the choreography of that dance that she did at title and then look at the choreography in Ohio and compare the two and that's why she got fourth" Kelly says

"next we have Nia, now Nia it's almsot like your mind wants it and it's there but your body isn't listening yet it's not fixing the problems itself so my advice is keep doing what you're doing and someday it's gonna click" Abby says

"so she shouldn't be discouraged that she's at the bottom of the pyramid." Holly says

"no it's just gonna take work whatever you're doing double it." Abby says

"and next we have Kendall, Kendall you're inconsistent your facial expressions and your emotion and just your intensity is so much better in class in rehearsal than it is onstage i don't know what's going to happen about you in nationals"

"and next we have Mackenzie, she is not here this week she needs to learn there are consequences for your actions she needs to learn this is not a shoe in because her older sisters are Kayla and Maddie, this is two weeks before nationals i don't need sloppy mistakes."

i make a face i don't know why Abby said that maybe for the cameras because Kenzie is competing with her age category in Pittsburgh

"moving up we have Asia, you and Mackenzie won the overall highscore duet Kristie Asia is improving."

"and next we have Maddie, Maddie you could be on top of the pyramid every single time outstanding, what is next for you."

"and next is Kayla, again outstanding you and Maddie should just have resident places on top of this pyramid but i want you to set your goals higher not just for a title but for a career."

i smile and nod

"and on top of the pyramid congratulations to Chloe."

we all clap for Chloe

"Chloe i know it was only three tenths of a point it could've been one tenth of a point it doesn't matter you beat Zack."

"we will be attending powerhouse dance competition and Asia you will be doing a solo."

we clap for Asia

"you are my best bet for nationals i will be watching you closely."

"Kendall you also have a solo now Kendall you have not been consistent this is your last shot this is your audition to see if you will be dancing at nationals don't blow it."

"Kayla you will be doing a solo now we all know that you will be dancing at nationals there's no doubt about it so this is like a practise."

i smile

"Brooke and Paige you also have solos you will work every week, Brooke and Paige not too many teachers wanna work with you especially not from the Abby Lee Dance Company so i have a collie Ricky Pallmino will be choreographing both of your solos, you can blame the choreographer over and over again but ultimately your the one on the stage."

"the group routine is historical in las vegas, when i think of vegas i think of the brat pack they were cool they were smooth they were entertainers and that's what you're gonna do, Asia you will not be performing with the group routine however you will be rehearsing you will be learning you will be swinging do you understand that?"

"so if you don't pull your weight and you don't pick up out i'm not putting up with it i'm not watering things down because one two or three people can't do it those days are over, alright so moms you can have a seat outside in the waiting area and girls spread apart stretch out"

|Group Rehearsals|
"your boys it's smooth it's cool they were cool everybody wanted to be like them everybody wanted to be like them they were slick" Abby explains to us

we learn the group routine and it's very musical theatre

"give me knee knee jump, no big high." Abby says to Kendall

"smile!" Abby calls out as we turn

we finish the routine

"alright girls looking good you're looking like the Brat Pack a little bit, no sun no fun no chlorine no swimming yes? watch the cracks and stuff on the sidewalk remember step on a crack you break your mothers back." Abby says

i make a slight face to Maddie

|Two Days To Competition|
|Solo Rehearsals|

my solo this week is a lyrical piece entitled Ocean Blue it's to the song Ocean by Lady A and it's gorgeous
"make it fluent Kayla" Abby says

i finish the routine by a leap to my knee and reaching out then ending in the floor

it's a very pretty dance

"okay that's good, you didn't win nationals last year im expecting a huge in this year okay? don't let me down." Abby says

i nod and i get dismissed

we go over the group while Brooke isn't here and then Abby works on Asia and Kendall's solo

|One Day To Competition|
we sit in the studio while Kendall goes through her solo

and her solo is pretty

"so we're gonna have the girls perform one at a time, are we ready to go?" Abby says

Maddie Kendall and Brooke do the group by themselves then i do it

i make sure to act and just treat it as one of my solos

i finish the routine

"good, well done okay Chloe your up." Abby says

i stand beside Maddie

"you were really good" Maddie whispers

"thanks you were too." i whisper

Chloe and Nia then do the group and Paige is up next

"Paige your up." Abby says

Paige goes over to Kelly and she starts to cry

i look to Chloe worried

Kelly takes Paige outside

"is she okay?" i ask Chloe

"i don't know." Chloe says

|Competition Day|
we get to the competition and we head to the dressing room

i start my makeup for my solo

Abby comes into the dressing room

Christi helps me with my hair

i then go behind the curtain to get my costume on

Kaylas solo costume with the headpiece at the side of the bun:

i come out from the curtain and the moms cheer

"i really like that, your costumes have been so pretty recently" mom says

"thank you." i say

then Brooke and Paige come out in their costumes

"i love Paiges costume" i say

"it's really pretty" mom says from beside me

i put on my team jacket and we head backstage

Asias solo is up first

"alright we're good to go, please welcome act number 7 open mini solo please welcome Asia performing The Flamingo" the announcer says

Asia enters and her music starts and she starts really strong she is an incredible little dancer

Asia finishes her solo and exits the stage

"good job" i give her a high five

"thank you" Asia says

Kendall's solo is coming up next

"i'm so nervous i don't know why" Kendall says

"don't be nervous it's okay" i say to Kendall

Maddie goes up to one of the producers to get Jill i think

Kendall then goes out to the hall

"i hope she's okay." Maddie says

"same" i nod

Kendall comes back stage and i give her a quick hug

"this is act number 28 junior open solo please welcome Kendall performing The Luxor" the announcer says

me and Maddie clap from backstage

Kendall's music starts and her solo is very nice

Kendall finishes her solo and exits the stage

Maddie gives her a hug

"give me your jacket" Maddie says

i take off my jacket and give it to Maddie

i mark my solo quickly

"you'll be amazing as always" Maddie says

"let's hope" i say

"this is act number 31 junior open solo please welcome Kayla performing Ocean Blue" the announcer says

i enter the stage and go into my starting pose

my music starts and i start my routine i make eye contact with the judges and give all the emotion i can i finish my routine on the floor

i see my mom crying and Abby looks really pleased i smile and i exit the stage

Maddie attacks me in a hug

"you were so good" she says

"Abby looks pleased." i smile

"that's good" Maddie smiles

"alright heading into entry number 71 in the teen contemporary solo welcome Brooke performing Now Is My Time" the announcer says

Brooke enters the stage and her music starts

Brookes solo is absolutely gorgeous this week

she finishes her solo and exits the stage

i clap for Brooke from backstage

"next to the powerhouse stage is act number 75 this is a contemporary solo please welcome Paige performing The One" the announcer says

me and Maddie clap from backstage

Paige enters the stage and her music starts

and her music is gorgeous then she freezes and tries to keep going

"oh no." i whisper

Paige leaves the stage

i hug Paige and she cries

"hey it's okay" Ricky says

"but i worked so hard on this dance" Paige cries

"hey i know i know, honey you're not going to get into trouble because i created it i created it okay?" Ricky says

i let go of Paige and Brooke hugs her

we then take Paige to Kelly

"she's afraid of her dance teacher she is scared to death of her dancer teacher." Kelly says

"now i'm going to get into trouble." Paige says

"no you're not going to get into trouble cause guess what she's not your teacher she didn't teach you."

"she's horrible and you're trying to do your best for her we're all crazy." Kelly directs to us

the producers then take Kelly to the dressing room

"i don't think this is healthy anymore." Brooke says

"my mom wants to leave." i say

"so does mine." Chloe says

"but do you guys want to leave?" Nia asks

we all stay silent

i love dancing and i love doing it here but it can get stressful sometimes

we head back to the dressing room and mom hugs me

"you were very pretty up there." mom says

"thank you" i say

we start getting ready for the group dance

group costume:

we run over the group dance then we head backstage

"and next to the powerhouse stage is act honest 46 make some noise for Brat Pack" the announcer says

we entered the stage i make sure to act a lot and make be really sharp

we finish off the routine and exit the stage

|Awards|
"alright let's get into the elite mini solo category" the announcer says

"in third place Goodnight And Go"

"in second place All That Jazz"

"in first place elite mini solo category entry number 7 The Flamingo"

we clap for Asia and she gets her award

"divisional overalls for highest elite junior solo"

Maddie and Chloe takes my hand

"sixth place entry number 28 The Luxor"

we clap for Kendall and she gets her award

the next couple places get announced

"in first place elite junior solo is entry number 31 Ocean Blue"

i smile and i get my award i look to my mom and Abby who look very pleased i take a bow and sit back down

"moving onto our teen solos"

"third place is entry number 71 My Time"

we clap for Brooke and she gets her award

they take a bow and Brooke sits back down

"okay moving onto our elite junior small group third place Rapture"

"second place junior Prodigy"

"and first place junior small group is entry number 48 Brat Pack"

i hug Maddie and Chloe gets our award

we come into the dressing room cheering and Abby comes in cheering

"okay so you're unbeatable" Abby says

"has she lost a solo?"

"no." Kristie says

"hate to say it Mackenzie until she steps it up onstage starts to threaten her." Abby says

"well Mackenzies coming back next week so" mom says

"i know but you have to realise she might not be dancing in talking about nationals in two weeks Melissa i have to think about the win, this is nationals this is important" Abby says

"Kendall.. sixth is that what you set out to do?"

"i think i could've hit my turns better." Kendall says

"i was watching you in the junior spot at the solo for nationals in two weeks sixth will not cut it." Abby says

"Kayla, very well done i didn't expect nothing less from you."

"thank you."  i say

"Brooke, Paige i hope to see you in class on Monday, Kelly nice talking to you today i will see you please enjoy yourselves, girls be safe try to see a show congrats ladies" Abby says

we pack up our things and we head out of the competition.