When this life-changing competition kicks off the 12 finalists are tasked with their first live performance in front of judges including, Dance Moms Abby Lee Miller, Robin Antin, founder of the Pussycat Doll s dance troupe and celebrity choreographer, Richard "Richy" Jackson. The dancers are split into trios and assigned routines with a "Hollywood" theme. As the contestants prepare throughout the week, the moms start sizing each other up. Alliances begin to form, but when one mom takes charge during rehearsal, the other moms realize that she could be trouble. Plus, one mother and daughter team reveal just how far they re willing to go to win the competition.

There are 11 dancers left and the theme for this week's competition is "Monsters of the Night." The theme proves to be very fitting as one mom bares her claws and strikes at another, who is using her divorce as a way to get attention.

This week, the 10 remaining dancers are assigned duets based on "American Extremes." One of the classically trained dancers struggles during her hip-hop duet. Meanwhile, another contestant's role in the group dance forces her to share painful memories with her fellow dancers. Plus, one mother's meddling threatens to send a team home.

The weekly performance theme is "Broadway"; mothers team up; the judges cannot decide who to send home.

After winning the right to pick all the dance assignments for the week, one mother takes this week's skill, survival, to heart. Her strategy to sabotage the other dancers by putting them in their weakest areas creates discord amongst the mothers who feel betrayed by her actions. Meanwhile, one dancer struggles with her technique while ignoring her mother's corrections, which threatens to turn their dance into a real disaster. And, one pair must overcome their physical differences in order to become the perfect dancing machines.

With only seven dancers left in the competition, the pressure is at a fever-pitch. One mom is overwhelmed as she deals with competition demands as well as personal problems. Meanwhile, one dancer struggles with confidence issues as she tackles her very first solo of the competition.