Review: 'Dance Moms: The Reunion'

Last night we got the reunion episode from the Original Girls (plus three) of Dance Moms.  For those who don’t know much about the show, it began as a documentary that would showcase the mother/daughter bond of dancing on a competitive team.  It swiftly changed as producers observed Abby Lee Miller’s teaching style and focused the show around her.  So let me put it this way.  I know others have used the same tone, but it tells the story of Dance Moms.

This is the story of seven little girls (Brooke, Paige, Maddie, MacKenzie, Chloe, Nia, and Vivi-Anne.  The oldest was Brooke and the youngest was MacKenzie.  The star, in Abby’s eyes, was Maddie.  Slowly the girls started to leave.  Vivi-Anne and her dance studio mom, Cathy, left first before season one ended.  Cathy didn’t like traveling on a bus as a team (until she started competing against Abby).  Brooke, Paige, and mom Kelly were the next to leave after a fight in New York City with Abby pressing assault charges against Kelly (but I saw it the opposite way).  

The Hylands would sue (and lose) Abby for her treatment of Paige.  Then Chloe and her mom Christi left after another fight with Abby.  Though they aired a vague hint of return, Chloe never did.  She had a condition called sinus eye. Abby insulted Chloe and they were gone.  Maddie, MacKenzie, and their mom, Melissa, left for greener pastures (better programs and money).  

Of the original girls, this left Nia and her mom Holly who decided to stay until their contract ended.  Although from season one on, Abby would try to make the Fraziers leave, but they stayed because they felt they needed to fulfill their contract.

With the “original girls” gone, new girls entered. Most notable were Kendall and her mom Jill (season two),  Kalani and her mom Kira (roughly season four), and JoJo and her mom, Jess.  This is the group who came to the reunion except for three.  Maddie, Mackenzie, and Nia decided they did not need to relive this part of their lives.  So, what we got last night were those seeking closure, and this was the best way to go forward.

Let’s just say — when the girls (and some moms) arrived, they had sexy wardrobes and found champagne waiting.  I found this odd as JoJo and Kendall are not of drinking age yet,  But, hey, this IS California.  JoJo seemed to think she was the host of the show.  In the green room, both JoJo and Kalani came across a little catty.  This was evident when the talk turned to who “didn’t show up” or was not invited to Paige’s birthday party hosted by the Ziegler’s.  

When JoJo started in on “the others should have come,” Paige put JoJo in her place saying:  “They didn’t need” to talk about it.  Kendall seemed jealous of Maddie and it came out during this program.  Surprisingly Kalani had not been invited to the party (JoJo never knew Paige until the reunion).  Chloe admitted she almost didn’t come to the reunion due to mixed feelings. 

The “original” girls were called to the stage.  Chloe was asked about the rivalry Abby created with Maddie.  Chloe said she realized that Abby wouldn’t support her after the show started.  Brooke and Paige had never talked about Abby or their time on the show since the New York incident.  As the clip is shown, Brooke starts crying (as did Kelly in the green room).  Kelly came out to reassure her girls and told all that she would do it differently if she had it to live over.  Kalani is asked if she knew what Abby planned and from her hesitation, I knew she had a clue.  

During  Abby’s Ultimate Dance Competition, Maddie and MacKenzie were introduced to Kalani by Abby with the words:  “Maddie, meet your new partner.”  Kalani says Melissa knew and Kira.  Kalani felt bad because Paige, Brooke, and Kelly had no idea.  This incident changed Kelly’s world.  The girls stopped dancing and she separated from her husband.  After Kelly apologized publicly to Paige and Brooke, hugs happened.

Kendall was next up.  In many ways, Jill and Kendall are alike.  Kendall thinks of herself as an “original” since she started in season two.  Brooke and Paige point out that she went to the rival school, Candy Apples, and Kendall tells them this was what Jill wanted.  

Kendall knew the stakes were high when she returned to ALDC.  Kendall cries after the clip where Ashlee made her cry,  (Ashlee turned out to be Jill.2).  Jill joins the girls on stage.  She tells us that the show made Kendall stronger to face life now.  Jill says she wouldn’t change anything that happened (why aren’t I surprised).  Kendall is now studying political science and pre-law (at James Madison University).

Kalani agrees that her family was treated well by Abby.  Kira was liked because she did what Abby wanted, but Kalani paid an emotional price.  When people attacked Kira, the hurt was personal.  I’m going to put this here.  Kalani has had problems since the show aired.  She has been body shamed and she didn’t state by whom.  Having worked at a university with a strong dance program, I have known many students whose body changes in their early 20s.  It’s part of puberty (as Kalani) says.  Later, during the favorite dances, producer, Bryan Stinson, mentioned “Suicide Hotline” and we find out just how bad the body sharing was for Kalani.  

She ran offstage to the restroom and let JoJo and her mom in.  It seems Kalani has had a hard time dealing with some issues.  The number helped Kalani through a rough patch of her life as she called and got help.  I admire Kalani for telling her story and hope that Kalani’s experience helps others.  The dance did as the organization received a large number of calls after the show aired. 

JoJo is next.  She states honestly that all the names that Abby called her (obnoxious, “greedy little monster”) were true.  It toughened her up for Hollywood and taught her how to survive. Jojo had an advantage having watched the show.  She knew what to expect. She wanted to be there, but Kendall wanted to know why JoJo left.  Jess comes out for this discussion.  Deals were coming in for JoJo with Nickelodeon and Abby would have (basically) meddled.  All communication was cut.  When Kendall asks about the decision, Jess tells her that JoJo and she made the decision jointly.  Jess also wouldn’t have changed what they went through.  JoJo has a good relationship with Abby because she appreciates what Abby did. 

The talk turns to Abby.  Chloe then says something interesting.  She tells everyone not to give Abby credit because she played everything for drama.  Kelly tells people that she still thinks of Abby to this day.  Chloe’s feelings toward Abby are complicated.  She wants to forgive Abby but now is only in the stage of forgiving.  Paige has chosen closure.   Abby’s cancer shocked them.  JoJo got in to see Abby at the hospital. (I have been told that Abby refused to see Nia when she tried to visit.)

During Abby’s hospital stay, Paige looks at Brooke who is crying (as is Kelly).  Kalani has no emotion.  As the Hillikers feel, Abby had karma returned to her.  During the indictment discussion, Jill tells us about Abby’s behavior.  Abby was a screaming banshee and a complete mess.  Jill points out she tried to warn Abby but Abby wouldn’t listen.

To JoJo, Dance Moms has life left in the show.  It’s inspiring young dancers. While JoJo calls out Christi (Chloe’s mom) for bad-mouthing Gianna, JoJo calls Gia a rock for the girls.  The others disagree.  Chloe tells JoJo that Christi has the rights to her own opinion.  Chloe points out that JoJo never met Christi.

Stinson asked about the Pyramid.  None of the girls liked it.  Paige though says it helped make her confident now.  She also knows it wasn’t always about dance.  It was hard to grow up on the show.  In a lighter moment during this segment, JoJo proposes to Kalani, and all laugh. 

Today, Chloe is happy with her life in college and the world.  She talks about her relationship with Brooklynn (3 years together) and that she is proud of herself.  Christi wasn’t accepting at first and had a hard time accepting the same-sex relationship.  Stinson shows Chloe a clip filmed by Christi who tells Chloe how proud she is of being kind and strong.  Christi is accepting of Chloe’s choices.  As the show winds up, we learn that Chloe already has her next chapter planned – a dance competition called Releve.  Paige says that “The Last Text” makes her think and turn off her phone when she gets in the car.  I’ve already mentioned Kalani’s.  We also learn that JoJo has been working on 23 songs (and a new image).  Kalani acknowledges the girls as her sister and the show ends with a reenactment of “Boss Ladies.”

The reunion episode did clear up some drama but there is more that could have been told. Abby body-shamed the girls all the time.  It was mentioned in the series (and known in the Pittsburgh community) that the girls weren’t allowed to compete if they gained 10 pounds.   I will be honest. I know more about the ALDC than I can tell from former dancers, college teachers, and Pittsburgh natives.  I don’t blame Nia, Maddie, and MacKenzie for not doing the show.  They have adjusted and moved on.  Both Nia and MacKenzie are dancing again (as is Kendall), acting, and singing.  I see Kalani becoming a spokesperson and hope she writes a book.  And Kendall, oh please, not president!