Abby Lee Miller, the well-known dance coach from Dance Moms, has never been afraid to speak her mind. Years after the show ended, she remains firm in her belief that competition is necessary for success. Despite criticism, she still stands by her tough teaching methods and does not regret how she trained her students. According to Abby, competition pushes dancers to improve, and she believes this approach has helped many of her students succeed.
In a recent interview, Abby was asked whether she regrets creating rivalries among the young dancers on Dance Moms. Her answer was clear—she does not regret it at all. She believes that competition is a part of life, especially in the dance world. She explained that when dancers take a class, they naturally position themselves near the best student in the room because they want to improve. In her opinion, the same principle applied to her studio. She always had top students, and others had to work hard to reach their level.
Abby became famous for her strict discipline, and she has not changed her approach. She still believes in the lessons she taught on Dance Moms, including her famous sayings like, “Save your tears for your pillow” and “Second place is the first loser.” She insists that hard work and dedication are the only ways to succeed in dance. If a dancer lacks the right skills, she believes they must practice more and push themselves to improve.
Many former Dance Moms cast members, including Chloé Lukasiak and Maddie Ziegler, have spoken about how they were often pitted against each other on the show. Chloé, in particular, has shared that she felt Abby constantly compared her to Maddie, which made her feel like she was never good enough. However, Abby disagrees with this view. She claims that she always had rivalries in her studio because that is how dancers grow. She believes that healthy competition helps dancers achieve their best potential.
Abby’s teaching philosophy remains the same even on her new reality show, Mad House. She continues to encourage competition among her students, just as she did in Dance Moms. She explains that when dancers are in a class, they should not stand next to someone who is struggling. Instead, they should position themselves beside the best dancer in the room and try to match their level. She believes that by pushing themselves harder, dancers can improve their skills and become the best version of themselves.
Abby is confident that she did the right thing for her students. She does not believe she was too harsh and insists that her teaching methods were always meant to prepare them for real-world success. In her opinion, she was giving them the tools they needed to thrive in a competitive industry. According to Abby, she never lost sleep over her decisions because she truly believed she was helping the children grow as dancers.
Even though Abby is no longer in contact with Chloé and Maddie, she still supports many of her former students. One of the students she keeps in touch with is JoJo Siwa. Abby has expressed how proud she is of JoJo’s career and the success she has achieved. She revealed that she and JoJo frequently discuss potential opportunities related to Dance Moms and other projects. They have an understanding that if they both agree on a project, they will do it together. Otherwise, they will decline it as a team.
Abby has also spoken about how different life is for her now. With her new show, she feels that things are much easier without parents interfering in the process. One of the biggest challenges she faced on Dance Moms was dealing with frustrated parents who often disagreed with her coaching style. She believes that many of these parents should have supported her more instead of questioning her methods. According to Abby, if a parent wants their child to succeed, they should reinforce the lessons the coach is teaching instead of arguing about them.
While Mad House still has its share of drama, Abby feels that most of the young dancers on the show are truly passionate about their craft. She believes they have bright futures ahead, whether in Broadway shows, cruise ship performances, or music videos. She is excited to help these young dancers develop their skills and prepare them for the real world.
Despite her reputation as a tough coach, Abby is still widely recognized and respected in the dance world. She has shared that many young dancers approach her in public places, such as airports or on the streets of New York City, asking for advice or simply wanting to say hello. This, she believes, is proof that her influence in the dance industry is still strong.
Even though Dance Moms ended years ago, Abby remains a controversial figure. Some people admire her for pushing young dancers to achieve their best, while others criticize her for being too harsh. However, Abby does not let the criticism affect her. She strongly believes that her approach was the right one and that it helped many young dancers build successful careers.
