Season 2

The departure of Cathy and Vivi-Anne creates an opportunity for Abby to change the make up of her dance group with a big open audition. Holly's busy career schedule forces her to miss Nia's rehearsals and competitions, which Abby sees as a lack of Dance Mom dedication. Abby has to come to terms with Chloe's growing success.

Abby's dancers go head to head against Cathy's Candy Apples, but this time Cathy makes sure her dancers are unbeatable even if it means cheating. Cathy sets a poaching trap for the Dance Moms by inviting them to an anonymous cocktail party.

Brooke tries out for cheerleading leaving Abby and the dancers in the lurch the day before a big competition.

Abby choreographs a bully themed dance that sends Holly over the edge. The Abby Lee Dance Company is shaken-up when Abby replaces Brooke with a new girl and switches girls in and out of dance numbers, sending the moms into a frenzy. Meanwhile, during cheerleading, Brooke learns the hard way that the grass isn't always greener.

Brooke's return from cheerleading to the ALDC leaves no room for Payton, so Dance Mom Leslie takes her to audition for the Candy Apples. Abby gives Kendall her ALDC jacket and announces that she is officially off probation. Now that Kendall is a permanent member of the team, Dance Mom Jill takes off her gloves.

Abby puts the moms in charge of making the girls' costumes themselves for the competition. However, Jill breaks the rules by buying an expensive dance outfit for Kendall, leading to a conflict with Abby and almost causing Kendall to be unable to perform. Meanwhile, Maddie slips and falls during her performance.

Paige is at the top of the pyramid for once, but her trio rehearsals receive harsh criticisms from Abby. Maddie is at the bottom of the pyramid, to both Maddie and Melissa's surprise. Abby choreographs a Private-Eye themed dance that involves guns, igniting drama between she and the moms. Meanwhile, the moms perform their own investigations on Jill, and find her talking to her old studio at the competition.

After Kendall is put back on probation, Jill has had enough and decides to take Kendall to dance at Candy Apple's, who surprise the ALDC by showing up at the same event. Abby choreographs a wedding themed dance, attempting to end Melissa's secretiveness. In addition, Holly leaves the competition early after feeling she and her daughter were manipulated.

The Dance Moms think Abby has pushed the envelope too far when she creates a dance number where the girls are made to appear nude. Meanwhile, Cathy offers Chloe a chance to be in a commercial for her husband's beef jerky business.

The dancers leave snowy Pittsburgh for the warm beaches of Miami, but unfortunately not everything is a vacation. Holly is upset that Nia is once again not considered for a role in the coveted team trio, and confronts Abby, only to get expelled from the studio. Also, Paige gets her planters warts removed and is almost pulled from the trio due to the pain. Elsewhere, Kendall performs at a Globetrotters game.

Melissa is tired of Christi and Kelly’s inquiries about her engagement and has her attorney send a letter to the nosy mothers. The letter gets not only the moms worked up, but causes meltdowns in the dance studio. Melissa must choose between being a customer of Abby’s and a friend of Cathy’s. Meanwhile, a Candy Apple's dance routine goes wrong and one of the dancers must be rushed to the hospital.

The dance troupe learns that a scout from the prestigious Joffrey Ballet School will attend their next competition, and they work hard in order to impress him. An injured Nia is placed in a trio with Mackenzie and Paige, and are pitted against a formidable trio comprised of their own teammates.

In the mid-season finale, Abby's dancers compete in the regionals and for a scholarship at the Joffrey Ballet School. Unfortunately, the Candy Apples are also competing for both, leading to an emotional breakdown by Abby.

Abby returns, Maddie tries to regain her confidence, while Chloe feels the weight of the dance company on her shoulders. But as Mackenzie falls during her solo, the team is in for another disappointing week at competition.

Abby criticizes the lifeless dancing of her squad, and choreographs a zombie themed dance to suit them, and Holly strives to create the elaborate costumes. Abby throws a chair, Kelly makes a drastic decision moments before her daughters take the stage, and Maddie struggles to find confidence in a week when her music skips.

Abby and Melissa face a cheating scandal, Kelly's daughters are put on probation, Mackenzie has a solo that makes up for last week's slip, and the girls compete against two crack teams aiming for them at a contest in Michigan.

Abby secretly enters Maddie in two competitions at the same event. With Brooke absent for a school dance, Payton returns for a group number inspired by "The Hunger Games."

Abby and the girls are out for revenge when they go up against Cathy and her Candy Apple's for the first time in the new competition season. Meanwhile, Kelly secretly re-choreographs Paige's solo, and Jill becomes frustrated with Cathy.

Kelly's birthday party turns into a disaster when a fight breaks out; Abby arranges for the girls to audition for "Drop Dead Diva"; Leslie works to get her daughter a solo; Brooke faces tough competition from a teammate.

The dancer who gets the Drop Dead Diva role is revealed, Paige gets injured badly, and Nia gets a chance to wow the crowd with a solo. However, the biggest surprise is when Jill and Kendall return to the ALDC.

Paige suffers an injury that takes her out of the team for a few weeks. Jill is all too happy as this gives Kendall a chance to join the team as a replacement for Paige. Maddie is all ready for her guest role on Drop Dead Diva.

Cathy is out for revenge after learning Jill and Kendall have returned to Abby's. Chloe not only gets a chance to shine after Maddie turns down a solo, but she also gets massive pressure.

A new style of dance (hip-hop) for the annual ALDC recital gets the dancers and moms shaken up, as Paige struggles to return from her broken foot. When Payton and Leslie join the group, tension starts between Leslie and Kelly. Cathy and her Apples decides to make an unnecessary stop with her Apples at the recital.

Just as Paige gets approval from her doctor to dance, a new dance mom and her little dancer arrive at the studio. Nicaya Wiley and her mom, Kaya Wiley join the dance team. Christi starts a fight between her and Kaya.

Each girl performs a solo for Abby to determine who will compete at Nationals. Meanwhile, Melissa tries to sign her daughters with an agency, and Kelly helps Brooke with her singing career.

The dancers compete for a national title in Beverly Hills, with Candy Apple's following the trail. Four solos will perform for the ALDC, but the team is shaken when Abby forces Chloe, Kendall and Nia to vie for the one remaining unassigned slot. Paige is given a leading but unchallenging role, Brooke's music video is revealed, while Kelly doubts it is worth returning for another season.

Abby and the moms reunite to discuss the season.

Conclusion. Abby and the moms reunite to discuss the season.

Abby counts down her most shocking moments from season two.

Abby ranks dance performances from worst to best.