I enter with the girls to Studio A for pyramid, we all sit down and Miss Abby starts talking.

"Girls, I am very disappointed." Miss Abby starts, "Every single one of you could have done better in your solo. Moving on, I want to forget about last weekend, what's gonna happen this weekend?"

"It's the ALDC Showcase." Paige answers.

Maddie

Brooke   Melanie     Nia

Chloe    Paige     Vivi-Anne    Mackenzie

"Yeah, thank you very much. We're doing the new number, 'Sugar Daddies' at the showcase." Miss Abby tells us, "Maddie, you won the overall high score at the competition. Boom. Nia, forgot the solo, kept dancing, made it up, went on, finished with the music. 

After everything, I arrive first and take a shower, then watch some TV but soon I fell asleep. The next morning like always we rush to prepare to go back to you know where.

"Melanie, your solo wasn't judged, but I think it should've been, you're following into Maddie's footsteps and that will take you far." I smile, "Chloe, did a great job. There were some other situations." Chloe looks over to Christi, "You're here, I want to see that attitude improve on stage. Yes? You never know who's watching you."

I was really excited to finally get out of the bottom, I didn't really know what it meant, but I was just happy!

"All right, I have a few surprises during the showcase." Miss Abby looks over to the Moms, "I don't want to pressure you, in the audience, at the showcase, is going to be an agent coming to seek new talent and looking for new clients to sign." We all start cheering and clapping, "Moms, you are going to be performing at the showcase, as well." We all keep on cheering, "Oh, Cathy, you're going to be the choreographer."

Could this week get any better? I laugh.

"Well, you guys are in for trouble." Cathy says.

"Nationals are getting closer and closer. With every competition you get better and stronger." Miss Abby says, "So, this showcase is going to be a nice chance to entertain rather than compete. But it all is leading up to Nationals, because we want to do what?"

"Win!" We exclaim.

Kenzie, Vivi, and I all leave Studio A with the Moms, but we had work on our own. 

The showcase is something that we do every single year, we dance in front of a lot of people to show them what the ALDC has done in a year. This was a really busy week, and I was just starting to figure it out.

"All right, Kenz and Mel." We hear Gia say as soon as we enter the Dancer's Den, "We gotta start working, so change into the 'That's Amore' costume and go to Studio B to start the photoshoot for the yearbook."

"And who has the costumes?" Kenzie asks.

"Oh, right." Gia says, "Your mom has it."

"I'll go!" I exclaim and run up to Dance Jail, "Mommy, we need the amour costumes."

Mommy chuckles as she gives me the costumes.

"It's amore, not amour, Mel." She boops my nose and I chuckle.

"Okay." I say, "Bye bye!"

I run back to the Dancer's Den and we change into the costumes. We go to Studio B and the photoshoot starts, it goes for about an hour and after that we finally go back home for the day.

•Four Days To Showcase•

All of us girls were up in Dance Jail, we decided that we were going to watch the Moms rehearse their dance, I was really to laugh really hard.

"This is embarrassing." Paige comments as the Moms follow Cathy's lead.

"And Christi's late." Brooke adds as we see Christi run across the studio.

"As usual." Chloe says softly and we all laugh.

Kelly does a solo part.

"Oh, my God, my Mom said she used to be a good dancer." Paige says, "Things have changed."

We all keep on laughing. Mommy does another solo part.

"And that's how she wants to be on Broadway." Maddie comments.

"She does?" Nia asks.

"No," Maddie answers, "But imagine if she did."

"Holly did it!" Kenzie exclaims and we all look back to the moms. 

If we depended on our Moms' dancing skills, we would be completely lost, except Nia.

Mom didn't want to talk about that after, it didn't matter how much Maddie tried, she wouldn't give in.

•Three Days To Showcase•

We were rehearsing our tap group 'Chapel of Love', I was wearing my dance wear, my hair was on a perfect bun, and I had my tap shoes on.

"Matt, I need Mackenzie and Melanie for the show." Miss Abby enters Studio D, "When is this class over?"

"In about five minutes." Matt answers, "I'll send them to you."

"Thank you." Miss Abby leaves.

We go over the dance once more and we finish.

"That was hard." Emma whispers as we do our final pose.

Matt sends both of us to Studio A, where Miss Abby was with Gia, and the girls.

"Come on in Moms-- I have a big announcement today." Miss Abby says as all the Moms enter, "We have a casting associate from Telsey + Company coming right here to my studio to look at all of you. The new production of 'Annie' that's going back to Broadway." We all clap, "Cesar is the representative that will be in town. He wants you to have a picture and a resume. Apparently, Cathy and Holly have somewhere better to be, so please make sure they know what's going on. I don't want their kid to be left out because they're not here. Okay, Moms, you're dismissed. Let's get back to 'Sugar Daddies', let's go."

Instead of going back to rehearsal, we all had to change into a solo costume, so I change into my 'Welcome to Wonderland' costume and Mommy starts working on my hair.  

"The next ones up are Chloe and Melanie." Gia tells us.

Chloe was wearing her costume for an off show ballet solo. She enters Studio B and I stand up.

"Next!"

I enter Studio B. 

Miss Abby instructs me as I do my first pose. I do my second pose and I finish. 

The next day was pretty simple, practice a couple group dances, and not making Miss Abby mad.

•One Day To Showcase•

We were all cleaning up the studio for the agent. Miss Abby was crazy and stressed today, even worse than yesterday. On a free minute, Mommy styles my hair and she has to leave again.

"He's here!" Kassidy yells and we all run to Studio A.

We all form a line and everything goes quiet. The agent enters and we smile.

"As you know, I work for Telsey + Company, we cast Wicked, In the Heights, South Pacific." Cesar tells us, "We're always looking for young talent. And even for you guys, we just did a movie where we found little kids for Disney films." We all gasp, "We never know when we're gonna find that next star."

"All right girls, we're gonna start soon." Miss Abby says and we all go to the Dancer's Den.

I take a paper with some lines and I start reading them, over and over again.

"Chloe, let's start with you."

Chloe starts her way but she looks back at Christi and tears up.

"You're fine, go." Christi tells her daughter, "Don't cry."

Next up was Nia, Paige, Brooke, Maddie, Kenzie, Vivi, I was the last one.

Mommy was mad at Kenzie because she didn't sing, so I have to sing, for sure.

"Melanie."

I take my resume and headshot and enter Studio A.

"This is Melanie Ziegler." Miss Abby tells Cesar.

"Hello, how are you?" Cesar asks.

"Great." I answer.

"Good, what are you gonna do first?" Cesar says, "Sing, go over the lines..?"

"The lines." I answer and walk up to the middle of the studio, I look back at him and start.

"Yes, Miss Hannigan. I'm not an orphan. My mother and father left a note saying they loved me and they were coming back for me." He looks at me with a smile, I decide to go over to another scene, "Yes, officer? A stray? Oh, no, officer. He's my dog. His name? His name is. . . Sandy. Right, that's it. I call him Sandy because of his nice sandy color." A little bit more, "Well, you see, officer. . . I just got him and sometimes . . . Here, Sandy. Here, boy. Sandy." I pretend to pet a dog, "Good Sandy. Good old Sandy." I look up, "Yes, sir, I understand."

"Great." Cesar says, "Can you sing?"

I sigh and smile again.

Maybe far away,
Or maybe real near by.
He may be pouring her coffee.
She may be straightening his tie.
Maybe in a house,
All hidden by a hill.
She's sitting playing piano.
He's sitting paying a bill.

Bet you they're young.
Bet you they're smart.
Bet they collect things like ash trays and art.
Bet you they're good.
Why shouldn't they be?
Their one mistake was giving up me . . .

So . . . maybe now it's time
And maybe it's when I wake
They'll be there calling me baby
Maybe . . .
Bet you he reads.
Bet you she sews.
Maybe she's made me a closet of clothes.
Maybe they're strict,
As straight as a line.
Don't really care as long as they're mine . . .

So . . . maybe now this prayer's,
The last one of it's kind
Won't you please, come get your baby?

Maybe

Last thing was improv, so I start with some turns. I run and do a side aerial. I hear Miss Abby gasp and I smile, I got my side aerial! Finally! I walk back to the middle where I bring my right leg up, and do a grand jete. I do more turns and roll into the floor, where I smile widely and put my right hand under my chin as my left hand held me.

"Thank you, Melanie." Cesar smiles.

"Thank you." I smile and go back to the Dancer's Den.

I enter and Brooke hugs me.

"You got your side aerial!" Paige exclaims, "Yay!"

After that, some of the girls start crying, with that I mean Maddie, Nia, and Chloe. Kenzie was upset because Mommy was mad at her. Brooke was a little bit upset. Vivi didn't really think anything about it, and Paige and I were the only ones happy after all.

•Dress/Tech Rehearsal Morning•

"Stay still." Mommy tells me as she finished doing my hair, "Done, go."

I get up and change into my 'Lovely Night' jazz group costume. I run down the hallway and meet up with the rest of the minis, of my year, not Kenzie's.

"Next up is a mini jazz group dance, 'Lovely Night'." Miss Abby says and we all go onstage, "Is everyone there?"

"Yes!" We all yell.

The rest of the morning and part of the afternoon was chaos. 

"I'm tired." I cry.

"Did you finish?" Payton asks me and I nod, "Great, come on."

She picks me up and we go to the dressing room where Mommy was working with the props for 'Sugar Daddies'.

"See, if we had straight pins, we could pin that in." Cathy tells Mommy and Kelly as they work with the props.

Payton has to leave, so I stay there watching the moms.

After more stressful hours, it was finally time for the showcase, and I was extremely excited for it. I took a nap for an hour in the dressing room, so that was why I was so full of energy. 

I was wearing again my 'Welcome to Wonderland' costume and I had my hair done. 

"Next up is a mini lyrical solo, 'Welcome to Wonderland'." Miss Abby says and I walk on stage.

I look at Cesar, who was in the audience, and get in my starting position.

Welcome to Wonderland
We've got it all
Potions and pastries that make you grow tall
Forests and cottages, castles and cards that can talk

Welcome to Wonderland
Look where you're at
Maddest of hatters
The Cheshire Cat
Magical cabins and lovely white rabbits with clocks

Dancing through a dream
Underneath the stars
Laughing 'til the morning comes
Everyone that leaves has a heavy heart
Oh, Wonderland I love

Welcome to Wonderland
I'll be your guide
Holding your hand under sapphire skies
Let's go exploring or we could just go for a walk

Welcome to Wonderland
Where should we go?
There's a tea party along down the road
Make an appearance and maybe they'll sing us a song

Dancing through a dream
Underneath the stars
Laughing 'til the morning comes
Everyone that leaves has a heavy heart
Oh, Wonderland I love

Nothing around here is quite
As it seems
Not sure if anything is real
Or a dream
And the only thing sure from the start
Is the song that's inside of your heart
Don't let it leave

If this was a dream
Then at least I've got
Memories for when morning comes
Now that I must leave with a heavy heart
Oh, Wonderland I love

Everyone cheers as I walk offstage. I run back to the dressing room and change into my 'Bee Strong' jazz dance costume. Payton's mom, Leslie, does my hair and I go backstage.

"The moms are dancing!" Kenzie tells me, she was wearing her 'Pinktastic' costume.

I look at the Moms and we all laugh. On the middle of the dance, Cathy starts doing another choreography and the other Moms looked at her confused.

"She got us totally messed up." Kelly says as she walks up to Abby, "That b****"

"Language." Gia tells her.

Some senior boys go on stage and carry her out as everyone cheers.

After that the 'Pinktastic' dance goes, and after that one is another one of mine's.

"Welcome to the stage a mini jazz group, 'Bee Strong'." Miss Abby says and we go onstage. 

We dance and it goes just like that, dance after dance after dance.

The 'Sugar Daddies' had a little bit of drama, because a prop broke and Maddie was the only one without a prop, so you know how Christi reacted. After the curtain call, we all left the stage and I changed into my dress and we start celebrating.

"Hi, hey girls, good job!" We all hear Cesar say and we turn around, "You girls are so good! Congratulations! You were so good! Come over here Melanie, also you Maddie. I'm just gonna chat with Melanie and Maddie over here for a second."

"Can I come?" Mommy asks.

"Sure." Cesar answers and the three of us walk away from the rest.

"I would love, like, if guys are ever in New York, just come in and let me know you guys are there. And I would love to just chat to the office and get to meet you. Like I said, we're doing a much of stuff with kids now, so it'd be great." Cesar tells us and we both smile, "And just keep in touch. I can see them onstage, I can see them on television, I can see them as some of the kid actors that we see in New York all the time. So that's good."

"Thank you." Mommy tells him.

Maddie and I walk back to the other girls and I start eating some chips as Cesar and Miss Abby talk. Christi was mad because of Maddie and I being chosen, but I just wanted to party, so I took a bit of punch and kept on partying. After the party, we all get in the car and start our way home.

"Chloe kind of avoided me after the Cesar thing." Maddie says.

"That's weird." Mommy says, "I thought she was happy."

"Maybe." Kenzie adds.

I wanted to say something, but I was exhausted and fell asleep, Mommy had to carry me to my room and to bed.