Minicap: Dance Moms

55 Comments

1. 1
   Elizabeth F
   Posted January 9, 2013 at 12:05 pm

   Sophia needs to stay!!!! Humble the heads that are getting swollen!

2. 2
   hopelesslydevoted
   Posted January 9, 2013 at 12:54 pm

   Word is that their century mall performance happened weeks after the moms walked out. The show just made it seem like it was the same week.

3. 3
   kandyyyy2334
   Posted January 9, 2013 at 12:55 pm

   i love love love sophia , she seems like a sweet little girl who works hard and is naturally talented. Also her mother seems nice and normal, and it seems like she isnt all pushy stage mom. Back when the moms pulled this whole stunt with leaving the aldc, it was allll over twitter, abby claimed the moms started the whole thing and refused to speak or bring the kids to dance bc they were demanding more money from lifetime for being on the show, abby said that is the real reason the wouldnt speak (on camera) which kind of makes sense but who knows

   On a side note everyone remember asia from AUDC
   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xWX9pNfrB-Q
   theres a video of a dance she did before AUDC and let me just say she is talented but my god how does a 5 year old know how to do those moves and make those faces. i thought it was totally inappropriate for her age

4. 4
   DM
   Posted January 9, 2013 at 1:00 pm

   I believe that the boycott was at least a little bit real but I think it took place over the course of several weeks and not just one. I remember seeing it on Twitter around October for a little while. The moms were all talking about how Abby needs the girls, the girls are the real stars of the show, Abby doesn’t appreciate them and all that Jazz. At the same time Victor and Angel of course were weighing in inviting them all to Stars since they are still famewhores even though no one watched their show and it was cancelled. Abby would respond to all of this calling the moms unprofessional and saying they were holding out on season 3.

   That being said, the girls have been doing Meet and Greets a lot since season 2 ended so I don’t know if this had anything to do with the boycott or if it was already scheduled and they just decided to use it because they needed more footage for the episode.Who even knows at this point.

   I also think this is the reason why they randomly added Hadley back in the mix. I remembered her from Abby’s Ultimate Dance Competition because her mother Yvette was the definition of psycho dance mom. The girl was good but not spectacular. Her mother was what made her memorable and the show became slightly calmer when Hadley was eliminated. My guess is since they needed enough footage to fill up a whole hour, they decided to add this subplot in because Yvette is not done being on TV. I also think that the lack of available footage for this episode is why they randomly had Jill going to Candy Apples’ for a chat.

5. 5
   April
   Posted January 9, 2013 at 1:18 pm

   Yeah that whole storyline is stupid. It is not your success that much to poach a dancer that has been trained for years by another teacher and just give them some choreography and them enter a competition with them. Not nearly the same as training the dancer yourself for a long period of time. Two days, not so much.

   I did enjoy seeing Sophia Lucia because I adore her. Prodigy is the right word for that girl. She is phenomenal especially at tap. Made me mad when Abby made fun of her voice. I do hope that Sophia does try to take voice lessons and acting so she can be a star in the future, because just dancing great is not enough to get top billing. And she deserves to be famous as good as she is! Her mother and Sophia looked exactly alike. She is like a mini version of her mother.

   I feel badly for Hadley. I think she is a sweet girl and a good dancer. Abby was mean to her and her mother is nuts. The Thrive group number was better than Abby’s group number. It just was. It was fun and funky and they had better costumes and looked perfect head to toe and very in sync. But they probably worked on that number for months and months and Abby did her number in 2 days so what do you expect. The dancers had never even danced together before.

6. 6
   April
   Posted January 9, 2013 at 1:23 pm

   Now the truth is the girls are lovable and great. But, they need a reality check that without Abby they would not be as good as they are. Abby or at least ALDC did train them and make them winners. If they stop being on tv people will stop caring about them. That is the truth about it. Same with Abby. She might be able to ride the fame train a little big longer, but she is not a star. She is a personality. So I think both sides need each other at this point as far as being famous and on tv. The girls can go to another good studio and continue to learn and compete and eventually go on to have a dancing career potentially. But, I doubt they are going to get their own show without Abby.

7. 7
   ANTM Fan
   Posted January 9, 2013 at 1:33 pm

   @April: I was thinking exactly the same thing. Doesn’t Sophia (and the rest of the “new” girls) HAVE a dance teacher? Who trains her and enters her in competitions? These girls don’t reflect in any way on Abby, for good or bad, just because she signs their entry forms one random week.

   I thought Hadley’s solo was like a strippergram. Ick.

8. 8
   lilly219
   Posted January 9, 2013 at 1:34 pm

   abby appears to be losing weight slowly but surely ! Go Jabby !! much of this show is scripted but dont be completely fooled! Believe it or not some dance moms really do act like this , at my dance studio we always had moms trying to one up eachother, teachers picking favorites, the favorite getting all the attention, and allll that crap, the moms at the studio i danced at would fight right in front of the kids, and yes they did sit in the waiting room and gossip and cause drama like these ladies, at least our dance mom girls are nice kids, they dont seem rude at all. At my studio the kids often were as mean as the moms, the girls with the catty mothers were always the ones making other girls cry or just being brats, thats what i like about the dance mom girls, they are really nice respectful little girls.

9. 9
   SaraKate
   Posted January 9, 2013 at 1:40 pm

   There was an odd comment in the “fight” between the two new moms…it sounds like the mom that was trying to get her daughter a solo (against Abby’s wishes) is ALSO a dance teacher? Did anyone else catch that?

10. 10
    lilly219
    Posted January 9, 2013 at 1:57 pm

    @sarakate Yes ! i noticed that, i also recognized her daughter kailie or however she spelled it from the audition last week . i wanna know what happened to ava from last week ! why wouldnt abby call her back

11. 11
    Sunny
    Posted January 9, 2013 at 2:53 pm

    @Lilly219 It’s possible that Ava didn’t live close enough. Abby specifically said she was calling girls who could get there by car (except for Sophia, who she’d probably take even if she didn’t arrive til the day before).

    I’ll admit that I found Sophia’s voice a bit jarring myself. Reminded me of the people with primordial dwarfism that I see on discovery fit and health (love that channel!). Then in her talking head she sounded normal so I got confused why she talked that way in the first place.

12. 12
    April
    Posted January 9, 2013 at 3:30 pm

    She was waiting on that one blonde girl to get her side aerial before she used her in a competition team.

13. 13
    Sparkle McSnarkle
    Posted January 9, 2013 at 3:58 pm

    Last nights episode proved that while everyone may be replaceable, they may not be watchable. I didn’t care about any of the “scab” dance team, except Sophia. Keep that little girl around, and Lifetime won’t have to script drama, it will come naturally between Maddie and Sophia and their mothers.

14. 14
    kck43
    Posted January 9, 2013 at 4:22 pm

    If any of this info has already been mentioned, then I apologize. First off, I’m sure you already know this but just in case you don’t, Abby is not the one who originally got this show. Abby posts notices for different types of tryouts at her studio (ex: A role in the Nutcracker, stuff like that) Well this one time there was a notice posted looking for dance moms. Christie answered, she took a video of herself, with her cell phone and sent it in. She then received a call and they (Lifetime??) asked her a few questions, I think they were a bit surprised that someone could be as bad as Christie described. I believe Christie’s response was something to the effect of what do you mean? doesn’t everyone have a mean and nasty 300 pd. dance teacher? Apparently they liked what they heard so they asked if she knew any other moms that would be interested. She then filmed Kelly (apparently with a beer in her hand) complaining that her kids are totally discriminated against, that Paige never gets anythng and Brooke hates dancing. They complained some more about Abby and then sent it in. THEN Abby was apparently contacted and SHE had to audition. So technically it was Christie who got the show.

    Another tidbit of info that I got was a few months before Dance Moms was even created or before they applied or were approached, the students arrived at the school to find the doors chained shut and a sheriff there. Well apparently (from my source who seems to be fairly reliable) Abby hadn’t paid her taxes in quite some time!! She owed something to the tune of $28,000.00. (I may be off a bit, you know how people can exaggerate, but it was a really, really significant amount) Well I guess Maddie and Melissa were one of the people who were there when this happened and Maddie freaked out screaming and crying \I want to dance\ and so forth. Well I guess Melissa whipped out her checkbook and wrote a check for the full amount!! I question if this is exactly how it happened, because I do not think it works like that, the sheriff comes and locks up the place and stays there and once they give HIM the check he will unlock it. But I am inclined to believe that something like this happened, which would explain why Abby always is on (well used to be) Melissa’s side. Who knows?? (I guess I should say, she wrote a check from her boyfriends checkbook!!) But when I asked why did Melissa have to work at the front desk (during the first season) to pay for private lessons if she had that kind of money, I was told she only did that because she is very nosy. Once again, who knows. I believe some of it, I totally believe the part about how this got started, that it wasn’t by Abby.

    Also, they do not get paid to be on the show, I am not sure what perks they get, but they do not get paid. They probably make a good amount of money when they appear at their meet and greets. Oh and when asked why Maddie doesn’t do any, I was told because her and Abby are a package deal?? Not quite sure what that means?? Another bit of info is apparently Christie is good friends with Kelly AND Melissa. One last tid bit of info is the dance moms have to buy all of their own clothes. So every outfit they wear on the show, they have to pay for.

    I now just have to add my two cents about the actual show. It is like a car accident, you can not help but look. I will admit I will get totally sucked in if it is on. My kids are addicted. I will say this, I like Christie, she has the best one liners, Holly is much better this (and last season) she is not as uptight. Not too fond of Jill, I don’t mind Melissa, most times and I can’t stand, absolutely can not stand Kelly. All she does is whine how her kids get nothing, yet she allows her daughter to quit in the middle to do cheerleading. (even though she had already committed herself to a \team\ and yes they may dance individually, but they are a team when they compete in group numbers. Then she has her come back. She totally disrespects the things that Abby teaches, (goes behind her back and changes the routine and stuff) I think Kelly teaches her children to disrespect authority. Any \sport\ you play, like it or not, you do what the coach (teacher) says, if you do not like it, you leave or what I teach my kids, you suck it up, stick with it until the season is over and you do not sign up again. But you DO NOT QUIT. I did agree when Kelly let Brooke miss a competition for her dance, that was only fair. But all Kelly ever does is whine how Paige doesn’t get this and Brooke doesn’t get that. To be honest with you, Paige is a beautiful girl and do a solo really well, but she is ALWAYS off in the group numbers. always. and Brooke is a moody spoiled teenager who seems to get anything she wants. (sorry, but she should stick to dancing because she sucks at singing, sorry that is just my opinion and I am sure I will be attacked for it!! lol) and ultimately, Brooke is not really that great of a dancer, let’s be honest her biggest contribution is the fact that she walks around on her elbows with her legs bent up over her head touching her arms (I know it has a name, but I can not tell you what it is!!) but I am sure you can picture what I am talking about. I don’t understand why she is not more involved in gymnastics, she strikes me as a way better gymnast than dancer. Paige is definitely the more talented of the two (and the prettier of the two, what amazes me though is the fact that Kelly allows them to post the kind of pictures of themselves they post! My kids have shown me and with all of the sick people out there now a days, those pictures are totally inappropriate. Sorry, once again just my opinion and if you ask my kids they would tell you I am way too strict so maybe it’s just me? I doubt that!) . I could go on and on, I am not sure why but Kelly irritates the hell out of me. I can not stand to listen to her whine and cry boo hoo hoo, poor me, for one more minute. She cries poor her and her kids, yet she seems to ask for most of what she gets. I honestly would like to see her leave the show. I like Paige and would like to see her stay, but Kelly and Brooke can just go away. I can not believe like so many on here that I am writing this post like I actually know these people!! LOL Oh well that is just my opinion!!

    Oh and I am glad Peyton is not really on anymore, I watched the show the other night and the new people, they just do not fit in. The moms just do not have what it takes, sorry, Leslie doesn’t fit the bill and neither does the other moms. Sofia?? her and her mom, especially her mom, would have been perfect of Dance moms Miami!! (which by the way, was horrible, very little talent on that show)

    One last thing, Kathy needs to realize that if she stopped using her daughter as a prop, she might actually win. Because there were a few times when they definitely were outdancing Abby’s dancers, but out comes ViviAnne, that child has ABSOLUTELY NO talent and as mean as that sounds, it is true. But what is the biggest joke is Kathy, I really think her daughter could take it or leave it (dancing) for some odd reason that cheeseball Kathy ruins it for them by sticking her in there. I like Vivianne, I just think her mother is an idiot and in denial. I think she should let her kid go play a sport, like soccer or something like that, because she (Kathy) really can not be stupid enough to think she actually has dance talent?? But who knows, she could be an incredible athlete, but if it’s up to her mother she will not get that opportunity!! Oh well, after reading all of your posts, I just had to add my two cents!! Thanks and please do not attack me over my opinions. lol

15. 15
    KRB
    Posted January 9, 2013 at 4:40 pm

    Ok, so I guess I’m the only one not on the Sophia love train… I think she’s an amazing dancer and is crazy flexible… But I think the talking in the studio was super fake like, look at me, I’m little and sweet… I don’t know what it is, but she came off as fake. I think that I could watch her dance ever week, but she seems like she’s so use to being the star that she could be very spoiled.

    I’m kinda over the fact that Abby wants the girls to disobey their parents. When she was talking about Brooke calling a neighbor to take her to dance. My mom would have stopped paying for classes if I would have done that. These girls have to go home with their moms, not Abby, so they can’t just do whatever they want.

16. 16
    April
    Posted January 9, 2013 at 4:47 pm

    Abby has some odd ideas about parenting in general. Such as what KRB said about a kid should just figure out a way to go to dance without their parents. Or when she tells the girls to tell their mothers to shut up or do this or that when kids can’t tell their parents to do anything as the kid does not have the power in that relationship.

17. 17
    keebler elf
    Posted January 9, 2013 at 5:44 pm

    @sparkle mcsnarkle – i totally agree about the maddie & sophia thing!

    @KRB- i see what you are saying about sophia seeming fake, she had a high sweet voice while talking to abby but then later on her voice was normal

18. 18
    Sunny
    Posted January 9, 2013 at 6:28 pm

    Did anyone else see the Dance Moms reference on this week’s episode of Bunheads? I couldn’t find a video but basically the teacher tells her dancers that if they don’t want to be there, they can go to the terrible obese woman whose dancers end up with knock knees and PTSD. Too bad I’m the only one in the house who would even get the reference but I still found it giggle-worthy.

19. 19
    KRB
    Posted January 9, 2013 at 6:53 pm

    @ Sunny, I totally caught that and it made me laugh!

20. 20
    Sunny
    Posted January 9, 2013 at 7:31 pm

    Here’s the full video of last week’s group. I can see why they won! I especially like the sequential movements.

21. 21
    lilly219
    Posted January 9, 2013 at 7:57 pm

    i have heard that story of melissas boyfriend (greg gisoni) getting abbys studio out of debt , so i think that is true, and i know the girls dont get paid , but im not sure about them moms, or abby. As far as maddie and the meet and greets, maybe she just doesnt like doing them, its possible she gets overwhelmed & although people want to see them, and doing a few is harmless, it can lead to exploitation . All and all i love the girls and the moms, and even abby .

22. 22
    kck43
    Posted January 9, 2013 at 8:11 pm

    Yeah, I agree, I do like the show as well. Sad to admit it though. lol
    The thing about how the show got started is definitely true, I heard it right from the source.
    I agree with you about Maddie and the meet and greets, I can see her being very nervous, where kids like Paige and Brooke strike me as the type who like the attention, Maddie, Nia and McKenzie strike me as the type to shy away from it. But like I said, I do not know these people for real, only who they portray on tv. lol

23. 23
    Frizzypop
    Posted January 9, 2013 at 8:22 pm

    I really hope Sophia does not stick around. Yes, she is a great dancer, but she’s as butt ugly as Maddie. I hate having to watch her buck toothed face already. One is enough, please!!

24. 24
    Frizzypop
    Posted January 9, 2013 at 8:27 pm

    @kck43: how can you state you know the real story because “I heard it right from the source” then two sentences later state that you don’t know these people? Sounds pretty contradictory to me. Just my opinion….

25. 25
    DM
    Posted January 9, 2013 at 8:35 pm

    Fun Fact: I found the full group dance from this week on youtube. In the very beginning of the video they say its for tv purposes only. So does that mean they didn’t even compete? And the whole thing with Hadley’s studio was fake too? I knew they needed extra random footage with the boycott and everything but jeez!

26. 26
    kck43
    Posted January 9, 2013 at 8:45 pm

    I can state facts that I got from the source. As far as their actual personalities and character traits, I do not know them.

27. 27
    selfabsorbed
    Posted January 9, 2013 at 8:51 pm

    @DM I think I read on another site that the ALDC girls always perform their numbers twice for filming reasons. I believe it was on a forum and mothers were talking about what it is like to have children competing when the “dance moms” are at the competition. From what I remember, t hey compete the number the first time and it is judged for the comp, and then later the ALDC will do the number again so they can film. The announcer saying that it is for TV purposes only would make sense if this is true. He is telling the audience that this performance won’t be judged for the comp.

28. 28
    DM
    Posted January 9, 2013 at 8:51 pm

    I have also heard that nobody from the show gets paid for it. The reason was that if there was any money involved for any of them, then the girls would be considered professional dancers and professionals cannot compete in the amateur competitions that they go to for the show. No competitions = no show. Maddie once interviewed that she got 7 callbacks for Billy Elliott on Broadway but could not accept the job because that would make her professional and wouldn’t be eligible for the show anymore if she did. Apparently they get compensated in things like air/travel fare, hotel rooms, competition entrance fees, food, all the extra stuff that they have to do for filming is taken care of. A friend of mine was once on another reality show and said it was the same thing for them; they didn’t get any money for it but anything they wanted they got and didn’t have to pay for it.

    As far as the meet and greets, Christi tried to say in that smoke before the fire special that they donate the money somewhere but Abby kept cutting her off so I don’t know where she was going to say they did. Maddie has done a couple meet and greets too. I’ve seen videos of her and Chloe performing duets at malls and stuff. She also performed a solo for St. Judes kids, so she’s not completely off the map.

29. 29
    kck43
    Posted January 9, 2013 at 8:55 pm

    @Frizzypop I can state facts that I got right from the source, that does not mean I know them personally. Just because I got this info from one of them does not mean I hang out with them and know what goes on in their personal lives. So sorry, there is no contradiction there, one thing has nothing to do with the other.

30. 30
    TurtleGirl93
    Posted January 9, 2013 at 8:58 pm

    Has anyone mentioned the new commercial for Dance Moms? The “Flashdance” inspired one? I have to admit-I had to giggle after Abby pulled the rope. (Yes, I’m easily amused.)
    So, my insiders (two young women who teach competition teams) saw ALDC at a competition in the fall. Interestingly they didn’t say that their team(s) competed against ALDC, just that they saw them…hmmmmm. Anyway, they’re positive that Brooke & Paige were with the team. Surprise, surprise.
    Abby seems especially spiteful in these last two episodes. I can’t figure out what exactly. I really started to wonder if she’s taking diet pills and they’re making her extra crABBY.

31. 31
    Frizzypop
    Posted January 9, 2013 at 9:11 pm

    When someone states they heard from “the source” it usually means from the people directly involved. In this instance those on the show. Why would someone you don’t even know bestow upon you “privileged” information? Not that it really matters, this whole show is so staged that who knows what the truth about anything is. It just makes me laugh all the people who show up here claiming to know all the inside stuff..

32. 32
    kthxbai
    Posted January 9, 2013 at 9:48 pm

    @DM See from my perspective that’s the problem. A little 10 yr girl gets 7 call backs to dance in a Broadway show. But turns it down so she can be on a trashy reality show.

    Same thing with Chloe giving up Joffrey so she can be a video vixenymphet. Then next thing we see her wobbling from where they’re just trying to stretch her. Instead of building up strength. Does she even go on pointe? Sorry. I’ve tried not to be old fashioned in my thinking. But I can’t help it.

    Putting Sophia Lucia anywhere near any Lifetime or Jabby or Starbooty is just obscene. She needs to be in a real school. And not just as a day student. She needs to board specifically to keep her away from that kind of stuff. Since her mom doesn’t have the sense to do it.

33. 33
    Dani
    Posted January 9, 2013 at 10:27 pm

    @FrizzyPop– Wow, that seems pretty cruel to say that about both Sophia and Maddie. Neither of them are “butt ugly” as you say. They are both beautiful little girls, and very talented. Sophia is crazy talented, and personally I would LOVE for her to stay on the show. She’s amazing and a real joy to watch. Anyway, that comment just really bothered me. Personally, I think all the girls are quite pretty, but even if I didn’t think that, I would never say that a child was “butt ugly,” that just seems really cruel. Just my opinion.

34. 34
    Frizzypop
    Posted January 9, 2013 at 10:37 pm

    Beauty is in the eye of the beholder I guess. Beautiful is certainly not the adjective I would use to describe those two… Never said she was not a good dancer. *Reminder, this is a snark site* The T&T bunch is definitely a lot more fun than this one.

35. 35
    Mafibiz
    Posted January 10, 2013 at 12:09 am

    Sophia Lucia was on The Ellen Show, her voice was not quite as “mousy”. What a talent! She dances at The San Diego Dance Center, and models for Cali Kisses Dancewear.

    Link to Ellen Show:
    

36. 36
    dancemoms
    Posted January 10, 2013 at 4:00 am

    i think we all know sophia and the other girls were called in specifically for television purposes. Abby did not train any of them, but sometimes dancers do take a few classes at another studio and compete with them as a \guest\ . Its not extremely uncommon, but it also isnt something that happens all the time. & I have noticed that all the girls usually perform their solos consecutively , i have never been to any of these competitions, but when i used to compete, the order went by category and age division, so the girls probably do all the numbers twice, it would make sense. I have noticed in an episode from season 1 , vivi is doing the bee solo at competition & when u look into the audience it appears to be an empty auditorium with the exception of the moms in the front row, i also noticed the same thing in one of the group dances , i cant remember which one though. A while back there was something online about a certain competition banning the show bc they made it appear on tv that maddie and chloe were competing against each other when in fact they were in different age catagories. It was actually the one from the 1st comp where maddie and chloe competed solos in season 1, maddie did cry and chloe did baby mine. The competition said chloe had also got 1st place in her age division,(her and maddie were in diff age divisions at that specific comp) but the show made it appear that maddie won and chloe did not. Starquest was upset that the producers edited footage and misled viewers & i do not recall them going to any other starquest comps to date.

    http://www.tmz.com/2011/10/17/dance-moms-lifetime-reality-show-starquest-banned/

    Stuff like that makes me wonder how often they mislead us !

37. 37
    rebecca pressley
    Posted January 10, 2013 at 4:48 am

    did anyone notice that while the Moms were having their Parking Lot Protest and Abbey was on the phone calling in new dancers that the digital sign in the parking lot was saying Welcome Sophia,Bella,etc…???

38. 38
    IrishGirl
    Posted January 10, 2013 at 6:03 am

    Frizzypop, Christi was on the local Pittsburgh news right before the season premiere. Apparently there was a private preview held at the Rivers Casino here. When she was interviewed, she told the story of answering the ad and sending her video then a video of Kelly. So there’s your source.

39. 39
    kck43
    Posted January 10, 2013 at 6:09 am

    @FrizzyPop You are kidding right?? Why would someone directly involved in the show not tell me something bad about Abby? Something that would take credit away from her? Gee I know, I could NEVER see something like that happening!! Trust me when I say a source directly involved with the show, someone ON the show told me this info, why she told me I do not know nor do I care. I just found it interesting. And once again because she told me this, it does not mean I know her personally!! Seriously, why wouldn’t she tell me something like how the show got started?? It is not like she was telling me who was having an affair with whose husband or something PERSONAL like that!!! Maybe you should continue to focus on making fun of how little kids look, I think you are better at that than you are trying to discredit me.

40. 40
    Frizzypop
    Posted January 10, 2013 at 6:35 am

    Take a pill kck43, it’s not that big of a deal….ok, you convinced me, does that make you feel better? @@. Think ill stick with the fun kids on the other shows. You people get your panties in a wad too easily

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    kck43
    Posted January 10, 2013 at 6:41 am

    @Frizzypop Me? Ha ha ha That is actually pretty funny. You are the one on here totally knocking pretty much anything anyone says. Who cares!! Seriously, who cares if what people say are true or not, take it for what it is, a site where people write what they have heard or what they think. No need to question everything they write. For all you know, I COULD be one of the dance moms on the show and I COULD be telling you something first hand.

42. 42
    Gigi
    Posted January 10, 2013 at 8:04 am

    The original girls put a bunch of pictures on Instagram of them and Sophia in the same costumes when this was being filmed so I’m thinking Sophia at least stays on for a while. Yes I am a grown woman that follows small children on Instagram. Bam! The source

43. 43
    kck43
    Posted January 10, 2013 at 11:09 am

    @Irish girl, I did not see that show, I don’t live in your area. I got that info at the beginning of the summer at a meet and greet I brought my daughter and her friend to. Christie was the one who gave the info. She was very nice and down to earth. She hung out in the waiting room. Although I thought that was cool info, I was more interested in if she got to keep her clothes from being on the show. She told me that they have to buy their own clothes and that they wear many outfits during one shooting. That it gets very expensive. She told me that her favorite store to shop at is Marshalls. She also said that Kelly spends tons and tons on her clothes. I was also told by someone other than her, I believe she was the event organizer that the reason Kelly and Abby have so much animosity towards each other was because Kelly used to steal all of the boys Abby liked when they were younger. (I know there is an age diference, so I am not quite sure how true that is!!) But that was pretty much it, at the meet and greet I was at, she had her younger daughter with her and she behaved like any other 2 year old would and Christie acted like any other mom with a two year old would. She was normal, she seemed like most of the people I know. My point to Frizzypop was that people can get info, correct accurate info from a source directly involved in a show and not have to know them personally, that they could talk to someone and get basic info without having to be their best friend and to stop accusing people of things and take the info for what it’s worth. This is a gossip site for people who watch the show and then speculate on it, some theories are silly and some are facts people that point out. And like with any show, if something does not make sense people want to try to figure out why and people on here offer explanations. It’s no big deal. I had a bit of info that I thought was interesting, I had never been on the site before yesterday so I had no idea what people knew or didn’t know. I watch the show if it’s on, my kids are addicted and probably know about every single thing written on here and could probably answer any question. I just stumbled across this site and thought I’d share what I knew, I even stated at the beginning of my post that I apologize if I am telling you something that you already knew.

44. 44
    KRB
    Posted January 10, 2013 at 11:32 am

    @kthxbai – From what I understand, that was offered to Maddie awhile back. Not sure exactly how long but I’m pretty sure it was before the 1st season, because Maddie had said that she’s auditioned for Broadway shows, so she was comfortable auditioning for the agent guy that came to their studio (I think that was season 1 anyway)… I’ve thought about why she would have turned it down as well, the only thing I can really come up with is:

    A) Her mom didn’t want her to miss that much school and be away from family esp if they didn’t know how long the show would run,
    B) The show was going to be short lived and with no guarantee for another part she should keep training.

    I’m totally just guessing because I’ve thought about that before as well.

45. 45
    April
    Posted January 10, 2013 at 11:46 am

    I saw Bunheads and the Dance Moms reference was hilarious! Love that show!

46. 46
    DM
    Posted January 10, 2013 at 11:49 am

    @dancemoms

    The show was banned from 2 competitions after season 1 because of the show. They already can only go to certain ones because very many competitions do not allow outside camera crews. After the airing of season 1 they were banned from StarQuest and Thunderstruck. StarQuest banned them because on the show they lied about the results of the competition and they were mad about that. They made it seem like Maddie and Chloe competed against each other and Maddie won and Chloe lost. In reality they were in different age categories and they both got fist in their own category. Thunderstruck banned them for more technical reasons. Apparently they were having issues with registration and registered under “Collins Avenue” which is the production company of the show and not ALDC. While they were there they were having a lot of issues with the production company for the show. They didn’t have a problem with Abby or the girls and Thunderstruck told them that ALDC is welcome back to compete with them but that cannot being the camera crew because Collins Avenue Productions is banned from their competitions.

    As far as I know those were the only competitions that they have been banned from, however we know that they lie about the results on the show all the time.

47. 47
    April
    Posted January 10, 2013 at 11:50 am

    I want to go to a meet and greet and meet them or see them at a competition. They were near me in Atlanta at one point but I heard about it after the fact.

    Phew buying all those clothes and jewelry would get pricey! They are always dressed up. Which if I was on tv I would want to look nice too but it kinda takes away from the reality of it, because what mom has time to doll up when they are also busy getting their kids to comps and getting them ready.

48. 48
    kthxbai
    Posted January 10, 2013 at 12:44 pm

    @KRB That would be slightly less bad. But not much. My opinion is the grouchiest and most old fashioned of anybody here though.

    Watching Chloe’s wobbly penché made me want to condemn Christi to parenting classes and a warning slip. If I ever got crowned the Empress I’d make it illegal for little girls like Sophia Lucia to get past their 3rd birthday anywhere but L’École de Danse.

    And call myself being modern and sophisticated for letting her go there instead of Nrityagram and live like a nun for 20 yrs learning Kathakali.

    It’s because I never got over my Terrible Childhood Dance Secret. That I might as well go ahead and reveal. I wanted to be Sophia Lucia so bad. But instead I was Vivi.

49. 49
    Wednesday
    Posted January 10, 2013 at 1:46 pm

    Both Christi and Abby have their own versions of how they were the ones to get the show started. Only they and the show creators know which version is the truth. We don’t know anything for sure.

50. 50
    Tee
    Posted January 10, 2013 at 6:36 pm

    I’ve never commented before, but I wanted to say that I LOVE Sophia Lucia. She is an incredible dancer. I noticed the voice change too, and found it weird. Maybe the more nervous/uncomfortable she is, the higher her voice goes? I think it’s cute though! I know that she went back to Pittsburgh at least one more time after shooting these episodes.

    @Frizzypop, Toddlers and Tiaras is about BEAUTY pageants, but Dance Moms doesn’t have anything to do with beauty. The show is called DANCE Moms, the girls are supposed to be dancers not beauty queens.

51. 51
    KRB
    Posted January 10, 2013 at 9:12 pm

    @kthxbai- I’m just going off of when I though it happened and how I would react as a parent. I think that Chloe should be in a ballet school… However, now days parents don’t make their kids do anything they that they don’t want good or bad.

52. 52
    Tapnfeet99
    Posted January 11, 2013 at 4:15 am

    Not on the Sophia Lucia train either. She is so FAKE. I can definitely appreciate her dancing, but her personality (and voice) seem very obnoxious to me. The fake giggles and head bobs on Ellen made me want to gag. I am still a Maddie and Chloe fan because they seem like very real little girls with lots of talent.

    I know two of the judges that have been on the show, so that is my six degrees of separation haha. One was my tap teacher growing up and the other was a guy I did shows with in my late teens/early 20′s. I still go to dance competitions occasionally but I’m on the West Coast….hoping they show up to one of them one day b/c I would love to see them dance in person.

53. 53
    Riley
    Posted January 15, 2013 at 8:56 pm

    The thing with Sophia’s voice… whenever I’m around teachers at school or in the gym or on the ice that I’m not familiar with, my voice goes high. Not Sophia-high (because my natural voice is not high), but higher than normal. It’s a completely involuntary thing; I’m not sure if I do it because I’m nervous, or trying to please, or what. So let’s not criticize her voice, the pitch of which she may or may not have control over.

    I love Sophia’s dancing; she does pretty much every style well, including the emotions (but she’s not obnoxious about them, a la Maddie sometimes). But I want her off the show. She needs to go back to her own studio, which is probably a much safer, more supportive environment. I also think she needs to get voice/acting lessons. It’s really hard to make a career out of JUST being a good dancer. I could totally see her playing a character like Dale Tremont in Top Hat (great show, btw. Saw it in November), but she needs a singing voice and acting abilities. I don’t see her being much of a ballet dancer (although I’m sure she’s got the technique down; I mean dancing in a ballet company), nor do I think teaching dance would be up her alley. As someone mentioned earlier, it’d be a shame for her to have to spend her life dancing down to other people’s level.

    On a related note: it’ll be really interesting to see where all these girls are in 10, 15, 20 years!

54. 54
    lori smith
    Posted January 15, 2013 at 11:19 pm

    I hate that kelly is back infact I wish all the moms would be replaced, thank god I can fast forward kristys big mouth, and looking at her jacked up bottom teeth drives me nuts, I wish her & kellie was gone first! Abby is the star not the dancers NOT the moms! Don’t like how she teachs then LEAVE. Sophia & her mom are great hope they stay, & before they call abby fat they need to look in the mirror cuz they all have gained tons of weight & are fat themselves, kelly christy & matties moms have really packed the pounds & holly is gaining as well.

55. 55
    Retired Dance Mom
    Posted February 13, 2013 at 11:19 am

    The whole thing about the show not paying the girls because that would make them professionals and not allow them to compete doesn’t seem right to me… most competitions that I am aware off clarify that a professional is a dancer over the age of (fill in the blank as each competition is different but usually the number is 19 or 20) who receives more than 1/2 their income from teaching, choreographing or performing. When my daughter was 10-13, she danced for a local WNBA team and was paid quite well to do so but it never kept her from competing (and believe me, if it was against the rules for her to do so, someone would have turned her in eventually because it was well known in the area that she danced for the team and no matter how well a person is liked, there is always someone waiting to stick the knife in as deep as they can:)

    That’s not to say that they aren’t paid – just that I doubt that is the reason. Also, Christie’s version of how the show started is accurate and Abbey was thinking about/talking about/planning to close her doors when she was approached about the show. Also, on more than one occasion, an entire competition has been created for the purpose of filming – I heard that directly from a comp director who was involved.

    As for Sophia and her mother… It’s hard not to trust Sophia’s own words (when she told Abby that sometimes she is mean to the kids at her studio and Abby told her that being mean was good.) and I have met more than my fair share of moms like Sophia’s mother – there’s a reason for the saying, \it’s always the quiet ones\. I don’t know that she isn’t exactly as she represents herself BUT 15 years as a comp dance mom tells me there is a reason the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end whenever she talks.