When Dance Moms debuted on Lifetime in 2011, it quickly became a nationwide sensation. The show revolved around Abby Lee Miller, a dance instructor, and her group of young students.
Much of the show’s drama stemmed from the parent’s desire for their children to have solos or star in group performances.
The mothers accused Miller of favoring Maddie Ziegler, a young dancer who has since become well-known in the entertainment industry.
Although Dance Moms has been canceled, Miller has remained active through other endeavors, such as her YouTube channel. She also recently battled cancer, which has left her in a wheelchair.
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Who Is Abby Lee Miller?
Abby Lee Miller is a renowned dance instructor who runs her own dance company, the Abby Lee Dance Company.
She gained widespread recognition as the focal point of the popular reality show Dance Moms, where she trained young children to compete nationally. It’s worth noting that Miller is unmarried and has no children.
Since rising to fame through Dance Moms in 2011, Miller has been at the center of numerous controversies.
She has faced allegations of favoritism and racism toward some girls in her program. The show itself often highlighted the drama between Miller and her students’ mothers.
Has Abby Lee Miller Been Detained?
Abby Lee Miller pleaded guilty to the felony bankruptcy fraud charge in June 2016 after concealing more than $700,000 in income and failing to report $120,000 worth of Australian currency brought into the United States.
Following her conviction, Miller was sentenced to serve one year and one day in prison, putting Dance Moms on hiatus.
Despite her disappointment that none of the show’s students or families visited her during her incarceration, Miller was released early in March 2018 after being diagnosed with cancer.
Abby Lee Miller’s Cancer Struggle
Initially, Abby Lee Miller believed she had a spinal infection, but further examination revealed that the tumor surrounding her spine was Burkitt lymphoma, a type of cancer known for its rarity and aggressiveness.
As a result, Miller underwent emergency surgery and received ten rounds of chemotherapy in addition to other surgeries.
On Instagram, Miller marked her first emergency surgery anniversary by recounting how several doctors initially failed to diagnose her condition and noting that she still had another surgery ahead.
However, former Dance Moms cast members have not expressed sympathy for Miller due to the negative way she treated them in the past.
Is Abby Lee Miller Able To Walk?
Abby Lee Miller, now cancer-free, cannot walk independently due to Burkitt lymphoma and multiple spine surgeries.
Despite her recovery from cancer, her mobility is severely limited, and she relies on a wheelchair to move around.
This has been a challenging adjustment for Miller, who is accustomed to being able to move around and assist her dancers.
In early 2022, she marked the fourth anniversary of losing her mobility to cancer, as April 13th, 2018, was the last day she could walk independently. When not using her wheelchair, Miller relies on a walker.
A YouTube Channel Of Abby Lee Miller
After Dance Moms was axed by Lifetime, Abby Lee Miller has pursued various avenues to sustain her entertainment career. One of her main platforms is social media, particularly Instagram and YouTube.
Miller now operates her own YouTube channel that primarily revolves around Dance Moms. Her content mainly consists of reaction videos, where she watches and responds to past performances by the Abby Lee Dance Company and former costumes.
Since she can remain seated for the entirety of these videos, they are convenient for Miller to produce.
What Transpired Between Maddie Ziegler & Abby Lee Miller?
Abby Lee Miller’s favorite pupil on Dance Moms was Maddie Ziegler, who frequently received solos, much to the displeasure of the other mothers.
However, Ziegler ultimately departed from the show because of the toxic atmosphere that Miller had created, and she has since accused Miller of subjecting her to mental abuse.
In her 2017 memoir, The Maddie Diaries: A Memoir, Ziegler criticized Miller’s inappropriate choreography, pressuring her into unwanted situations.
Ziegler has not communicated with Miller since leaving Dance Moms and has no intention of doing so in the future.
What Is The Net Worth Of Abby Lee Miller?
Despite facing legal issues and health problems, Abby Lee Miller has managed to maintain an impressive net worth, reportedly worth around $1 million as per celebritynetworth.
While her primary source of income was previously from Dance Moms, she has since found other ways to sustain her wealth.
Miller continues to participate in numerous events, surprisingly spanning across the globe. Additionally, she still manages her dance company and has recently begun hosting Zoom classes available to anyone interested. Miller also sells apparel for the Abby Lee Dance Company to generate income.
Career In Dance
Miller grew up in Penn Hills, Pennsylvania, a Pittsburgh suburb, and was exposed to dance early.
She received training from her mother’s dance studio, the Maryen Lorrain Dance Studio, where she studied dance and eventually became a choreographer and coach for one of her mother’s dance competition teams at 14 in 1980.
After years of experience in the dance industry, Miller took over the studio in 1995 and renamed it Reign Dance Productions.
She also became certified by Dance Masters of America and joined Dance Masters of Pennsylvania Chapter #10 in 1986.
However, in February 2012, her membership with Dance Masters of Pennsylvania Chapter #10 was terminated due to the organization’s dissatisfaction with Miller’s reality-TV show Dance Moms, which they deemed a “total misrepresentation of our dance educators and their students and is detrimental to the dance profession.”
Real-world Television Career
Miller joined Lifetime’s Dance Moms reality television show in 2011, where she taught dance for seven seasons until October 2017.
The show documented the practice sessions and competitions of the Abby Lee Dance Company students.
Miller also appeared on three spin-offs of Dance Moms, including Abby’s Ultimate Dance Competition, Dance Moms: Miami, and Dance Moms: Abby’s Studio Rescue.
She also guest-judged on Dancing with the Stars and published a book titled Everything I Learned about Life, I Learned in Dance Class.
In 2015, Miller opened a new studio in Los Angeles called ALDC LA. She left the show in March 2017 but returned for season 8 in July 2018. In 2019, Dance Moms: Resurrection premiered on Lifetime.
Miller appeared on The Eric Andre Show’s season 4 premiere in 2016. She announced on Instagram in May 2020 that she would be leaving Dance Moms and Lifetime after nine years.
However, there are rumors of the show’s return on a new network, as revealed in an interview with Pop Crave.
