"NOTHING'S FAIR IN ABBYVILLE"
On July 13, 2011, a television show titled “Dance Moms” premiered on Lifetime.
The television program began following six aspiring young dancers, Maddie Ziegler, Mackenzie Ziegler, Chloe Lukasiak, Brooke Hyland, Paige Hyland, and Nia Frazier, and their mothers through their lives at Abby Lee Dance Company in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Every week begins with “Pyramid”, where studio owner and dance teacher, Abby Lee Miller, arranges the girls based on their dancing from the previous week, best performance on the top of the pyramid, worst on the bottom. There is a lot of controversy surrounding the infamous pyramid ceremony due to its negative aspects. Miller confirmed that she never had a pyramid prior to the show, but the session was all the producers’ idea.
Abby Lee Miller has been greatly criticized for her harsh teaching style, but also praised for her amazing choreography. Miller’s fame from the television show has caused thousands of dancers attempt to join her elite competition team, such as Kendall Vertes who joined season two. Many dancers have tried to join the team and successfully made it, but the dancers’ mothers clashed with the original moms. This has caused early departure for multiple dancers, such as Sophia Lucia, Nicaya Wiley, Vivi-Anne Stein, Asia Ray, and Payton Ackerman.
In November of 2013, Miller was attacked by one of her dancer’s moms at a competition. Kelly Hyland, mother of dancers Brooke and Paige Hyland, was charged with assault because of her aggressive behavior and actions towards Miller. Hyland and Miller will appear in court on May 5th. It is possible that the altercation was staged for the show, or that the producers encouraged Hyland to attack Miller. Hyland is making the argument that the attack was in self defense because Miller attempted to bite her and was screaming at her inches from her face.
Miller isn't the only one filing a lawsuit, Hyland is sueing Miller and the “Dance Moms” producers for a minimum of $5 million for defamation and breach of contract.
The television program began following six aspiring young dancers, Maddie Ziegler, Mackenzie Ziegler, Chloe Lukasiak, Brooke Hyland, Paige Hyland, and Nia Frazier, and their mothers through their lives at Abby Lee Dance Company in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Every week begins with “Pyramid”, where studio owner and dance teacher, Abby Lee Miller, arranges the girls based on their dancing from the previous week, best performance on the top of the pyramid, worst on the bottom. There is a lot of controversy surrounding the infamous pyramid ceremony due to its negative aspects. Miller confirmed that she never had a pyramid prior to the show, but the session was all the producers’ idea.
Abby Lee Miller has been greatly criticized for her harsh teaching style, but also praised for her amazing choreography. Miller’s fame from the television show has caused thousands of dancers attempt to join her elite competition team, such as Kendall Vertes who joined season two. Many dancers have tried to join the team and successfully made it, but the dancers’ mothers clashed with the original moms. This has caused early departure for multiple dancers, such as Sophia Lucia, Nicaya Wiley, Vivi-Anne Stein, Asia Ray, and Payton Ackerman.
In November of 2013, Miller was attacked by one of her dancer’s moms at a competition. Kelly Hyland, mother of dancers Brooke and Paige Hyland, was charged with assault because of her aggressive behavior and actions towards Miller. Hyland and Miller will appear in court on May 5th. It is possible that the altercation was staged for the show, or that the producers encouraged Hyland to attack Miller. Hyland is making the argument that the attack was in self defense because Miller attempted to bite her and was screaming at her inches from her face.
Miller isn't the only one filing a lawsuit, Hyland is sueing Miller and the “Dance Moms” producers for a minimum of $5 million for defamation and breach of contract.
THE GIRLS
MADDIE NICOLE ZIEGLER
AGE: 11
BIRTHDAY: SEPTEMBER 30,2014
HEIGHT: 4'8'
AGE: 11
BIRTHDAY: SEPTEMBER 30,2014
HEIGHT: 4'8'
CHLOE ELIZABETH LUKASIAK
AGE: 13
BIRTHDAY: MAY 25, 2001
HEIGHT: 5'3"
AGE: 13
BIRTHDAY: MAY 25, 2001
HEIGHT: 5'3"
KENDALL K VERTES
AGE: 11
BIRTHDAY: DECEMBER 9, 2002
HEIGHT: 4'10"
AGE: 11
BIRTHDAY: DECEMBER 9, 2002
HEIGHT: 4'10"
NIA SIOUX FRAZIER
AGE: 12
BIRTHDAY: JUNE 20, 2001
HEIGHT: 5'0"
AGE: 12
BIRTHDAY: JUNE 20, 2001
HEIGHT: 5'0"
MACKENZIE FRANCES ZIEGLER
AGE: 10
BIRTHDAY: JUNE 4, 2004
HEIGHT: 4'4"
AGE: 10
BIRTHDAY: JUNE 4, 2004
HEIGHT: 4'4"
PAIGE MACKENZIE HYLAND
AGE: 13
BIRTHDAY: NOVEMBER 1, 2000
HEIGHT: 5'5"
* Former dancer at the ALDC
AGE: 13
BIRTHDAY: NOVEMBER 1, 2000
HEIGHT: 5'5"
* Former dancer at the ALDC
BROOKE MARIE HYLAND
AGE: 16
BIRTHDAY: JANUARY 30, 1998
HEIGHT: 4'11"
* Former dancer at the ALDC
AGE: 16
BIRTHDAY: JANUARY 30, 1998
HEIGHT: 4'11"
* Former dancer at the ALDC
KALANI BROOKE HILLIKER
AGE: 13
BIRTHDAY: SEPTEMBER 23, 2000
HEIGHT: 5'2"
AGE: 13
BIRTHDAY: SEPTEMBER 23, 2000
HEIGHT: 5'2"