I can’t believe I am about to write another Dance Moms recap. I just watched twenty minutes of a one hour program documentary on her health journey after prison. It was raw and sad and terrifying. I believe it was a one hour show that cut off after twenty minutes. That was enough for me to see that she has been through hell. She’s had cancer, major spinal surgeries, chemotherapy, lost her ability to walk, and nearly died. But her desire to start a new ALDC elite team in Pittsburgh has pulled her through at all.
While she was still in the hospital in really bad shape she announced she was auditioning for new dancers. She got thousands of applications. On the season premiere of season eight we meet the new team. And their crazy mothers.
Everyone’s Replaceable
Abby starts right away telling them they can lose their spot at any moment. No one’s position is promised. Lilly is the only returning dancer. She has earned a coveted ALDC jacket. But Abby takes it away so they will all be on the same playing field. It’s the first episode and Abby Lee has already told them, “Everyone’s Replaceable,” One of the moms is wearing a hot pink, floor length mermaid dress. It’s like she wants us to know she is the hot mess.
Catch Up On Abby Lee Millers Tough Road Here
The first group dance for competition is called “Broken Hearts.” It’s going to be her trademark over the top choreography. The dancer will have hearts bursting and bleeding out all over their costumes. The is one boy dancer, Brady. He’s got the lead in the first group dance.
Stacie Wastes No Time Before Starting Trouble
There are also two trios. Lilly’s mom, Stacie, is already complaining that Abby has her in an acrobatic trio. She wants Lilly to branch out. Then she randomly goes after Sarah’s mom. She claims Sarah has never competed at the tops levels in competitions. Then she tries to tell Abby Lee what sort of choreography she should give Lilly. Abby pulled her from the trio. Lilly cries. Stacie cries and we are off to the races! Abby decides it’s too late to pull her and puts her back in. Plus, Lilly is her favorite. For now.
GiaNina’s mom is insufferable. It does seem like GiaNina has a great dance resume. But her mom, Joanne, is a bragger. Fact.
Abby had the kids share stories of their heartbreaks as a source to draw from while on stage. Then Abby whips off her wig and shows them her scars from her two spinal surgeries. Is this really necessary? No. But it is very Abby Lee Miller.
Off To The Competition
I felt some kinda way seeing Abby’s wheelchair being lifted into the tour bus. I was a little bit heartbreaking. Then, there was a huge crowd of little girls screaming when she arrived at the competition venue. Abby needed that.
I thought this would be a little rinkydink competition so that Abby could start with a win. It’s not. There appears to be a lot of teams there. When Abby rolls in to the audience, she gets a standing ovation from the audience. I get a bit misty-eyed. I feel for Abby she has no one in her life other than bosses and employees. She went through hell basically all alone.
The Trios
It was smart for Abby to enter two trios. That’s not a very popular category. So even though she is pitting her trios against each other, she could still pick up two trophies. I thought the first trio did well. They were not always perfectly in sync, but I thought it was a great first dance. Abby clapped. But she did not do her overhead clap she does when she loves it.
The second trio featured Lilly. The name of the routine was The Favorite. Because, Lilly is her favorite. It was really cute. They had some spacing issues. Abby clapped and gave it a little whoohoo so she was pleased. Or not. Apparently the spacing issues that I noticed were because Lily slipped. And she rushed the choreography. Abby is not amused.
The Group Dance
The dancers are in all white so that their heart can break and blood will cover them. Everyone is nervous because they have never danced as a team before.
The group dance was perfection. They have to win. It was haunting and sad and I cried. Brady is an amazing dancer. It was just brilliant. She’s back. Abby cried. I cried. Hannah cried. Half the moms cried. Brady says that he saw Abby do the overhead clap. So that’s all he could hope for.
Check Out Older Dance Moms Recaps Here!
In the trio awards, The Favorite got third. Abby was not happy with that. She thought it was the better of the trios. So she doesn’t think Dance With The Devil will place. But they won! And of course the group dance took first place.
Stacie tells Abby that Lilly came in third because is was an acrobatic dance. She is trying really hard to get Lilly kicked off the show.
I loved this episode. Is anyone else still interested in Dance Moms recaps?
I’ve never watched but thanks to your recap, I may start. I’m pulling for Abby.
Omg I am soooo interested. I loved Maddie so much and I love Abby Lee Miller and your recaps are fantastic. You’re the reason I even got into this show in the first place.
She’s been through so much. I have always rooted for her and I love this show.
I dont even get to watch the show anymore bc I had to cut down on my cable bill so I changed my package and only got to pick out 10 channels to get. I also got a firestick but it’s sat here for over a year bc I dont know what to do with it at all.
I will read your reviews though!!
You can watch the episodes for free on Lifetime’s website after they air.
You have to at least watch the first group dance.
I’m so glad you shared that video. Moving performance that brought tears to my eyes. Rooting for her, and all those kids did her proud. Amazing!
Sure am interested. As repulsively as she behaved in the past, the trauma that she suffered through makes you want to root for her. She needs a real redemption story.
I didn’t care for her for quite a while due to the way she treated the girls, but she has definitely earned a second chance. I was really upset when I read that she had cancer, and learned of the terrible ordeal she was going through, so I’m really happy that she’s back doing what she loves to do. I wish her all the good luck in the world. I didn’t realize her show was back on the air already, but I’ll make sure to watch it from now on. Thank you for the touching recap, Tamara.
I was kind of glad my DVR shut off after only twenty minutes of the preseries episode detailing everything she has been through. When she found out she couldn’t walk, well it was just all very sad. And she has no support system other than her producers and makeup artist.
You are tough! I could not have watched 10 mins.
I love Dance Moms. I was in tears during the hospital segment. Doesn’t she have any family? I loved the Mommy Dearest solo. I think Abby has paid the price for her transgressions – big time. Great recap, TT.
I believe Abby only had her mother with whom she was very close. But her mother died a few years ago during one of her last Dance Mom seasons and before her prison sentence.
I watched and got pulled back into this show. Abby really has gone thru hell. That one Mom that doesn’t let her daughter talk, oh my!
That girl kind of reminds me of a shy muppet when she just stares at her mother and says nothing. Nothing at all. On the other hand her overly excited mother reminds me of Chris Farley’s SNL Gap Girl character with Spade and Sandler ? It’s kind of painful to watch, the poor girl is so frozen when asked a question.
I’m curious as to why so many 13+ kids were selected, that doesn’t give Abby long to work with them unless they really want a career in dance.
Yes! I’ve been trying to figure out who Hannah’s mom reminds me of and it IS Chris Farley as the Gap Girl!!
I’ve never watched either, but your recap has me intrigued! I will check it out.
It may be season 8 but it is like a brand new show. With all the realness of a first season. Except for thirsty Stacie. she knows the ropes and is being super extra for camera time.
I’m on the fence, I never liked how Abby treated some of the children on screen but I loved the dancing and if anyone deserves a second chance it’s Abby she has been through hell! I recorded it, so who am I kidding I’m probably going to watch!
I feel like I may be way off base here, bc I love TT and read all her articles regardless of the show but….you reap what you sew. Hasn’t Abby always been a bit of a hatchet wound? I’ve watched the show sporadically and always thought “man, for a woman who couldn’t do half this shit, she sure is a harsh” Everyone seems to be pretty sympathetic to her plight despite the child criticism and jail time. Like I said, maybe I’m off base and I need to do more research like a big girl….
You are entitled to your opinion, but I love her.
You’re probably right. I don’t want to inflate your ego, but goddammit, you usually are. Everyone has their shit. Hers is just on display for us to judge.
Her immense suffering is also on display. She’s raw and suffering and alone. She fucked up legally. She did her time only to be stricken with a rare cancer which she has been treated for all alone.
I understand her teaching style to a degree. Her hatred for Chloe was awful. But I get her. I admire her fight for life. And most of all I understand what it is like to be all alone with no one and yet have “fans”
All the standing ovations in the world don’t make up for her loneliness.
Abby Lee has been thru hell and still has a lot of health problems. She is not out of the woods yet. She is in my prayers. I love she is back on TV and I love watching the children dance. So much young talent and Abby is a superb teacher. I hope this group of moms behave better than the ones that came before. Thank you Tamara for continuing to recap this show. I appreciate it.
Yay! I am watching with you and am stoked you are recapping. I had no idea Dance Moms was coming back so imagine my thrill when I saw it on my DVR. I am here for all the dancing and, of course, the mama drama!! This season looks like it is not going to disappoint!
I have never seen an episode but have always read your recaps. Abby has been thru hell. I look forward to hearing of continued success for herself & her students.
i have not watched this show in years. Wow, she doesn’t even look like the same woman. I would not have known it was her at all if not for this recap. Not someone I follow so I don’t know anything about her health journey but she looks so different that I can’t help but wonder what work she has had done. Anyway best of luck to her and the show.
I’m not into kids on reality TV, but I do remember reading that she only got busted because a bankruptcy judge saw her on TV. She hadn’t even told her own lawyer or, you know the federal court, that she was on TV.
I’ll wait until further into the season to cast these feelings in stone, but so far the original Dance Moms and team had more of an organic feel to it. The original dancers, plus the early add-ons, had their studio and community relationships beyond being on the show. While they and their moms got insecure, competitive, tearful and stressed, there was more of a sense of relationships underneath. This group now has all the competitive instincts, stress and insecurity vying for screen time, fame and contracts without any sense of connection. There also seemed to be a bit less time shown of rehearsing each of the dances. I want to see more of that and less ITM narrative by the moms.
I am watching and reading. Just watched episode 2. I’ve missed Abby and I love watching the routines
I’m so happy Dance Moms is back!
Love Dance Moms! So happy you are recapping!
I’ve been waiting for Dance Moms to make a comeback! I’ve always loved the show and have been following abby’s health journey on insta while the show’s been on hiatus.
I was also waiting for a Dance Moms comeback. However, I have to say, after watching the repeats of the original seasons, I do NOT blame Abby at all, I blame the MOTHERS for allowing that treatment of their daughters. It seems neither Maddie, nor Mackenzie, nor Melissa could be bothered visiting Abby when she was sick because Maddie has been SO upset over what Abby did to her. As far as I can tell, Abby made Maddie a star and Melissa did little more than lie to get her daughter ahead. So, here’s to a new seasons, new dancers, and probably the same old crazy Dance Mom behavior
Yes TT, please recap this show. I’ve been waiting to see Abby comeback since she went to jail. I watched the whole episode of Abby’s health issues. If she didn’t have the ability to go back to teaching dance, I think she would have committed suicide. These kids know who Abby is and how she teaches, and they still want to dance for her. I was hoping for a team of minis as they are so adorable, but I love the new team.
It is hard seeing Miss Abbie struggle, but the dance numbers show her talent. It was heart-warming to see that Gia still is by her side. It is called Dance MOMS, but holy fuck these women are AWFUL. Give me some Jill or Melissa any day. I wondered why Abbie was so horrible to Chloe, but then … Kristy. Poor Lily, looks like her mom will do her in too. I don’t get the Maddie treatment … What Would Mrs. Miller think? Also, I hated when Maddie would dance some heartbreaking number and have that big toothy smile and Lily just did it with Mommy Dearest.
Thanks for continually recapping this show. While Abby’s teaching style is a bit brutal at times, she does make stars and these moms know it. That’s why there is no shortage of women trying to get there kids in her program. This is one of the few reality shows I still watch. To much petty arguing and fighting on the housewives. Most of those woman have it all and appreciate none of it.