Chapter 53

This week, everyone was there at the studio after a week's break. Abby had us all gather in front of the mirror, looking grim. "You mothers made a bad choice last week," she began. "You hurt your children's futures. Ally, Bella and Kaeli weren't the right fit for this team. However, know that every girl who wasn't here last week is on probation. Kelly and I have talked and Brooke and Paige are back this week. Everyone who wasn't present is on the bottom. Ursula and Nia, you won with your solos, but the group dance placed second. I don't think that was your fault. Joanne, you're on the top of the pyramid, you won with your solo and the duet won. Okay, this week we're going to In10sity Dance in Youngstown, Ohio. The dances are Hallween- themed, and I expect that you all will keep up with those that were here last week."

"I like that!" Holly smiled.

"Of course you do, traitor," Jill snapped. "You weren't willing to put your neck out on the line."

"No, because your plan wasn't going to work," Holly returned calmly.

"Enough. My solos this week are going to Joanne, Paige and Nia. Ursula and Brooke have a duet. Joanne is the lead in the group routine, which will not have Brooke in it, and it's about a slumber party where one girl murders everyone else. Joanne, you have free reign to choreograph the best dance about a clown that you can. Paige, you're playing a reanimated doll, and Nia, your character is a ghost. Ursula and Brooke, your duet is about someone being possessed by a demon. I want to start with the group."

Abby watched us with an eagle eye, pointing out every little mistake harshly... for everyone but Nia, Ursula and I. Us she actually corrected like a proper teacher. The dance itself was both powerful and competitive, so at least we had a good chance of winning this week. Throughout the dance, I killed the others off one by one. Of course, Abby used it to show who she was the most upset at; so Maddie first, then Paige, then Kendall, Chloé, Kenzie, Nicaya, Nia and Ursula. Maddie really only danced for twenty-five seconds. I was glad to be dismissed to get working on my solo, which I had a few ideas for but hadn't put into choreography yet. I chose to do a sad Lyrical piece about a clown that just wanted to be accepted, set to Sondheim's "Send in the Clowns."

After a bit, I noticed beady eyes on me. I looked over to see Kendall and Jill lurking in the doorway. "Oh, hi, I'm done in about fifteen minutes if you need the space," I said while writing a few moves down in my notebook.

"I said hello earlier," Jill practically pouted.

"I turn my cochlear down while I choreograph, sorry."

"We had a few questions about how you choreograph. Where's the other person?"

I blinked. "The other person?"

"Yes, the other person that gives you the choreography." I could tell that this wasn't scripted because the camera workers were scrambling to catch the conversation.

"There's no other person. I mean, I have people come in and film sometimes."

"I don't believe you."

"Okay."

"Okay? That's all you have to say?"

I shrugged. "Well, I can't control what you believe or don't believe, do I?"

"You're such a smartass."

"No, I'm just blunt." I went back to the mirror, letting Jill flounder. Kendall, unimpressed with her mother, left for class and Jill retreated to Dance Jail.

That odd occurrence aside, I had a nice evening. I had my sleepover with Brooke that night and we chatted a bit about the strike, and what was going on with school. Misty happily joined us.

The next day, Abby was in a foul mood, and it was throwing Maddie and Chloé off so that they were making mistakes. Maddie lay in the wrong spot when she "died," so I managed to trip over her when doing one of my solo sections. Chloé, also in the wrong spot, had to rapidly move out of the way.

"Ow," I grumbled, pulling my legs off of Maddie. "Mads, that's not where you're supposed to be."

"Are you okay?" Ursula worried. I nodded, checking myself over.

"I think so."

"MADDIE!" Abby howled. "You're done. We'll reblock without her. Get out."

"But Miss Abby-" Tears filled Maddie's eyes as she sat up.

"No crybabies! None! Leave before you're gone for good!" Abby snarled. Maddie ran out of the room, right into Aunt Melissa's arms. The rest of rehearsal was quite subdued, and Chloé was suddenly much more focused and sharp.

Maddie approached me over dinner, making sure that we had some private time. "Are you okay? I'm sorry about earlier, Miss Abby got to me."

"I get it," I reassured Maddie. "I'm fine, I'm not hurt. I'm sorry that you're not in the group dance."

"Me too, but I didn't dance much in it anyway." Maddie shrugged. "I'm more upset that Miss Abby hates me now."

I nodded. "It's odd and quite concerning coming from a dance teacher."

"Mom told me it's not true."

"She's trying to protect you. Not every adult is trustworthy, not that I told you that. Just keep doing your best and fight to get back in her good graces for now." Abby had me show her what I had for my solo after group rehearsal. "I went Lyrical and it's a sad story," I explained. "I want to show that I can make great Lyrical solos too."

Abby gave me the high clap when I was done with the dance. "It's great! There are a few issues. You're rushing your transitions for the last thirty seconds, and you have too many leg extensions. It gets repetitive. Your technique is much improved, though. Show it to me again tomorrow. Ursula and Brooke, you two can come in."

I had correctly guessed that all of Abby's dances would be Contemporary so I would stand out more with Lyrical. I swapped out the leg extensions with more diverse moves and worked on the transitions for a bit before switching to ballet practice. The rest of the week passed in this way, but I was made aware that Jill had been complaining nonstop about me. I was too quiet, I was too loud, I wasn't a good dancer, I was too good. She couldn't get her story straight.

"I don't care," I shrugged to Ursula. "She can say what she wants, I'm here to dance."

I got a phone call the day before the competition, at around four in the afternoon. I didn't usually pick up calls while dancing, but this one felt important. No cameras were around.

"Hello, this is Joanne Ziegler."

"Hello, Miss Ziegler. This is Katherine Brown, the Executive Director of New York City Ballet."

I held back my wonder. "Nice to meet you, Ms. Brown"

"Nice to meet you too! I'm calling to officially invite you on as an apprentice with New York City Ballet starting in 2013."

I nearly screamed in joy, but held it in. "Thank you so much! Do you have a specific date where you would want me to start?"

"I understand that you are under contract for Dance Moms. When does your contract end?"

"The final competition ends on August 3rd, and I'm off the hook after that. My contract's only until then."

"That's quite late."

"I am in full agreement."

"Well, you can't control that. My people will be back into contact with you early next week to go over the details, but we would love to have you on. We're excited to work with you."

"I'm more than excited to work with you!"

I hung up from the phone call and ran right up to Dance Jail, interrupting the mothers' argument. Aunt Melissa frowned when she saw that I was crying.

"Joanne! Is everything okay?"

"I'm going to NYC Ballet," I choked out. She gasped and hugged me tightly, with Kelly and Holly joining in. Jill broke up the moment after a minute.

"So you're leaving the team?"

"This was always going to be my last season, at least since last year. I would go to NYC Ballet after the season is over," I explained. Jill frowned, but Christi cut her off.

"I'm happy for you, Joanne, and I'm sure that Jill is too."

I told Ursula, who was thrilled for me and shared the news that she would be training at the Cirque du Soleil next year after the competition season, then said something at the last group rehearsal.

"Hey, guys? Ursula and I have an announcement."

"Go right ahead," Abby said.

"Well, ah... this will be both of our last seasons on the team. Ursula is going to the Cirque du Soileil next year and I'm going to be an apprentice at NYC Ballet."

There was suddenly a lot of screaming. We received congratulatory hugs from everyone, before Abby pulled it back together. "We will be hard pressed to replace you two, but I'm happy to hear that you are getting closer to your goals. Now, this means that you must do well this season, yes? Starting with this group dance."

I rode the high of the news until the competition, which required a long bus trip. My solo costume was a classic clown costume, and my face was made up like a clown, which took a long time to put together. Paige and Nia went before me, performing their solos well, then it was my turn to dance. There was a lightness about the piece and I was motivated by the finality of that phone call; the door was closed on me returning to the show and, more importantly, dance competitions that weren't YAGP. Though I really did feel relieved, I acted out the grief of being rejected in the solo. The second performance was just another opportunity to be onstage.

Abby had the soloists come to her as the duet got ready. "I was happy with all three of you. Paige, that was better emotion than I've seen, and at least you practiced while you weren't at the studio. Nia, brilliant. Your facials did get a bit over-the-top, so work on that. Joanne, that was inspired. Great work. My duet, you have to be just as good, as does the group.

Both dances went off without a hitch, with Brooke and Ursula telling a powerful story then the group going smoothly. I didn't trip and everyone was spaced properly, so that was good. Awards came around soon enough, with no one up for a title.

"First place in Teen Duo/Trio goes to entry number two hundred and forty, 'The Possession' from the Abby Lee Dance Company!"

"Second place in Junior solos, entry number fifty, 'The Doll' from the Abby Lee Dance Company! First place in Junior solos, entry number forty-nine, 'Beyond the Grave' from the Abby Lee Dance Company!"

Nia and Paige high-fived.

"First place in Senior solos, scoring the overall high score of the competition with a perfect score of 300 points, that's 'The Clown' from the Abby Lee Dance Company! Miss Joanne Ziegler!"

I stood, grinning.

"What's your studio name?"

"The Abby Lee Dance Company."

"And who choreographed this routine for you?"

"I did."

"Great work!"

The group also won, capping off a great weekend. I slept for twelve hours that night, almost missing church and a bit overwhelmed with all the emotions of the week.