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'Dance Moms' Recap: Season 3 Episode 12 “The Apple of Her Eye”

By Kristen Borowitz-Stringfellow Mar 21, 2013, 4:17 GMT

Hold on to your tutus, as this drama-filled episode is all about dance center rivalries, mixed with a little one-on-one competition for the featured dancer in Group dance, leaving one company leaping for joy.

Dance Moms 3/19/13 S3/EP12 “The Apple of Her Eye"
 
Hold on to your tutus, as this drama-filled episode is all about dance center rivalries, mixed with a little one-on-one competition for the featured dancer in Group dance, leaving one company leaping for joy.
 
In this episode, Abbey had to share the spotlight with another choreographer named Cathy.

These two go WAY back when once "Dance Mom," Cathy, attended Abbey's classes in hopes that her daughter Vivianne (who says next to nothing on the show...and looks like she wants no business being there) will learn some skills that she wouldn't be able to learn at her home studio, "Candy Apple's Dance Center."

When good blood goes bad, Cathy returns home (Cincinnati, Ohio) with the promise that her studio WILL beat Abbey no matter what it takes!
 
Back in Abbey-land, the girls do their normal routine and sluggishly line up for the pyramid...which goes as follows:

Bottom Paige and Brooke, Middle: Chloe who is finally off probation and is ready to strut her stuff in a duet with bottom dweller Paige (Abbey’s word... not mine) and Maddie who has high hopes to get back to the top of the pyramid.

Little McKenzie is "benched" as Abbey calls it, for not staying off her feet after a supposed ankle injury. They begin to prepare their numbers for the Power house dance competition in Cincinnati Ohio.
 
The girls will perform a Group Number called Rosa Parks, portraying an epic theme of women in power. But the big question is, who will play Rosa Parks?  When all the Mom's see the obvious choice...Nia, but Abbey's not giving it to her that easy, she wants her to work for the part.

Kendall will be performing a solo called "Look at Me Now" where Abbey takes her aside to do face lessons to help her with her facial technique during performances. Maddie will perform another solo called "Breaking Down Walls" Abbey gave her superstar this number to push her to get to the top...it seems that Abbey is always pushing Maddie to the top because she thinks she is the best. And lastly, Paige and Chloe with perform a duet called "Broadway Blondes," which she tells the girls she expects them to fail.
 
At Candy Apples Dance center, Cathy prepares her all-boy dance team and brings in a guest choreographer, Anthony. Cathy expects her charismatic all-boy team to win thanks to their experience in dance, but if you ask me, she's cheating! Cathy calls herself a Dance teacher, but you never see her teaching and she always has guest choreographers.

The boys will perform a group number call “Candy Apple style" which is a takeoff of Gangnam style...lame! Sweet little Jalen gets a solo where he is told his experience in hip-hop must beat Maddie's experience in technique. Rehearsals get a little heated when Cathy and Anthony butt heads over discipline of the boys, which leads to a mini blow out, and Anthony leaves for the day.
 
Back at the ALDC, the girls are working hard the day before the competition, but Abbey is not thrilled and tell the girls that they are lazy and it’s their mom's fault. She wants all the bad chatter and negative thoughts out of the gym to regain control over the girls.

On a good note, Nia was offered the role of Rosa Parks, and she could not seem happier...but Jill who was hinting to Abbey all week that Kendall could do it, did not seem that happy for Nia.
 
Both groups pack up and head to Cincinnati for the Power house competition. Cathy and Abbey arrive at the same time (coincidence? I think not!) Cathy stands with her bodyguards (yes she felt she needed bodyguards) taunting Abbey about her weight and how they were going down, while Abbey - very stoic - just walked past her.

I was shocked, because there usually is a very heated argument followed by some water throwing. Both go their own ways and prepare for the showdown.
 
And now the moment of truth... who prevails and who does not...from the numbers ALDC did a complete sweep leaving Candy Apples in the dust.

Soloist Kendall placed first and did a fabulous job with her facial expressions, Maddie claimed first with a lovely exquisite dance that made her look like a seasoned professional and it also leaped over Jalen, who stormed off stage after placing sixth after having a costumes error.  Much to Abbey's dismay, the Duet placed first and I'm pretty sure it was not for their costume...or lack thereof, personally I think they looked like mini-strippers on a vacation in Mexico.
 
Now it's all down to the Group number, Abbey proclaims to the girls....it's not about wanting to win...it’s about having to win, and they did just that.

The girls’ lyrically powerful piece placed first right above Cathy's Hip-Hop styled trick filled number. Cathy ran home with her tail between her legs, but not before Abbey's moms found her dressing room and wanted to go congratulate her second place, the parents go at it like immature school girls and make themselves look like fools....and I think to myself  now how much good did that really do?

All's well that ends well, and Abbey was pleased with her girls. They pulled out big wins and Abbey says in closing, "when we're on, we're unstoppable."

See you next week!