By Deborah Searle of Dance Informa.
Abby Lee Miller is known for her reality television show Dance Moms where she runs a competitive dance school and company and pushes her dancers to achieve only the best results. She is cut throat, demanding and very competitive, to both the delight and disgust of her over two million viewers in the U.S. alone. The mums of her dance students are just as passionate as Abby Lee, and drama always ensues, with the moms regularly having heated disputes.
Dance Moms has been very popular the world over, including in Australia, and this July and August Abby Lee and the cast of her hit show will tour Down Under for the first time!
Although Abby is perceived as rude and excessively tough, when meeting her in person you will be pleasantly surprised at how sweet she is underneath her television persona. Yes, she has said and maybe choreographed some controversial things, but she is trying to make television… reality television isn’t always reality and many things are taken out of context. That said, no one can dispute the talent she has developed in her dance students who are all award-winning competitive dancers with flexibility like pipe cleaners and turns like spinning tops.
Abby Lee has over 30 years of experience in running an elite competitive dance studio in the U.S. and has choreographed countless award-winning pieces. Whether you love her show or not, Abby Lee and her dancers have something unique to offer young dancers and their teachers in Australia and her show is now in it’s fourth season, proving her popularity.
In an Australian exclusive, public relations firm Spin&Co is bringing Dance Moms to Melbourne, Sydney, the Gold Coast and Perth from July 25 for master classes and meet-and-greets. The events have been so popular that additional tickets have had to be released to keep up with demand.
“Perth and Melbourne sold out so quickly we have had to release additional tickets so that dedicated fans don’t miss out,” Spin&Co Managing Director Sam Mangan told Dance Informa. “Perth was the real surprise, outselling Sydney and the Gold Coast three to one.”
As it nears, Abby Lee says she is very excited for her first tour in Australia.
“Teaching dance is my passion; I love Australia and I can’t wait to see what the Aussies are made of!” she exclaims. “We have so many loyal dedicated fans and dance Is huge in Australia! Whenever I’m in New York City or L.A. I always run into dancers that are visiting from Australia. They seem to be eager to improve and hungry for great training.”
Abby says that dancers and teachers can learn “lots of things” from her master classes, including; “how to pick up choreography faster, how to commit a routine to memory in two or three days, how to increase flexibility and stay injury free, how to work with the camera to film dance and a whole lot about being on a weekly television series!”
The classes will focus on “flexibility, warming up properly, and original choreography from the television show,” Abby outlines.
The cast touring with Abby Lee consists of dancers Maddie, Mackenzie, Nia, Kendall, and their mums.
Maddie recently starred in the music video for Sia’s song Chandelier and Mackenzie has just released a song which ranked number 1 on the U.S. Pop iTunes Charts, knocking off chart topper Pharrell Williams.
The 90-minute master classes will be instructed by Abby Lee and demonstrated by the girls, and the meet-and-greets will be hosted as high teas, which dancers and teachers are sure to love. These high teas will allow you to get up-close and personal with the stars of Dance Moms, where you can ask questions and be inspired. After every class, group photos will be taken with Abby Lee and her dancers.
Master class attendees will be assessed by Abby Lee and two lucky dancers will be flown to the Abby Lee Miller Dance Company in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA to train with Abby, her team and Maddie and Mackenzie!
For more information on the national tour and how to order tickets, visit www.abbyleetouraustralia.com. Dance Moms Season Three screens Wednesdays at 8:30 p.m. on Foxtel’s LifeStyle YOU.
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