A Dangerous Legacy Continues in ‘A New Era’—Yet Fans Keep Watching

When it comes to “Dance Moms,” everyone and everything is replaceable. This includes Abby Lee Miller and the controversial teaching methods she popularized on the infamous reality TV show, which aired on Lifetime from 2011 to 2018.

In its original form, the unscripted series followed a studio of young dancers and their moms as they clashed with Miller and each other, vying for the spotlight and various national titles. The series has been revived as a ten-episode binge on Hulu on August 7, titled “Dance Moms: A New Era.” Unlike previous spinoffs, the reboot features an almost entirely new cast. Gloria Hampton (aka “Miss Glo”) takes on the Abby role, berating a fresh set of performers, aged 8 to 13.

Hulu’s “A New Era” consciously replicates the toxic environment that harmed real kids in the past, a sensitive issue especially now as lawsuits pile up against reality TV and new documentaries reevaluate the damage suffered by child actors and the parents who pushed them into fame.

The similarities between “A New Era” and “Dance Moms” are striking. Like the Abby Lee Dance Company, Studio Bleu Dance Center pits its performers against each other, with weekly headshots ranking the girls and constant threats of being cut. The tension often leads to emotional breakdowns for both children and parents. The girls are bullied by Miss Glo, each other, and even their own mothers.

A poignant moment occurs when one mom apologizes to her daughter after yelling at her during a particularly stressful situation. However, in the next episode, the same mom publicly calls her daughter “a disappointment” during a backstage argument, supposedly to help her get into character for a solo performance. The child leaves the stage sobbing.

Throughout “A New Era,” children are belittled and mocked by adults, often driven to tears under extreme stress. They aspire for a stage that has indeed transformed outsiders like pop star JoJo Siwa into celebrities. Yet, it’s not just the children but also the moms who engage in verbal and physical fights, often criticizing each other’s parenting skills and the dancing abilities of their children.

Even producer intervention can’t shield the children from extreme stress. A 13-year-old dancer named Audrey is reduced to tears within a single episode after her mom is labeled “crazy.” Later, Audrey slams into a cameraman and needs medical attention. Instead of sympathy, she faces skepticism from other moms, who question if her injury was real or an excuse to avoid performing. Glo’s daughter, a professional dancer, criticizes Audrey, saying, “I danced on a broken foot for a month.”

“A New Era” is packed with toxic exchanges and inappropriate themes for choreography. For one dance number, an 8-year-old girl is pressured to give up her teddy bear to “grow up.” In another instance, the season finale features a group routine about the fentanyl crisis, with dancers assigned to die based on their skills. A mom even uses a personal tragedy—a relative’s overdose—to push her daughter into performing an emotionally charged piece.

The emotional toll is palpable. An 11-year-old dancer named Ashlan earns the lead role due to her believable onstage grief, only to be called a “cry baby” for breaking down backstage after the performance.

Maddie Ziegler, now 21, is one of the more successful alums from “Dance Moms” and has spoken against the show’s production. She did not appear in “Dance Moms: The Reunion,” which aired on Lifetime in May. Maddie has stated that the manipulation and abuse she endured harmed her and her relationship with her mother.

“I called my mom, and things came up from the past, and she apologized to me,” Maddie said last year on Emily Ratajkowski’s podcast, “High Low.” “She was like, ‘I’m so sorry I put you through that.’ It’s so sad because she would never want to hurt us, but none of us knew how crazy it would get.”

Maddie has worked to distance herself from the show, describing blacking out parts of her troubled childhood and feeling discomfort watching old clips resurface on social media. Her sister Mackenzie and their mom Melissa also skipped the reunion special.

Nia Sioux, another original cast member, also avoided the reunion, stating on TikTok, “I just didn’t want to do it… that’s a good enough answer, and that’s a good enough reason.” Sioux has reflected on the negative aspects of the show, mentioning the constant yelling and swearing, yet tries to focus on the positive opportunities it provided her.

While some cast members try to put a positive spin on their experiences, JoJo Siwa defends Miller, attributing her success to the rigorous training she received on “Dance Moms.” However, JoJo and her mother Jessalyn were recently accused of creating a toxic work environment, which they denied, blaming the accuser’s mother instead.

Despite the controversies, “Dance Moms: A New Era” has found its audience, with social media buzzing about the show. Cast members share mixed reflections, mentioning fun off-camera moments while confirming the authenticity of the on-screen drama.

Ultimately, this reboot serves as a reminder of the damaging consequences already known, packaged once more for an eager audience.

Source: Indiewire, Forbes, Entertainment Tonight, “High Low” podcast