Set in Pittsburgh's renowned Abby Lee Dance Company, owned and operated by notoriously demanding and passionate instructor Abby Lee Miller, the series follows children's early steps on the road to stardom, and their doting mothers who are there for every rehearsal, performance and bow... all under the discerning eye of Miller. Seeing the highs and lows surrounding competition season delivers an intriguing and dramatic look at the cast's frantic pursuit of the ultimate National Dance title.Abby and the girls are out for revenge when they go up against Cathy and her Candy Apples for the first time in the new competition season. Meanwhile, Kelly secretly rechoreographs Paige's solo.Dance Moms is an American dance reality television series that debuted on Lifetime on July 13, 2011. Created by Collins Avenue Productions, it is set in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania at the Abby Lee Dance Company and follows children's early careers in dance show business and their mothers. Dance Moms was renewed for a third season, which premiered on Tuesday, June 5, 2012. A spinoff series set in Miami at Victor Smalley and Angel Armas' Stars Dance Studio premiered on April 3, 2012. Go inside the competitive world of dance where pushy mothers force their daughters to perform while try to create their own dreams vicariously through them.
For a guilty pleasure, this show is a full package. It is like toddlers and tiaras--but don't let that stop you. Unlike that show, Abby Lee's show features charming dancers, a no-nonsense and dogmatic yet completely respectable and talented instructor, moms who vary in sanity and charm, and downright real entertainment in dance. Let me take that back. It's not much like toddlers and tiaras, as these people are real.
Despite their abnormal devotion to dance life, each mom and daughter is authentic. Like them or not, each person makes a good point and has a different perspective. The fun is in watching these perspectives collide while being wowed by the behind the scenes and performances of talented and beautiful dancers.
Melissa Ziegler-Gisoni: Mother of Maddie and Mackenzie, an outsider in the group of mothers. She previously worked at the front desk at ALDC and is often referred to as a "doormat" because of her blank reactions to Christi and Kelly's prodding. She dislikes when the other mothers talk about her personal life and denies Abby's favoritism for her daughter, Maddie.
Christina "Christi" Lukasiak: Mother of Chloe, and possibly the loudest of the group. She gets into many fights with Abby, because she believes Abby sees her daughter as second to Maddie. She often complains that Chloe is not given choreography that is good enough to beat Maddie's. She is known for her sarcasm and sharp insults.
Holly Frazier: Mother of Nia. She is the quietest of the group and doesn't get into many fights with Abby because of her patient nature. However, when she does argue with Abby, it is most often about Nia's ethnic roles in dances and Nia's lack of solos and placement in trios. She refuses to see her daughter as a weakling, even though she is not currently at the caliber of Maddie and Chloe.
Kelly Hyland: Mother of Brooke and Paige. Kelly attended ALDC herself as a child, but quit to become a cheerleader. Kelly often fights with Abby because of the lack of attention and bad choreography Abby gives to her daughters. She is best friends with Christi.
Cathy Nesbitt-Stein: Owner of Candy Apple’s Dance Center in Ohio and mother of Vivi-Anne. Vivi used to attend ALDC, however quit near the end of Season 1. Cathy sees herself as the rival of Abby Lee Dance Company, although when her dancers compete against Abby's students, they rarely do well. Cathy is known for being rude and superficial.
She will do anything for her students to beat ALDC; even going as far to enter her dancers in the wrong age categories and steal Abby's choreography. Cathy is very disappointed with Vivi because she would rather play soft ball than do dance, Cathy also said in the first episode that she would slit her wrists if Vivi played soft ball over dance.
Jillian "Jill" Vertes: Mother of Kendall. She first appears in Season 2 and is disliked by the other mothers, with the exception of Melissa. She continuously complains about Kendall's lack of solos and special parts in group dances, as well as her daughter's placement on the pyramid. She eventually leaves ALDC after Kendall was put of probation again for Jill's outbursts.
Leslie Ackerman: Mother of Payton. She is not a part of the 'regular group', but when she does appear, she fights with the mothers even more so than Melissa. She believes her daughter is the best dancer and should be the most publicized, despite what Abby tells her and Payton.
For a guilty pleasure, this show is a full package. It is like toddlers and tiaras--but don't let that stop you. Unlike that show, Abby Lee's show features charming dancers, a no-nonsense and dogmatic yet completely respectable and talented instructor, moms who vary in sanity and charm, and downright real entertainment in dance. Let me take that back. It's not much like toddlers and tiaras, as these people are real.
Despite their abnormal devotion to dance life, each mom and daughter is authentic. Like them or not, each person makes a good point and has a different perspective. The fun is in watching these perspectives collide while being wowed by the behind the scenes and performances of talented and beautiful dancers.
Melissa Ziegler-Gisoni: Mother of Maddie and Mackenzie, an outsider in the group of mothers. She previously worked at the front desk at ALDC and is often referred to as a "doormat" because of her blank reactions to Christi and Kelly's prodding. She dislikes when the other mothers talk about her personal life and denies Abby's favoritism for her daughter, Maddie.
Christina "Christi" Lukasiak: Mother of Chloe, and possibly the loudest of the group. She gets into many fights with Abby, because she believes Abby sees her daughter as second to Maddie. She often complains that Chloe is not given choreography that is good enough to beat Maddie's. She is known for her sarcasm and sharp insults.
Holly Frazier: Mother of Nia. She is the quietest of the group and doesn't get into many fights with Abby because of her patient nature. However, when she does argue with Abby, it is most often about Nia's ethnic roles in dances and Nia's lack of solos and placement in trios. She refuses to see her daughter as a weakling, even though she is not currently at the caliber of Maddie and Chloe.
Kelly Hyland: Mother of Brooke and Paige. Kelly attended ALDC herself as a child, but quit to become a cheerleader. Kelly often fights with Abby because of the lack of attention and bad choreography Abby gives to her daughters. She is best friends with Christi.
Cathy Nesbitt-Stein: Owner of Candy Apple’s Dance Center in Ohio and mother of Vivi-Anne. Vivi used to attend ALDC, however quit near the end of Season 1. Cathy sees herself as the rival of Abby Lee Dance Company, although when her dancers compete against Abby's students, they rarely do well. Cathy is known for being rude and superficial.
She will do anything for her students to beat ALDC; even going as far to enter her dancers in the wrong age categories and steal Abby's choreography. Cathy is very disappointed with Vivi because she would rather play soft ball than do dance, Cathy also said in the first episode that she would slit her wrists if Vivi played soft ball over dance.
Jillian "Jill" Vertes: Mother of Kendall. She first appears in Season 2 and is disliked by the other mothers, with the exception of Melissa. She continuously complains about Kendall's lack of solos and special parts in group dances, as well as her daughter's placement on the pyramid. She eventually leaves ALDC after Kendall was put of probation again for Jill's outbursts.
Leslie Ackerman: Mother of Payton. She is not a part of the 'regular group', but when she does appear, she fights with the mothers even more so than Melissa. She believes her daughter is the best dancer and should be the most publicized, despite what Abby tells her and Payton.