Dance Moms

A few days before we were leaving to start our trek to Henderson, Nevada for Nationals we had an opportunity come up that we couldn't pass on. We had planned to go through Utah and stop there for the 4th of July. Then Jennifer C. told me that ADA was invited to compete in a nationals competition for the show Dance Moms. The competition would be held in Calabasas, CA on July 5th. Only a few of our pieces would be able to be in the competition. I told Jenn…"YES! We would be there!"So instead of going through Utah we made our way down to California. Not only would the Abby Lee company be there but Candy Apples also. Parts of it would be televised for their season finale.

Kaiya loves watching Dance Moms. It is really the only show that she watches (since she is always at dance and is hardly ever home). These girls on the show Kaiya has watched for years. Even watching their youtube dance videos over and over and over. It was a pretty exciting opportunity.

Kaiya had 2 dances. Her hip hop trio and a jazz group (Pop, Drop and Roll)

Arriving and finding the dressing room

Jovon 'renting' out shade

Waiting for Abby Lee and the girls to arrive

Still waiting. It was SO hot outside and we were roasting!

They arrived! The kids lined up outside to wait. 

Candy Apple kids arrived first and then Abby Lee

There's Abby

Kendall

Mackenzie, Cloe and her mom

Nia

Holly….she was very nice

Someone smelt a strange smell in the back of the stage so they called the fire dept. We all had to evacuate for a bit and then were able to go back in.

The competition would be going and then all the sudden everything would stop. Then the camera men and Producers would come into the auditorium. They would shine these bright lights on some empty chairs up front and then the stars of the Dance Mom's show would come in and sit down. There girls would dance…2 times each. One for the judges to judge and the others for the TV crews. They did that 3 times. Once for solos, then group and then the awards. Abby and the moms only saw 3 other dance teams perform and one was Kaiya's hip hop trio. It was like a dream come true for Kaiya. During one of the breaks the dance moms were trying to find the trio. They found the boys and told them what an amazing job they did. Kaiya was off probably just hanging out with her friends. She missed it! They told the boys to let the girl know what an awesome job she did. SO COOL! Abby also talked to Chris C. about him coming to do a master class at her studio. Things that you don't hear everyday. :)

Awards

The camera crew and producers. The dance moms were all sitting over there.

Dance Moms standing - celebrating their win

Auburn Dance Academy did really well. There was another studio from San Diego there that was INCREDIBLE. It was fantastic watching all the talent there.