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'Dance Moms' Recap: Season 3 Episode 10 “All’s Fair In Love and War”

By Kristen Borowitz-Stringfellow Mar 7, 2013, 4:20 GMT

The episode starts with a tense meeting between Abbey Lee Miller, the choreographer and owner of the Abbey Lee Dance Company (you would never know at first glance she was a choreographer) and these sweet, fresh faced little girls who know they are walking into a battle zone.

Season 3, Episode 10 - All's Fair In Love and War. Original air date: 3/5/13.

The Abby Lee Dance Company heads to New Jersey with a group number all about love. Before they leave for the competition, the moms take Abby speed dating hoping that if she finds a man, she may be nicer to the girls. Jill's competitive side rears its ugly head when she tries to get Kendall private lessons so she can outshine Nia in their duet.

The episode starts with a tense meeting between Abbey Lee Miller, the choreographer and owner of the Abbey Lee Dance Company (you would never know at first glance she was a choreographer) and these sweet, fresh faced little girls who know they are walking into a battle zone.

Although the girls placed 1st at the last competition, Abbey was less then pleased with their performance and started right in with the “pyramid."

This is literally a pyramid of the girls' pictures placed on a mirror, and Abbey goes one by one, telling each child what they did wrong and how they can improve, except for the very top, a spot saved for Abbey’s superstar.

Brooke, Kendall, and Paige grace the bottom (worst positions) of the row, and cut to a quick pan of their mothers, Kelley and Jill, both giving synchronized eye rolls. Then the middle row, which Abbey likes to call the "first loser" Mackenzie and Nia, and then to Abbey’s "superstar" and obvious favorite, Maddie, whose mother Melissa acts shocked by this news and starts to cry.

Chloe is not on the pyramid - due to probation - after her mother has a breakdown and rushed out in a not very lady-like way. The girls learn that they will be going to a competition in Bernardsville, NJ., where they are expected to bring there A-game.

The girls will be performing the group number called “You’re love will be my dream.” Also performing in the Garden State are Nia and Kendall in a duet, a soloist and sisters McKenzie and Maddie.

The mothers are excused to the chatter box … eh ... I mean the viewing room while the girls get down to business.

While the mothers are supposed to be observing their girls and paying attention, they go right into running their mouths about Abbey and how she has never found love, and they feel so bad for the person who gets “stuck” with her.

This brings Jill to the conclusion that they all must enlist Abbey into speed dating. A limo pulls up and the women pile in and start right in with the Champagne (it seems wherever they wind up, cocktails are always in hand!).

Our crank Abbey seemed pleased to be speed dating and excited meet new men. The night went well with no drama (hate to disappoint you) and Jill takes credit for the night of love in hopes it will get her daughter to the top of the pyramid.

The next day its time to dive headfirst in practice, and Abbey is not pleased with duet partners Nia and Kendall. She excuses them to go and practice in another room. Jill takes it upon herself to seek some private lessons to better her daughter's dance technique.

Trouble in the Chatter box when Holly gets her feathers ruffled when she finds out that her daughter's duet partner is getting private time and Nia is not. Holly confronts Jill in her best passive-aggressive moves about the behind the back sneaking around, and Jill replies in her best smarmy teacher voice: “Well, Holly, I have to do what’s best for my Daughter...”

Holly feels Jill is trying to slither her way to the top of the pyramid.

The girls arrive at the competition and are all busy preparing for the day. Duet partners Nia and Kendall deal with a sickness and some lingering adjustments to the dance. They get pulled aside for some last minute encouragement from Abbey, as she leans down and whispers in their ears, “You better go out and do this duet correctly or you will be digging each others graves...”!! Nothing says do your best like a good old threat!

The girls wind up placing 5th, and Abbey doesn’t waste any time coming down hard on those two. It's Junior Solo time, and sweet, fresh faced spunky McKenzie is up with a Dance called “Love is War” and she takes 2nd place. Although Abbey was pleased she reminds McKenzie she can always do better.

The star of the group, Maddie, wins a first in Junior Solo with her rendition of “Lifeline,” and Abbey is all tears and smiles in the audience.

The group performs the last dance, called “Your Love Will Be Mine,” as the girls take the stage in wedding gown-inspired costumes and deliver a heart-felt romantic piece.

Despite all the comments from audience members, Abbey knew they were not first place material. The group placed 2nd, and Abbey reminds them they are the first loser.

The girls high-tail it back the Green Room as Abbey enters to deliver her post-mortem and eulogy of the day's events. This love themed week just got the boot as Abbey makes the girls question if they really want to dance, and reminds them all that things are starting to "get real" and the true winners will prevail.

All’s well that ends well in the dance world, until the next competition!