Set in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and Los Angeles, California, the show is primarily filmed at the Abby Lee Dance Company studios.
Contents
Synopsis
Primarily set in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and later in Los Angeles, California, the show follows the Abby Lee Dance Company's Junior Elite Competition Team of mostly preteen girls as they travel week-to-week to various dance competitions, winning awards and preparing for Nationals, while at the same time being prepared by Abby Lee Miller to be "professional, employable working dancers." The series depicts the doting mothers as rivals of each other on behalf of their own daughters, often arguing with Miller and each other, and sometimes closing ranks against rival teams. Dance performances are creatively conceptualized by Miller and her dance instructors, with input from the show's producers, while choreography is done by Miller, her staff, and occasionally a guest choreographer. Various rival dance teams spur the team's competitiveness. The show's success is often credited to the drama and conflict among Miller and the moms, along with the weekly dances and the close relationships among the girls as viewers watch them grow up and improve their skills.The show features Miller as a strict dance team coach who, over the series, relies more and more on criticism, sometimes personal, to motivate the girls, with an emphasis on hard work and competition against teammates. Every week on the show, Miller uses a pyramid of individual headshots and gives feedback to each girl about her ranking, previous week's performance, attitude, effort, and the behavior of the girl herself and her mother. Miller had never used a pyramid in her studio prior to Dance Moms, and when once asked about it, Miller stated, "I've never done that in my life. That has nothing to do with me. That's the show; they came up with that whole process."[1]
In season 5, Miller relocated the team to Los Angeles to help build her reputation on the west coast, and while the team continued weekly competitions, the focus has shifted somewhat to include preparation for acting and music business careers.
Cast
Abby Lee Dance Company
Dance Moms at the May 2015 opening of ALDC-LA in Santa Monica, California, season 5. From left: Holly Hatcher-Frazier, Kira Girard, Melissa Gisoni, Jill Vertes and Jessalynn Siwa.
- Abby Lee Miller is the director of Reign Dance Productions (formerly Maryen Lorrain Dance Studio), which houses the Abby Lee Dance Company (ALDC), of which she is owner and chief choreographer.[2][3][4] She left the show during the second half of Season 7.
- Gianna Martello is an instructor for RDP covering all genres of dance, and is also the assistant choreographer for the ALDC Junior Elite Competition team.[5] Martello studied dance under Miller's tutelage through Reign Dance Productions.
- Melissa Gisoni is the mother of Maddie Ziegler, a lyrical/tap dancer and Mackenzie Ziegler, acro/Hip hop dancer and singer (under the stage name Mackenzie ziegler).[2] Maddie and Mackenzie studied dance at Miller's studio through Reign Dance Productions from the early ages of four and two respectively. They were original cast members of Dance Moms, and left during Season 6.
- Christi Lukasiak is the mother of Chloe Lukasiak, a contemporary and lyrical dancer. Chloe began dancing at Miller's studio at age two. They were original cast members of the show, but left the show after the Season 4 finale. They returned to guest star for the Season 7 finale and Season 7B.[6]
- Kelly Hyland is the mother of Brooke Hyland, an acro dancer and singer and Paige Hyland, a jazz dancer and model. Kelly was a dancer at ALDC, but quit as a teenager to become a cheerleader. Brooke and Paige were original cast members, but Kelly assaulted Abby in the middle of Season 4, resulting in the Hyland's leaving the show. Brooke, Paige, and Kelly were eventually kicked out of ALDC because Kelly was reported for assaulting Abby.
- Holly Hatcher-Frazier, is the mother of Nia Frazier,[2] a contemporary and acro dancer and singer (Nia Sioux). Nia had earlier studied dance at Miller's studio through Reign Dance Productions. She was an original cast member of Dance Moms, and is the only original cast member to still be on the show.
- Cathy Nesbitt-Stein is the mother of Vivi-Anne, a musical theatre/tap dancer who joined the ALDC for most of season 1. Vivi-Anne was previously a student and team member at her mother's studio, Candy Apples Dance Centre, where she continued her dance training after leaving the team and show. Cathy and Vivi-Anne have continued to appear occasionally since season 2. (Also see "Rival studios" below.)
- Jill Vertes is the mother of Kendall,[2] a contemporary and jazz dancer and aspiring popstar (Kendall K). Before joining the ALDC in season 2, Kendall studied dance at Rogers Dance in Pittsburgh and Studio 19 in Cranberry Township, PA.[7] During season 2, Kendall was portrayed as having switched teams (to the CADC) for several episodes, but she returned to the ALDC team/cast. Besides Nia, she is one of the longest standing team members.
- Kristi Ray is the mother of Asia Monet Ray, a jazz/acro dancer and singer (Asia Monet). Asia first appeared on AUDC, where she was the youngest competitor from either season. Asia briefly danced with the Junior Elite Competition Team in Season 3, before leaving just before Nationals.
- Kira Girard is the mother of Kalani Hilliker,[2][8][9] a lyrical/ballet dancer. Before joining the ALDC in season 4, Kira and Kalani appeared on season 2 of Abby's Ultimate Dance Competition (AUDC).[10] After several weeks with the ALDC team in season 4, she was made a permanent team member of the ALDC in season 5.
- Jessalynn Siwa is the mother of JoJo,[11] a jazz and contemporary dancer. Before originally joining the ALDC as guests in season 5, Jessalynn and JoJo appeared on season 2 of AUDC.[12] After several episodes as a guest dancer, JoJo was made a full-time team member, but left the show during Season 6.
- Ashlee Allen is the mother of Brynn Rumfallo, a lyrical/acro dancer. Brynn had previously joined the team in Season 5 as a guest. Brynn trained at Club Dance Studio, Arizona, like her teammate Kalani. She was given the opportunity to be a full-time member of the team in the first episode of Season 6.
- Stacey Ann Ketchman is the mother of Lilliana Ketchman, a acrobatic & jazz dancer. They joined the ALDC in Season 6, and Lilliana joined the elite team in Season 7.
- Yolanda Walmsley is the mother of Elliana Walmsley, a jazz & lyrical dancer. They joined the ALDC in Season 6, and Elliana joined the elite team in Season 7.
- Camille Bridges is the mother of Camryn Bridges, a contemporary & jazz dancer. They joined the ALDC in Season 7.
- Jaime Caes is the mother of Maesi Caes, a hip hop & contemporary dancer from Iowa who toured with Justin Bieber. They joined the ALDC in Season 7 after Jojo quit the team.
Future main cast
- Cheryl Burke will replace Miller as the dance instructor during the second half of Season 7. [13]
Rival studios
- Candy Apples Dance Center (Canton, Ohio) is owned and operated by Cathy Nesbitt-Stein,[2] the mother of Vivi-Anne, who danced with the ALDC in season 1.[14][15] The CADC has been the main rival for the ALDC throughout the five seasons of televised competitions. Over the five seasons of Dance Moms, show producers added several dancers who were well known in the dance competition world and/or had auditioned for Dance Moms in the past, making the "Candy Apples" a team that existed only for television (the real-life Candy Apples team ceased to be featured on the show). Partway through season 5, the CADC was completely recast for one week (see below).
- Studio Bleu Dance Center (Ashburn, Virginia) is coached by Gloria Hampton, the mother of Kaeli, who danced with the ALDC as a guest team member briefly in season 3.[16][17][18] Studio Bleu's competition team, which the ALDC competed against several times, was portrayed as a respected and formidable opponent in several episodes.
- Murrieta Dance Project (Murrieta, California) is owned and operated by Erin Babbs,[19] who has been an occasional guest choreographer for the CADC in seasons 4 and 5.[20][21] MDP competed against the ALDC several times in season 5.
- Broadway Dance Academy (Fenton, Michigan) is owned and operated by Jeanette Cota,[22] the mother of Ava, who guest starred as part of the ALDC "Select Team" in season 4.[23][24][25]
The real BDA team competed against the ALDC several times in season 5
before leaving the show (except for Ava) to be replaced on the TV team
by the four dancers from the former CADC team.
- Beginning with the start of season 5.5, BDA competed as "Candy Apples" for one week after which they resumed using their actual name. This team (consisting of Huelsman, Wilkenson, Smith, Roth and Ava Cota) won the Overall Group competition, handing the ALDC their first Nationals loss in the group overall category.
Episodes
| Season | Episodes | Originally aired | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| First aired | Last aired | ||||
| 1 | 13 | July 13, 2011 | October 12, 2011 | ||
| 2 | 30[a] | January 10, 2012 | September 25, 2012 | ||
| 3 | 39[b] | January 1, 2013 | September 17, 2013 | ||
| 4 | 34 | January 1, 2014 | October 14, 2014 | ||
| 5 | 34 | January 6, 2015 | August 18, 2015 | ||
| 6 | 34 | January 5, 2016 | November 22, 2016 | ||
| 7 | TBA | November 29, 2016 | TBA | ||
- Notes
- Season 3 included one episode that was not allocated an episode number by Lifetime.
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