‘Dance Moms’ Coach Glo Hampton Tried to Involve Abby Lee Miller in Reboot

Dance Moms: A New Era is set to reintroduce the competitive world of youth dance to television, but this time with a fresh face leading the charge. Gloria “Glo” Hampton steps into the role once famously held by the controversial dance coach Abby Lee Miller from the original series.

In a recent interview with ET’s Rachel Smith, Hampton disclosed that she attempted to involve Miller in the new reboot. However, Miller, known for her outspoken nature, did not express enthusiasm for the new direction, nor was she keen on Hampton stepping into the spotlight.

“Well, you know, Abby and I, we’re very good friends,” Hampton shared. Despite their friendship, it became evident that Miller wasn’t too thrilled with the casting decisions. “I did get a congratulatory text from Abby, so I thought she was on board,” Hampton said. “I don’t know, maybe she didn’t think the show would really get off the ground or that it would progress the way it did.”

Hampton recounted how, during the show’s production, she reached out to Miller inviting her to drop by the set, hoping to see her involved. “We were together in the same state and I was like, ‘Hey, come by set, we’d love to see you.’ And she wasn’t receptive to that… she declined.”

Hampton emphasized that she held no ill feelings and would have greatly appreciated Miller’s input. “Abby was the trailblazer for this show, so I would love to have had her involved in some way. But she declined… I mean, I would love some input and guidance. And, you know, she’s been through it.”

Absence of Miller’s advice, according to Hampton, gave her the freedom to shape Dance Moms: A New Era based on her vision and style, distinguishing it from its predecessor. “It’s in the title, right? It’s a new era. The world is different, my students are different,” Hampton noted. “They’re very vocal, they have opinions and they aren’t afraid to share them, and I allow them to.”

Hampton’s approach to coaching bears notable differences from Miller’s infamous strictness. “Yes, I have the expertise, but I do want them to be able to tell me how they’re feeling, you know? I have a very different teaching style. I do expect my students to work hard, I expect them to be respectful of each other, respectful of me, I expect them to do the work at home. But at the same time, I just handle children differently.”

For Hampton, dance coaching isn’t just a profession but a mission to positively impact young lives. “I’ve been doing this for 40 years. I have students who still reach out to me, students whom I only had for a year or two back when I was a young teacher, and they’re like, ‘You have no idea how much of an impact you’ve had,'” she said. “It’s so heartwarming. They have children of their own who are dancing, and I’m teaching some of their children, so it’s just really cool.”

She firmly believes in nurturing her students’ potential while maintaining lifelong connections. “I do firmly believe that, with these kids, I can bring the best out of them, but they will also always respect me and I will be part of their lives forever,” Hampton added.

Dance Moms: A New Era premieres Aug. 7 on Hulu.

Source: ET