Dance Moms first aired on Lifetime in 2011 and concluded in 2019. Centered around Pittsburgh’s Abby Lee Miller and her studio, the Abby Lee Dance Company, the series played a pivotal role in launching the careers of numerous aspiring young dancers. Abby, recognized for her tough coaching method known as the “pyramid,”ranked the dancers through a demanding process.
Though the atmosphere was often intense, her guidance led many students to successful paths in the entertainment sector, with familiar names like JoJo Siwa, Maddie Ziegler, and Chloe Lukasiak rising to fame. In May 2024, the cast reunited for a special two-hour event, but notably, Maddie, her sister Kenzie Ziegler, and Abby were absent from the gathering.
A new version of the series titled Dance Moms: A New Era debuted on Hulu on August 7, 2024, featuring a fresh cast of dancers and a different coach, Gloria “Glo” Hampton, who stepped into Abby’s shoes for this reboot.
As excitement builds around the revival, fans are eager to discover what the original cast members have been up to since the show concluded. Following the end of filming, many pursued diverse career paths—some entered the film and music industries, while others concentrated on their personal growth.
What Have the Dance Moms Alumni Been Doing?
1) Abby Lee Miller
Often captured in the media spotlight for her provocative remarks and unique coaching style, Abby Lee Miller faced her share of challenges during the show’s famed run. In October 2015, she was embroiled in legal issues, indicted for bankruptcy fraud with allegations of hiding over $755,000 in income.
After entering a guilty plea in November 2015, Abby was sentenced to 366 days in prison. Upon serving eight months, she transitioned to a halfway house in March 2018. Additionally, she battled Burkitt lymphoma but triumphantly announced she had overcome cancer by 2019.
In 2023, she sold her Pittsburgh studio for $300,000. Reports indicated that she was excluded from the reunion at her former students’ request. Nevertheless, Abby continues to teach at her dance school in Los Angeles, while also engaging in content creation and merchandise sales.
2) Maddie Ziegler
Maddie Ziegler joined Dance Moms at just 7 years old, quickly capturing attention as one of Abby’s favorites. Her big break came in 2014 with Sia’s music video for “Chandelier,”followed by appearances in “Elastic Heart,””Cheap Thrills,”and “Big Girls Don’t Cry.”
She cemented her status in cinema with roles in films such as “The Fallout,””The Book of Henry,””Music,”and Steven Spielberg’s “West Side Story.”Recent highlights include starring in “Fitting In”(2023) and “My Old Ass”(2024), along with an upcoming indie project titled “Ballerina Overdrive”featuring Avantika and Uma Thurman.
Additionally, Maddie is establishing her mark in modeling, collaborating with high-end brands like Givenchy, Kate Spade, and Fendi.
3) Kenzie Ziegler
Kenzie’s journey echoed Maddie’s as she ventured into the film industry, appearing in the web series “Total Eclipse”and playing the character Ivy in the 2021 movie “Let Us In.”In 2022, she released her successful single “100 Degrees,”followed by her album “Biting My Tongue”in July 2024.
Kenzie also showcased her talent on reality TV, competing in “Dancing with the Stars: Juniors”and finishing third in “The Masked Dancer.”She remains active on social media platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube.
4) JoJo Siwa
JoJo Siwa engaged audiences in seasons 5 and 6 of Dance Moms. Following her departure, she exploded onto the scene with her debut single “Boomerang”in 2016, which amassed over 21 million views within a month. JoJo secured a contract with Nickelodeon, leading to her role in the 2018 film “Blurt!”and co-hosting “Lip Sync Battle Shorties”with Nick Cannon.
In January 2021, she announced her identity as a member of the LGBTQ+ community, enjoying several public relationships, including with Avery Cyrus and Lylie Prew. Later that year, she competed on “Dancing with the Stars”and later became a judge on “So You Think You Can Dance.”
In 2024, JoJo explored varied opportunities, starring in the horror film “All My Friends Are Dead.”She released her debut album, “Karma,”in April 2024, reflecting her approach to adulthood, and followed up with her fourth EP, “Guilty Pleasure,”in July.
5) Chloe Lukasiak
After her departure from Dance Moms at the end of season 4, primarily due to continuous tension between her mother and Abby, Chloe revealed on her YouTube channel in 2019 her decision stemmed from contractual issues regarding her screen time.
Chloe then transitioned into acting, featuring in films such as “Loophole”and “The Message.”In 2018, she released her memoir, “Girl on Pointe: Chloe’s Guide to Taking on the World,”reflecting on her experiences in the show.
Recently, she co-founded Elevé Dance Competition and consistently shares beauty and fashion content with her devoted followers on social media.
6) Nia Sioux
Subsequent to her time on Dance Moms, Nia debuted in the off-Broadway show “Trip of Love,”appeared in the film “I Am Mortal,”and took on the role of Emma Barber in “The Bold and the Beautiful.”She even made a cameo in “Mean Girls”in 2024.
Nia has launched several singles, including “Star in Your Own Life,””Slay,”and the latest, “IMMA CATCH,”featuring Jake Clarke, for which she also choreographed the music video.
Pursuing higher education, she is currently studying American literature and culture at UCLA, with over 5.9 million Instagram followers, collaborating with leading brands like Marc Jacobs Fragrances, Maybelline, and Warner Brothers.
7) Brooke Hyland
Brooke exited Dance Moms during season 4, later earning a degree in marketing, management information systems, and business analytics from Ohio University in 2019. She has since turned into a social media influencer, amassing over 4 million followers and partnering with brands like Victoria’s Secret Pink and Fortnite.
In May 2024, she announced her engagement to longtime boyfriend Brian Thalman, who proposed in their shared hometown. Brooke also runs a food blog on Instagram called @pgh_bitesized_foodie.
8) Paige Hyland
After wrapping up her time on Dance Moms, Paige graduated from West Virginia University in 2023 with a degree in business administration. With nearly 4 million Instagram followers, she has teamed up with numerous brands, including imPRESS and ColourPop Cosmetics.
She actively shares her relationship journey with former college football athlete Jayvon Thrift on Instagram.
9) Kendall Vertes
After her journey on Dance Moms, Kendall pivoted towards acting and music, landing roles in the films “Rapunzel: A Princess Frozen in Time”and “Santa in Training”in 2019. She released her first single, “Wear ‘Em Out,”under the name Kendall K in 2015 and followed up with an EP titled “K-Mas”in 2017.
In 2021, she focused on academics at James Madison University and joined the Dukettes dance team, which won a national championship in 2024. In her personal life, she is dating baseball player Andrew Ciufo, frequently sharing her life with the 11 million followers on her Instagram.
10) Hilliker Bank
Kalani made appearances in shows like “Shake It Up,””Bunheads,”and “America’s Got Talent”after her departure from Dance Moms in season 7. Currently, she coaches young dancers aged 6 to 15.
Having faced substantial mental and physical demands during her time in the show, Kalani launched a wellness and skincare brand named Kare by Kalani. On August 17, 2024, she announced her engagement to Nathan Goldman on Instagram.
Kalani is active on social media, showcasing her daily life with over 7 million followers on Instagram.
11) Vivi-Anne Stein
Vivi-Anne debuted in season 1, quickly gaining popularity for her reluctance to dance and her monotone delivery. She admitted to participating in the show mainly because her mother promised her tacos.
Ironically, after her time on the show, she developed a passion for dance, becoming a cheerleader in high school and joining Cleveland State University’s cheer team in 2023.
Fans can catch the new chapter of Dance Moms in Dance Moms: A New Era, available for streaming on Hulu.
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