The original cast of Dance Moms, excluding Nia Sioux, Maddie Ziegler, and Mackenzie Ziegler, reunited for a special sit-down to discuss their time on the show. Brooke Hyland expressed initial doubts about revisiting the past but ultimately felt it would be healing and therapeutic. The show, which aired from 2011 to 2017, followed the junior elite competition team at Abby Lee Miller’s dance company in Pittsburgh. Brooke and her sister, Paige, were original cast members who left the show in 2014. The reunion provided them with an opportunity to voice their opinions and share their perspectives on their time on the show.
Lifetime had attempted to organize a reunion with the Dance Moms cast several times without success. The cast members, now adults, felt that the timing was right for a reunion as they could now have adult conversations. Kendall Vertes noted that revisiting traumatic show moments was challenging, as many memories were locked away due to the emotional toll of the experience. Despite the difficulties, the cast members found value in coming together to reflect on their shared experiences.
Brooke and Paige, who left the show after season 4, initially had reservations about returning for the reunion. They believed that it was necessary to show the world who they were now and have a voice after feeling silenced on the show. The reunion also brought together the girls’ mothers, providing a rare opportunity for everyone to come together. Abby Lee Miller, the dance instructor from the show, did not make an appearance in the reunion special.
The Dance Moms cast stays in touch through a group chat but finds it challenging to meet up in person due to their busy lives in different cities. Despite the distance, they continue to communicate and support each other. The reunion special, titled Dance Moms: The Reunion, premiered on Lifetime in May and provided the cast with a platform to share their perspectives on their time on the show. The reunion allowed them to reflect on their experiences and address any lingering emotions or traumas from their time on Dance Moms.