Recap / Kids Incorporated S 1 E 21 Dance Palace

This episode contains what's promoted as the first annual dance competition at the P*lace, with Kids Incorporated hosting and performing. As will be seen below, there isn't much in terms of plot here.

We open up with a performance of "(Love is Like a) Heat Wave"; upon which Riley - serving as the emcee - goes over the rules before turning it over for the first contestant, Carla Martin, who dances to an instrumental version of "Footloose" - with Mickey & Gloria joining in towards the end. Next is a duo of contestants (one of whom is named Garrett Young) dancing to an instrumental of "Freak-A-Zoid" before the kids take the mic for a cover of "Billie Jean".

Following that song, we learn of the grand prize being a Singing Machine karaoke player before our second duo (Tiffany Brady and Danielle Vanderberg) dances to "Maniac" before the dance competition ends with a kid calling himself "The Little Wizard"), who dances to "There's No Stopping Us". The band takes a vote, and (after Stacy whispers the result to Riley); Gloria announces that Tiffany and Danielle were the winners, setting up closing song "Far From Over".

Songs performed in this episode:

• “(Love is Like a) Heat Wave" (Martha and the Vandellas cover {also recorded by Linda Ronstadt}; lead vocals by Gloria)^note Gloria would sing a portion of this song again in the Season 2 finale "Decade of Hits"; while three years later Ryan would sing the song in Season 5's "Kahuna Kids"
• “Billie Jean” (Michael Jackson cover; lead vocals by Mickey & Kid)
• “Far From Over“ (Frank Stallone cover^note if you're curious, yes Sylvester Stallone is Frank's brother; lead vocals by Mickey)

Instrumental songs played during this episode:

• "Footloose" (Kenny Loggins cover; performed in "Space Case")
• "Freak-A-Zoid" (Midnight Star cover; performed in "Robot Bop")
• "Maniac" (Michael Sembello cover; performed in "Go For the Gold")
• "There's No Stopping Us" (Ollie & Jerry cover; performed in "Leader of the Pack")

Tropes associated with this episode:

• As Himself: The contestants.
• Dance-Off: The main purpose of the episode is a dance contest for several kids who participated.
• Formula-Breaking Episode: This episode is a dance contest with the fewest songs in an episode at just 3.
• Product Placement: The grand prize is a Singing Machine karaoke player.