[s5e18] Showdown In Pittsburgh, Part 2 -

For a deep dive into the specific dance results or to rewatch these performances, you can visit the Dance Moms Wiki or stream the episode on platforms like Tubi and Apple TV . Dance Moms Recap S5 E18 Mid-Season Finale - Glamorosi

Fans often remember this episode for the drama—where rival Cathy mocked the missing ALDC dancers by suggesting an empty chair could do a better solo. It also highlighted the growing rift between Holly Frazier and the rest of the moms, as Nia was largely excluded from the Jump convention after hosting a premiere party for her music video, "Star in Your Own Life," which some ALDC members did not attend. [S5E18] Showdown in Pittsburgh, Part 2

Nia performed her contemporary solo "Never Knew," though she did not place in the top rankings. For a deep dive into the specific dance

Brought a routine based on her daughter Vivi-Anne’s adoption story, which took 2nd place overall . Nia performed her contemporary solo "Never Knew," though

Because the original solos for Kendall and Kalani had to be scratched, JoJo and Nia stepped in as understudies. JoJo notably performed an improvised solo titled "Electricity," which earned her 3rd place in the Junior Elite division.

Her daughter, Ava Cota, won 1st place in the senior division with a solo inspired by Abby’s past criticisms. Why It's Iconic

Despite the "no-show" drama earlier in the day, the full ALDC team eventually arrived to perform their lyrical/contemporary group routine, "No Sign of Life" . They secured 1st place overall , narrowly beating rival Cathy Nesbitt-Stein’s Candy Apples by just half a point. Rivalry & Tension