This article was originally published on JustStarz
The Show Was Going to Be Totally Different
Dance Moms wouldn't have been the same without the focus on the Abby Lee Dance Company, but it seems as though there was once a very different premise for the show. When Lifetime was on the lookout for the right cast for the show, they had intended to follow five dance moms and their daughters as they traveled across the country to compete in shows. It was never meant to focus specifically on Pittsburgh or Abby Lee Miller.
However, when the producers realized that Abby was a force to be reckoned with and that "their favorite mothers were in Pittsburgh" they decided to focus on one specific area and one specific dance school.
Cathy Was Supposed to Be the Star
During the early seasons of Dance Moms, many of the episodes focused on the rivalry between Abby Lee Miller and the Abby Lee Dance Company and Cathy Nesbitt-Stein's Candy Apple's Dance Center. But have you ever wondered why their rivalry was so deep? Well, it might have something to do with the fact that Cathy was originally supposed to be the star. Producers originally wanted her to be the leading dance teacher.
And while Cathy was more than happy to take on the role, the producers had a last-minute change of heart and decided to go with Abby Lee Miller instead. So, that must have hurt.
One Racy Episode Was Banned
Every week, Dance Moms fans saw the young dancers prancing around in outrageous dance attire. And while this normally featured sequins, cut-outs, and flesh-colored inserts, there was one particular costume and routine that left fans reeling. In fact, fans were so uncomfortable when they saw the young girls perform a burlesque routine with skin-tone leotards that Lifetime was bombarded with complaints from viewers. In the end, they couldn't ignore the riots.
Lifetime eventually decided to pull the episode from streaming platforms, but it seemed as though the damage had already been done. The episode had already been aired, and snippets are still available online.
The Dancers Didn't Go to School
In season one, we were introduced to the wonderful young dancers at the Abby Lee Dance Company. But at the time, all of the girls - except for Maddie Ziegler - had to juggle their dance careers with their full-time education. However, the fact that Maddie was homeschooled led to a huge amount of tension between the moms, as they believed that Abby was giving Maddie more attention during private lessons.
In the end, it was decided that all of the girls would be homeschooled to give them all equal opportunities to succeed. According to JoJo Siwa, they would spend three hours a day on schoolwork.
Maddie Struggled With the Pressure
As one of the most famous dancers to come out of Dance Moms, Maddie Ziegler credits the show for pushing her into the spotlight. However, she's also spoken out about the stress and the pressure she felt as a dancer, as one of Abby Lee Miller's favorites, and as a young person thrust into the world of fame and fortune. In fact, she told People that "I was stressed at 11 years old, which shouldn't happen."
She also explained that "I did learn a lot from [Abby Lee Miller] and we did have some fun times. But I feel like now, I've never been happier in my life."
Kelly and Abby's Feud Became Physical
There was no doubt about the fact that Abby Lee Miller was the head honcho of the Abby Lee Dance Company. But sometimes her big personality clashed with some of the other moms, and this resulted in numerous screaming matches. But that's not all. Some fans may remember an episode where Kelly Hyland slapped Abby Lee Miller on-screen, claiming to have done so in self-defense. However, Abby didn't take too kindly to this.
Abby actually pressed charges against Hyland, and fans expected a long and lengthy court process. In the end, though, Miller agreed to drop the charges as long as Hyland agreed to undertake counseling sessions.
Abby Wasn't Scared to Confront Producers
Although Lifetime secured Dance Moms a prominent spot on their network, it was Abby Lee Miller who called the shots when it came to her show. And it's been suggested that the dance teacher wasn't afraid to put her foot down or confront producers - especially when it came to their requests for racier dance routines. Abby wanted to maintain the integrity and honor of her dancers, which is why she often refused producers' requests.
In Abby's words, "When a grown man tells me he wants one of my kids to portray a pregnant teen and wear a baby bump, I have to put my foot down." So, that's what she did.
Apparently, It's Not Scripted
Like many other reality shows, the authenticity of Dance Moms has been questioned over the years. Many people have wondered whether the show really is real life, or whether it's scripted for viewers' entertainment. However, Jill Vertes has claimed that it's totally real. The mother of Kendall Vertes stated that the show is "not scripted one iota." And she's not the only one to say this, as Kelly Hyland has also seemingly confirmed this.
Although Kelly once tried to blame an outburst on the show's script, she later took to Twitter to announce that "The show is not scripted or staged. It is just very edited... to make me look bad."
Kelly Hyland Took Her Grievances to Court
Kelly Hyland made her mark known as Brooke and Paige's mom on Dance Moms, but not always in a good way. She regularly came face-to-face with Abby Lee Miller in bitter arguments and physical altercations, and she made it clear that she was annoyed with the show as a whole. In the end, Kelly decided to make her grievances known legally, and she decided to sue Abby Lee Miller and Collins Avenue Entertainment.
Kelly wanted to sue Abby and the production company for defamation, breach of contract, emotional distress, and for the damage caused to her home during filming. And after a two-year battle, all parties managed to reach a settlement.
Competition Days Are Highly Edited
Whenever the dancers attended a competition on Dance Moms, it seemed as though they were bombarded with fans who all wanted to get a closer look at the Abby Lee Dance Company. However, when the International Business Times decided to get up close and personal with the dancers during one competition in 2014, they realized that this wasn't the case at all. In fact, the competition arena was pretty empty - of both dancers and audience members.
They claimed that they saw the producers "staging the stars' entrance into the event and prodding the drama." So, the competitions aren't scripted, but they are certainly fluffed up for the sake of the show.
Payton Ackerman Received Death Threats
In season two of Dance Moms, we were introduced to a brand new dancer by the name of Payton Ackerman. And while it was clear to see that she was a talented dancer, the Ackerman name was often on the lips of fans - and not for good reason. Not only was Payton accused of being a bully, but her mom was also involved in a physical fight with Christi Lukasiak.
However, critics took things too far when they sent Payton death threats. She noted that "People were calling my home phone in the middle of the night. People were showing up to our front door."
The Show Made Abby Lee Lose Business
When offered the chance to star in Dance Moms, Abby Lee Miller didn't have to think twice. She knew her dancers were something special, and she knew that her unique teaching style would provide viewers with some serious entertainment. And while there's no doubt about the fact that the show has changed her life, it also made her lose some serious business when she first signed the Dance Moms contract.
When Abby told her students and their moms that she was going to do the show, a whopping 14 parents decided to pull their daughters out of her school. They just didn't want to be associated with her anymore.
Abby Lee Miller Was Sent to Jail
During her time on Dance Moms, fans could see that Abby Lee Miller was a live-wire. She was strong and tough, and she worked her girls hard. However, fans never expected her to land herself behind bars. This happened in 2017 when Abby was convicted of 20 counts of fraud and a failure to declare a whopping $120,000 Australian dollars that she brought back from overseas. This resulted in her imprisonment for one year and one day.
In the end, though, Abby was released after eight months inside due to good behavior. And while she was behind bars, she even bagged herself a diploma in Personal Finance.
Abby Reportedly Left Fn Her Own Accord
When it was announced that Abby Lee Miller would be leaving Dance Moms in 2017, fans were shocked. The dance teacher had been the backbone of the show since 2011, and they couldn't imagine it without her. And while some speculated that her jail time and legal issues contributed to her being gently pushed away from the show and Lifetime as a whole, Abby claims that it was her decision.
In an interview with ABC News, Abby claimed that she left because she was "being manipulated, disrespected, and used day in and day out by men" working for the production company.
The Dancers Had to Perform Twice
One of the most entertaining aspects of Dance Moms is watching the dancers perform for the judges. And while most people would assume that the dancers only perform once, it's been revealed that that's not the case at all. Nia Sioux confirmed during a YouTube video that they would perform twice, and that "Once we would perform for the judges, so that was the time that they would actually judge you."
The second time was filmed purely for the sake of the show, as this enabled the camera operators and producers to get all of the shots they needed to make the episode complete.
Chloe's Contract Was Too Ridiculous to Sign
During season four of Dance Moms, we had to say goodbye to Chloe Lukasiak. But this wasn't because she fell out of love with dancing, and it wasn't even because she wanted to leave. Instead, she and her mom refused to sign the ridiculous contract bestowed upon them by the Abby Lee Dance Company. This contract would have forced Chloe to agree never to lose or gain weight, dye her hair, or get any tattoos.
As if that wasn't enough, the contract also stated that Chloe needed to give 10% of her earnings to Abby Lee Miller. In the end, Chloe and her mom decided against signing it.
JoJo Siwa Dealt With a Stalker Situation
Today, JoJo Siwa is considered to be one of the most famous dancers to come from Dance Moms. And while she understands that attention comes with the territory, she dealt with a scary situation in 2015 when a stalker sent her unwanted packages in the mail. Apparently, the man had been captivated by the young dancer as he watched her on-screen, and so he wanted to get into contact with her.
As if that wasn't enough, the man also got a tattoo of the young dancer on his neck. Naturally, JoJo contacted the police, and the stalker was eventually arrested for his crimes.
The Producers Pushed for Extra Drama
As with any show, the producers aim to have as much drama as possible. After all, that's what keeps the audience coming back for more! This was especially true with Dance Moms, as Lifetime knew that the on-screen drama between the dancers, Abby, and the moms is what truly drove the show. Because of this, it's been suggested that producers pushed for extra drama during filming and that arguments are outright encouraged.
Maddie Ziegler told USA Today, "It's hard to do a reality show when there's so much crying and drama. The producers set it up to make us all yell at each other... The moms have a fake fight sometimes."
JoJo Experienced Hair Loss
When you think of JoJo Siwa, you probably think of her long blonde locks. But it turns out that JoJo has suffered hair loss over the years - although she has tried to hide this from her fans. And while you may think that dyeing it blonde or keeping it up in a high pony would damage her hair, it seems as though that wasn't the case at all. Instead, it was stress from the show.
JoJo told TikTok, "It's actually not from the ponytails. I had a really bad stress rash... and I would pick it all day long, and I damaged every single hair follicle."
It Wasn't Meant to Be a Reality Show
When Dance Moms was just a concept, Lifetime had no idea it would later become one of the most popular reality shows out there. That's because it was never initially meant to be a reality show at all. Instead, Lifetime was looking to create a documentary based on young dancers, with the intention of following the girls and their moms as they took part in rehearsals and worked their way up to competition.
Nia Sioux confessed on her YouTube channel, "It was only supposed to be for six weeks and six episodes, so we never really thought anything of it. Obviously, it turned into much more than that."
Paige Hyland Also Tried to Sue Abby
It seems as though the Hyland family is used to filing lawsuits against the likes of Abby Lee Miller. After quitting the Abby Lee Dance Company in 2014, Kelly's daughter Paige decided to file a lawsuit against her former dance teacher. She claimed that Abby treated her unfairly and that she inflicted traumatizing treatment on her during their lessons. Most notably, she claimed that Abby pinched and insulted her on a regular basis.
Apparently, Abby's conduct during these lessons left Paige suffering from panic attacks. However, the judge eventually decided to drop the case as they believed there was a distinct lack of evidence.
The Girls Were Fast Learners
While Abby Lee Miller and the Abby Lee Dance Company were often chastised for working the young dancers too hard, it seems as though the girls were prepared to put in the work. Not only were they extremely talented individuals in the dance studio, but they also had the ability to learn their routines extremely fast. This worked in their favor when Abby wanted them to compete as often as they could.
Nia Sioux confessed that "We started the dance on Wednesday. We would finish it either Thursday or Friday, and we would compete Saturday." That sounds like a lot of work!
Abby Doesn't Put on a Show for the Cameras
With her eclectic personality and her larger-than-life presence, Abby Lee Miller was one of the reasons why Dance Moms was so successful. Fans tuned in every week to check out the next installment of her bizarre behavior, but this led many people to wonder whether she was putting on a show just for the cameras. However, what you see is what you get when it comes to this dance teacher!
Jill Vertes confirmed that "It's really who she is," and Nia Sioux later confessed that "There were some things that they couldn't air actually." So, we can't imagine what that would have been!
The Girls Had to Split Their Season One Paycheck
It would be easy to assume that Dance Moms gave the young dancers a little more pocket money than the average teenager. And while they were paid for appearing on the show, they were paid a tiny amount of money during the first season. Plus, they weren't even paid individually. The whole cast as a whole was given a check, and then it was down to them to split it how they seemed fit.
During a Q&A session, Christie Lukasiak explained that she earned just $600 from the first season of Dance Moms. Of course, as the show grew bigger, so did their paychecks.
Kelly and Abby Go Way Back
Although Kelly Hyland and Abby Lee Miller had a rough ride of it on Dance Moms, what many fans don't realize is that their relationship goes way beyond a professional level. No, Kelly was not just the mom of one of Abby's dancers - these two women have known each other since they were children themselves! They actually first met when Kelly joined Abby Lee Miller's mom's dance school when she was two years old.
Abby was just 22 years old when she decided to branch out and form her own dance school, and before too long the Abby Lee Dance Company was formed. Throughout the process, Kelly was by her side.
Mackenzie Was Part of a Deal
Maddie and Mackenzie Ziegler were both part of the Dance Moms cast, but anyone who watched the show will know that Maddie was one of Abby Lee Miller's favorites. Mackenzie seemed to fade into the background, and apparently, there was a reason for that. According to reports, the younger Ziegler was never meant to be on the show at all! However, their mom only agreed to let Maddie be on the show if Mackenzie could be on it too.
Unfortunately, this had a knock-on effect on Mackenzie. She stated that "I didn't feel like I was good enough. I was also really nervous about people watching me on TV."
Abby Wasn't as Present as She Seemed
When watching Dance Moms, it's easy to assume that Abby Lee Miller was at her dance studio all day, every day. It seemed as though she was always ready and willing to work with her girls, and that she was always on hand if they needed her. However, some of the dancers' moms have disputed this claim - and Abby's absence is reportedly what caused them to start their own dance team called The Irreplaceables.
Jill Vertes actually told Seventeen that the dancers "would sit for hours waiting for her to come out to do pyramid." In the end, it began to aggravate the dancers and their moms.
JoJo Is Not Naturally Blonde
Although it seems as though JoJo was on Dance Moms from the beginning, it's important to remember that she only joined the show during season five. However, she quickly made an impression with her bright personality, impressive dancing talent, blonde hair, and extravagant bows. But while JoJo's bright blonde ponytail and bow combination soon became her trademark, did you know that she's not naturally blonde? She's actually a natural brunette!
In an effort to get her to stand out in the dancing crowd, JoJo's mom decided to start dying her daughter's hair when she was just nine years old. She's still blonde today, so she must like it!
Abby Made the Girls Stand a Certain Way
Like many other dance teachers around the world, Abby Lee Miller had a certain way of teaching. She wanted to make the Abby Lee Dance Company one of the best in the business, and she knew that her girls were a direct reflection of her. So, that's why she decided to regulate everything the girls did - even down to how they stood! Chloe Lukasiak actually confirmed this in a YouTube video.
She stated that "We couldn't stand with our hands in front of our bodies, they had to be behind our bodies because otherwise, it looks like we wet ourselves."
Kira Girard Has a Fraudulent Past
While Abby Lee Miller has been called out for her criminal past, it seems as though she's not the only one associated with Dance Moms who has a few skeletons in her closet. In 2005 - before she first appeared on the show - Kalani Hilliker’s mom Kira Girard was actually arrested for fraud. This was first revealed by another mom, who believed the cast and fans of Dance Moms needed to know the truth.
Kira reportedly sold TVs on eBay without sending the product to the buyers. Instead, she pocketed the money for herself - something she then pled guilty to. She didn't go to jail but did get fined and had to complete two years' probation.
Abby Wishes She Hadn't Declared Bankruptcy
It's hard to imagine a time before we had Abby Lee Miller on our screens, but it turns out that the dance teacher had a pretty rough ride of it before the show aired. In fact, she felt as though she had no option but to declare bankruptcy in 2010 when she struggled to pay her dance studio bills. But she's since said that this "was the worst thing [she] ever should have done."
That's because her life turned around shortly after when she earned money through the show and other projects, but she opted to hide these earnings from the government. Ultimately, this landed her jail time.
The Dancers All Shared the Same School Teacher
As they were homeschooled throughout much of their time on Dance Moms, the girls' moms decided to coordinate their schedules. They wanted their daughters to be able to spend as much time as possible at the Abby Lee Dance Company and to work together as a unit. So, it was decided that all of the girls would share the same homeschool teacher - even though they were all different ages, and at all different levels.
Nia Sioux confessed that "We shared a school teacher across many grade levels. It's really funny. We all just shared this one tutor for seven years. I mean we're all in different grades."
The Girls Had Very Specific Traditions
After spending years dancing together and spending every free moment with each other, it should come as no surprise to hear that the dancers at the Abby Lee Dance Company had strong connections. They were like a family unit, and they also developed their own traditions and superstitions over the course of their dancing journey. They all believed certain numbers and actions could severely affect their performance during a competition.
Nia Sioux stated that "The number 22 was the lucky number for our studio, so if your dance was number 22 then that was really good. Also, if we jinxed ourselves before we went onstage, we had to knock on wood."
Asia Is Now Raking It in
Many new Dance Moms cast members came and went over the course of its impressive run, and while some failed to make much of an impact, there are others who reigned supreme. This is certainly the case for Asia Monet, who joined the show during season four. Fans instantly fell in love with her, and it didn't take long for Lifetime to cash in on one of their star dancers.
Before too long, Asia and her family were given their own reality show. And since then, she's continued to work as a dancer, actress, and singer. Plus, she's super famous on Instagram!
JoJo Had Beef With Justin Bieber
With her bubbly personality and her eclectic style, it should come as no surprise to learn that JoJo Siwa has been able to build a brand and a career around herself. And when she was just 15 years old, her parents decided to celebrate her success by buying her a custom-made convertible BMW. But this wasn't just any other car. This one was brightly colored and covered in her face and name.
Justin Bieber was later called out for writing "burn it" three times under the Instagram post of her car, but he later apologized for being so rude. Thankfully, JoJo wasn't offended.
The Dancers Had to Audition for the Show
It's easy to assume that cameras simply turned up at the Abby Lee Dance Company studio and started filming for season one. But it wasn't quite as easy as that. Although most of the girls in season one were already dancers being taught under Abby Lee Miller, that didn't give them an easy free ride onto Dance Moms. Instead, they had to audition and be chosen specifically for the show.
One of the dancers stated that "It was basically a casting call with interviews, and then you had to send in a video of yourself dancing." So, we wonder who didn't make the cut?
Jojo and Kalani Appeared on Another Show
While Dance Moms has always been Abby Lee Miller's finest achievement, what some fans don't realize is that she also created a spin-off show. In 2012, she also appeared on Abby's Ultimate Dance Competition - a talent show where young dancers could compete to win a dance scholarship and a whopping $100,000 prize. In fact, it was on this show that JoJo Siwa and Kalani Hilliker first met and made their marks!
Both dancers appeared in the second season of this talent show, and it was their presence on-screen that gave them the chance to then join the cast of Dance Moms.
Abby Was Diagnosed With Cancer
By the time 2018 came around, Dance Moms had moved on without Abby Lee Miller on the show. After all, she was in prison! But when she decided to come back for season eight, she had some news to share. Not only did she gain a new perspective on life in prison, but she had also been dealt another blow; she had been diagnosed with cancer. To be more specific, she had Burkitt lymphoma.
During the eighth season, Abby opened up about her cancer diagnosis and the many rounds of chemotherapy she had to endure in order to be healthy enough to get back on the show.
Paige's Departure Led to Better Things
Although many people were worried for Paige Hyland when she decided to leave the show, it seems as though she doesn't regret her decision to leave the Abby Lee Dance Company and Lifetime. Since leaving in season four, Paige has been able to create an impressive career for herself outside of the world of dance, and she's been able to maintain her place in the limelight without Abby Lee's help.
As well as taking the time to head to college and obtain a degree, Paige has also become a model and even appeared on the runway during New York Fashion Week.
The Moms Still Work Together
Although many people questioned whether the moms on Dance Moms were friendly in real life, it seems as though they're a lot closer than people first thought. After spending decades working on the show and watching their children blossom into famous young adults, they've developed a bond that just can't be ignored. So, it's no wonder they've decided to branch out into the world of podcasting and continue working together.
The Podcast Because Mom Said So features Melissa Gisoni, Holly Hatcher-Frazier, Kelly Hyland, and Jill Vertes, and they have countless fans and listeners across the world. Yes, they now have their own show!