Dance Moms: Season 1

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Mixed or average reviews based on 4 Critic Reviews

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Mixed or average reviews based on 21 Ratings

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5.5	User Score Mixed or average reviews based on 21 Ratings

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Season Details & Credits

Lifetime | Season Premiere Date: July 13, 2011

Summary: The reality show takes a look at the Abby Lee Dance Company where girls between the ages of 6 and 13 learn competitive dance.

Genre(s): Drama, Reality, Game Show, Arts

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Season 1 Episodes

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S1:E13. Dance Moms: Most Outrageous Moments Preview
Air Date: October 5, 2011
tbd
S1:E13. Most Outrageous Moments
Air Date: October 13, 2011
tbd
S1:E12. There's Only One Star
Air Date: October 4, 2011

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Critic Reviews

Linda Stasi

Jul 13, 2011

Once you get past the reality-TV grabbers, you realize that while there is some of that, more importantly there's a lot of Miller. It is great to watch her work. Read full review

Diane Werts

Jul 13, 2011

Inexorably transfixing, whether you're taking names or taking notes. Read full review

Jul 13, 2011

I love a show about crazy stage moms, and at moments this one doesn't disappoint. Read full review

Troy Patterson

Jul 15, 2011

The new worst show on television debuted Wednesday night on Lifetime--Dance Moms, an ugly docu-circus featuring a megaton bully of a Pittsburgh dance instructor, the little princesses she costumes as lunatic street whores, and a quorum of strenuously pathetic stage mothers, one of whom warbles that she would slit her wrists if her daughter even thought of trying out for softball. Read full review

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User Reviews

NoahCoward

Oct 7, 2011

Horrible people are what makes reality programming memorable and that's what sets Dance Moms apart. The little girls mother's are horrible. Little star Maddie is rotten, but the very worst of all is Abby Lee Miller, the star of the show and the major domo of the allegedly world-famous AbbyHorrible people are what makes reality programming memorable and that's what sets Dance Moms apart. The little girls mother's are horrible. Little star Maddie is rotten, but the very worst of all is Abby Lee Miller, the star of the show and the major domo of the allegedly world-famous Abby Lee Miller Dance Studio, a small cinder block building in a suburb of Pittsburgh.

Abby is hysterical in every sense of the word. She is a dead-ringer for Divine as Edith Turnblad in the original Hairspray movie. Abby is so over the top that one wonders if this is a Christopher Guest - "Wating for Guffman" type satire rather than supposed reality. Episodes are loaded with "Waiting for Guffman" type moments as we meet an variety of third-rate show business detritus presented as "one of the biggest talent scouts on Broadway", etc..

The little girl dancers are generally innocent victims of their attention starved mothers - who should know better - and the tyrannical Abby. The one exception is little angelic star Maddie who is easy to detest.

The show has turned into a suprise hit and has been renewed for a second season. I'm wondering is someone from Alleghany County Child Protective Services should intervene.services is… Expand

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

terilynn

Feb 18, 2012

I love this show!!!!! Yes Abby is critical but these are very spoiled little girls with even more spoiled Mothers and when these kids get out in the real world they will thank Abby for all the strict discipline!!!

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

lakersn23

Sep 5, 2011

I Love this show. If you can get over the strong, confident Abby, this is the show for you. I little bit of everything. Trust Me you will enjoy yourself.

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

socmedia

Jan 31, 2013

I love this show. Every episode is packed full of dance mom drama which can be stressful at times but its all worth it in the end when you get to watch the girls dance. They truly are incredible and the show showcases their talent while also keeping viewers involved in drama created by theirI love this show. Every episode is packed full of dance mom drama which can be stressful at times but its all worth it in the end when you get to watch the girls dance. They truly are incredible and the show showcases their talent while also keeping viewers involved in drama created by their mothers.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

MatthewDon2002

Feb 22, 2014

Despite its clearly bogus chain of events, Dance Moms remains a thoroughly and surprisingly enslaving look into the life of a scary dance teacher, the impressionable dance kids, and their pushy mothers. If it wasn't for the delightful antics of the mothers, this would remain a mediocreDespite its clearly bogus chain of events, Dance Moms remains a thoroughly and surprisingly enslaving look into the life of a scary dance teacher, the impressionable dance kids, and their pushy mothers. If it wasn't for the delightful antics of the mothers, this would remain a mediocre documentary with some fat woman screaming at blonde girls.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

skantea

Sep 9, 2011

Three caveats, I'm a dude, I almost never watch reality programming, and I don't have kids. So why the heck would I spend 47 minutes of my life watching this? Originally it was morbid curiosity. I wanted to see the train wrecks. The Toddlers and Tiaras show sounded too far outside myThree caveats, I'm a dude, I almost never watch reality programming, and I don't have kids. So why the heck would I spend 47 minutes of my life watching this? Originally it was morbid curiosity. I wanted to see the train wrecks. The Toddlers and Tiaras show sounded too far outside my comfort zone, but I thought since these girls ostensibly learned an actual craft, it would be a stomach-able compromise. I also think athletics and team sports are valuable experiences for young people, so I climbed down off my high horse and tuned in.
Hey, kids are kids, that never changes, and this show is not about the kids. It's about American culture, women's gender roles and how damaging stereotypes are handed down from mother to daughter in the form of destructive personality disorders. The mother's are the stars.
I try to critique media within the confines of it's genre and or sub-genre. I look at what's successful in that medium and try to make comparisons regarding professional competency as well as what might move the medium forward (the purpose of art, no?). You can't do any of that with this. It's pure sugar and salt, utterly nutritionless. A young girl couldn't even watch this for the value of the competitive routines because the performance in quick edits before going back to the reaction of the mom's. But that's pretty much what I expected, so what's my verdict?
It's not a guilty pleasure. A rich dessert is a guilty pleasure, this is corn nuts, pop rocks, and mountain dew. The Dance teacher is competent, the kids are cute and driven, but none of that is appreciated. I would like to know more about the girls and their individual motivations and struggles. But the 'reality' is that wouldn't get ratings. It's disposable pap, the train wreck I tuned in to see and complain about. And if that's it's value to the medium, then I'll just get back up on my high horse and ride to a pasture with fewer gopher holes and cow patties.
Rated 4 out of sympathy for the kids who might know how to use google.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

KaciePatt

Apr 2, 2018

This show is packed with entertainment, but at the expense of young girls trying to do what the love. The amount of controversies is unnecessary. The very first episode is appalling. When Chloe's headpiece fell off during her number, the mother was yelled at like a child. The girls areThis show is packed with entertainment, but at the expense of young girls trying to do what the love. The amount of controversies is unnecessary. The very first episode is appalling. When Chloe's headpiece fell off during her number, the mother was yelled at like a child. The girls are treated like tiny robots without any room for mistakes. Abbey is a raspy voiced bully. You can instruct children without putting the fear of God into them. There is constructive criticism and then there is plain verbal abuse and Abbey Lee Miller does not know the difference. There is something wrong when the children are crying more than they are smiling. It's unbelievable that the mothers sit there and take the scolding as if they were the age of their girls. That's a horrible example to let others have that control over you. Melissa lets the other moms talk about her child with envy and that's downright unacceptable. This show is ultimately infuriating to watch.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

SEE ALL 9 REVIEWS

Seasons & Episodes

54

Series Overview
Season 8

tbd
- Season 8 Overview
  Air Date: June 4, 2019
Season 7

tbd
- Season 7 Overview
  Air Date: November 29, 2016
Season 6

tbd
- Season 6 Overview
  Air Date: January 5, 2016
Season 5

tbd
- Season 5 Overview
  Air Date: January 6, 2015
Season 4

tbd
- Season 4 Overview
  Air Date: January 1, 2014
Season 3

tbd
- Season 3 Overview
  Air Date: January 1, 2013
Season 2

tbd
- Season 2 Overview
  Air Date: January 10, 2012
Season 1

54
- Season 1 Overview
  Air Date: July 13, 2011
- tbd
  S1:E13. Dance Moms: Most Outrageous Moments Preview
  Air Date: October 5, 2011
- tbd
  S1:E13. Most Outrageous Moments
  Air Date: October 13, 2011
- tbd
  S1:E12. There's Only One Star
  Air Date: October 4, 2011
- tbd
  S1:E11. It All Ends Here
  Air Date: September 27, 2011
- tbd
  S1:E10. Cathy Brings It On!
  Air Date: September 13, 2011
- tbd
  S1:E9. From Ballerinas to Showgirls
  Air Date: September 7, 2011
- tbd
  S1:E8. Love On The Dance Floor
  Air Date: August 29, 2011
- tbd
  S1:E7. She's A Fighter
  Air Date: August 22, 2011
- tbd
  S1:E6. Dying To Dance
  Air Date: August 16, 2011
- tbd
  S1:E5. When Stars Collide
  Air Date: August 10, 2011
- tbd
  S1:E4. Stealing the Show
  Air Date: August 3, 2011
- tbd
  S1:E3. Cheerleader Blues
  Air Date: July 27, 2011
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  S1:E2. Wildly Inappropriate
  Air Date: July 19, 2011
- tbd
  S1:E1. The Competition Begins
  Air Date: July 13, 2011