‘Dance Moms’ Season 5, Episode 14 Recap: Maddie Ziegler’s Acting Skills Critiqued By Dallas Lovato

Triple threat? Not yet! The ALDC headed back to Los Angeles in episode 14 of “Dance Moms” Season 5 Tuesday, but this time, it wasn't their dancing skills that took center stage. While Kendall Vertes and Nia Frazier began their journey into the music industry, the rest of Abby Lee Miller’s famed elite junior team tried their hand at acting.

“You're representing me. If the resume is wrong, if the pictures are 8 X 11, I want to crawl in a hole and die,” Abby warned her students before the acting lesson and their dance weekly competition. “You are responsible for the integrity of my business and my livelihood and what I have created."

Despite being Abby’s star student, Maddie Ziegler — who has been praised for her performance skills after starring in three of pop singer Sia’s hit music videos — was immediately singled out by the team’s acting coach, Dallas Lovato. As Abby mentioned in the episode, titled “Hollywood, Round Two,” Dallas, 27, is an acting coach and the older sister of former Disney star and chart-topping singer, Demi Lovato.

Dallas started off her acting lesson by warning Abby’s students to be prepared before going into an audition. One of the things she told the girls they needed to have handy was facts about themselves, such as the title of their favorite film. Unfortunately for Maddie, 12, she was the first one asked by the acting coach to name her favorite film, a request which she failed to deliver.

“You’re an actress. If you want to be an actor, you’ve got to know these favorite movies,” Dallas gently scolded Maddie. “You’ve got to be able to pull these things out very quickly. You have to be able to think on your toes. This is not an easy industry."

While Maddie's mom, Melissa Gisoni, and Abby appeared annoyed by Dallas’ critique, dance mom Jill Vertes said she was pleased her daughter’s teammate’s faults were finally being addressed. “Someone giving a critique to Maddie about something she’s doing wrong, I think I’m going to like this Dallas Lovato,” she said.

After Dallas gave the ALDC girls advice, they all participated in an improvisational exercise. Following their performances, Dallas critiqued each of Abby’s students, but it was Maddie who appeared to get the brunt of her negative feedback.

“Maddie, are you tired today?” Dallas asked. When Maddie said she was not, Dallas continued with her critique, saying the reality star appeared to be “lacking a little bit of energy.”

“I would just like to see you sparkle more,” Dallas shared. “It just seems like you’re just going through the motions.”

While Maddie may have slightly disappointed Abby during the acting seminar, she did not fail to deliver on stage. At New York Dance Experience, the young performer and her teammates took home first-place overall for their lyrical number “Together We Stand,” their first big win on the West Coast in Season 5. Kendall, who served as one of Abby’s two competing soloists, also placed first in the pre-teen division for her contemporary number "Waiting."

What did you think of the ALDC’s acting skills? Tell us in the comments section below! “Dance Moms” airs Tuesdays at 9 p.m. EDT on Lifetime.