Ep 10. The New Maddie?

In the Dance Moms season 5 episode 10, titled "The New Maddie?," the ALDC prepares to attend the prestigious Detroit Dance Awards. However, with Maddie absent due to prior commitments, Abby Lee Miller brings in a new dancer, Sarah Reasons, to potentially take her place as the team's top performer.

The episode opens with the team rehearsing their group dance, which Abby believes has a strong chance of winning at the awards. However, tensions arise when she announces that Maddie will not be attending the competition due to other commitments. The other dancers express their disappointment, as they are used to relying on Maddie to carry the group to victory.

Abby decides to try out Sarah, a dancer with an impressive resume, as a potential new lead for the team. The other dancers are immediately intimidated by Sarah's talent and experience, and tensions rise as they worry about competing against her. Nia, in particular, struggles with feeling overshadowed by Sarah and fears that she will never be able to fill Maddie's shoes.

Throughout the episode, viewers see the girls working hard in rehearsals, trying their best to impress Abby and stay on top of their game. Despite her initial doubts, Abby begins to warm up to Sarah, taking a special interest in her training and pushing her to excel even further. However, the other moms worry that Abby is putting too much pressure on Sarah and not giving the rest of the team a fair chance.

In addition to Sarah's addition to the team, the episode also features a solo competition between Kalani and Kendall. The two girls are tasked with performing contemporary solos, and tensions rise as they compete for Abby's approval. The other moms worry about Abby playing favorites, and tensions rise even further when it is revealed that Abby has already chosen a clear winner before the competition even begins.

As the episode comes to a close, viewers see the ALDC take the stage at the Detroit Dance Awards, with Sarah in the lead role for the group dance. The team gives it their all, impressing the judges with their precision and skill. However, tensions rise once again when it is revealed that Maddie has made a surprise appearance at the competition. The other girls worry that they will be compared unfavorably to Maddie, and tensions rise even further as they await the judges' decision.

Overall, Dance Moms season 5 episode 10 is a tense and dramatic episode, full of intricate choreography, tough competition, and emotional moments. As always, viewers are left on the edge of their seats, wondering what surprises and challenges the next episode will bring.