Ep 7. The Fresno Curse

In season 7 episode 7 of Dance Moms titled "The Fresno Curse," the ALDC heads to the city of Fresno, California, for another intense competition. The mothers stress about their daughters' performances while the girls try to stay focused on the competition ahead.

At the beginning of the episode, tensions are high as the ALDC prepares for the competition. Abby Lee Miller is back in Pittsburgh serving time in prison, leaving Cheryl Burke in charge of the team. The moms are skeptical of Burke's methods and fear that their daughters may not be receiving the same tough love Miller is known for.

The team heads to Fresno to face stiff competition. The pyramid is revealed with only five girls making it to the top. Nia and Camryn share the top spot, but the rest of the pyramid is filled with girls who need to step it up.

The group routine is a dark and moody contemporary dance. The girls go through a moody and powerful routine featuring some headstands and technical lifts that push them to their limits. The routine looks promising, but the moms are still worried that the ALDC will face a loss.

However, the moms' fears come true when the judge's critiques are less than ideal. The girls and the moms are all disappointed when their dance receives a low score. Nevertheless, they put their heads down and prepare for the individual dances.

There are three solos in this episode, and the individual winners also make it to the top three of the pyramid in the coming week. The first solo is Kalani's fierce jazz dance. Her performance wows both the audience and the judges, and her routine earns her high scores.

The second solo is Brynn's lyrical dance which is delicate and emotional. Though she manages to pull off the technical aspects of the routine, she fails to connect with the judges and the audience, leading to lower scores.

Maddie's younger sister, Mackenzie, performs the last solo with her little sister watching from the audience. The routine is a sassy, showgirl number which gets great reviews from the judges, But, Mackenzie doesn't perform up to her usual standard, which means that any chance she had at winning may be compromised.

The final group dance is a circus-themed routine that is full of energy and adrenaline. The dance is fast-paced, filled with high kicks, acrobatic lifts, and daring stunts that leave the audience in awe. The girls perform well, and the audience seems to appreciate their skills.

At the end of the competition, the results come out, and the ALDC receives mixed reviews. While some of the girls' routines are excellent, others fall short of the judge's expectations. The moms worry about how this loss will reflect on the team, but Cheryl Burke is undeterred and encourages them to continue working hard.

Fans of Dance Moms will enjoy this episode as it continues the drama, tension, and excitement which the show is famous for. Although the Fresno Curse may have struck the ALDC in this episode, fans know that the team always bounces back and continues to deliver their best performances.