The Red Shoes

After everyone celebrates Christian's 18th birthday on Observatory Hill, Abigail convinces Tara to compete in the Prix again, telling her she'll help her practice, while Ben says that he'll take Sammy's place in the competition, as he was third behind Sammy and Michael. Naturally-talented Grace remains in first place until the last day of competition, when contestants perform their solos. Meanwhile, Kat turns up for her first-year exams despite being given a break. Christian visits Tara who invites him back to spend the holidays on the farm despite her dating Ben. Tara confesses that things with Ben are awkward. At the same time Christian's father contacts him and invites him on a road trip during the holiday break to clear his head. Abigail wants Tara to remain focused and to do her Red Shoes solo even though Grace is still going ahead with it. Tara agrees after Abigail convinces her she can do it well. When the final day arrives, Grace's performance is noted by Tara to be "technically and artistically perfect", but Abigail says that she dances without emotion. Tara shows genuine emotion during her performance, imagining Sammy helping her perform, and she receives a standing ovation and emotional responses from everyone, including Grace. Ben, in second place, decides on doing Sammy's piece (with the video montage backdrop), despite choreography having to be approved, and invites his friends onstage. When he finishes, balloons fall down on the group, who embrace, while the judges look bewildered as Zach and Miss Raine also take to the stage. Tara's voice-over concludes the episode by saying that despite Grace winning (and deciding to attend the Academy for third year), it was "never about winning" for her. Christian chooses to spend the holidays motorcycling with his Dad in Tasmania, promising Tara he will return for third year, while Abigail goes to Barcelona with Ethan, and Kat decides to spend her break with Tara on the farm.