Dance Moms - Season One
Fame...it’s all about blood, sweat and tears. In today’s rabid reality television world peeling back the layers and revealing the dynamics of that climb to the top makes for guaranteed drama. When kids are involved the unpredictability factor gets heightened tenfold. The world of pageants, toddlers and tiaras has played itself out in our culture with some seriously dire consequences leading to some of the media’s most maligned moments.
The Lifetime original reality series "Dance Moms" pulls back the curtain on the competitive world of dance competitions. Throw in the cutthroat machinations of conflicting adult supervision and questionable parenting and you not only have an explosively dangerous mix, but also a combustible chemistry of creatively charged moments.
The Abby Lee Dance Company, according to its creative director and instructor Abby Lee Miller is "world renowned," but we seriously doubt it’s the only export that Pittsburg, Pennsylvania has to offer. The way that Miller carries on, you’d expect that she was indeed churning out a factory of some of the dance communities’ most sought after names - but we still have yet to hear from any of her illustrious alumni. What’s not to be challenged is the dedication and passion Miller has to ensuring her cast of prima donnas become stars of the stage.
In the series’ Season One we’re introduced to her dancers ranging in ages 6 - 13. The standout is Maddie. Her mom Melissa is always on hand to make sure that her daughter gets noticed. Chloe is Maddie’s "biggest competition," although her mom Christi is often competing for the spotlight that she feels is being wrested from her own daughter.
Abby Lee Miller is the taskmaster set against the petty meanderings of the dance moms who have grand aspirations for their girls, as well as the best intentions (but not really), This leads often to shrill backstage bickering and parents behaving badly in front of their kids no less, with the overbearing Abby Lee Miller "knowing best" - (again, but not really).
It’s a good thing that the ladies competing for these national dance crowns are relatively centered, mature and very talented. It’s actually nearly heartbreaking when the girls don’t come out on top...though often they do. In the end, it all appears to pay off, but the audience is left to wonder for whom. "Dance Moms" Season One sets up the high-stakes world of competitive dance, though competitively it’s more staged reality less believable, and more tragic.
"Dance Moms" Season One
Available on DVD in a 4-disc set
$29.95
www.mylifetime.com
