Abby Lee Dance Company

The **Abby Lee Dance Company** (abbreviated "ALDC") is a non-profit organization devoted to educating young dancers, named after its founder, Abby Lee Miller. It was founded in 1980. Some of its competition members (along with their mothers) are the focus of the television show *Dance Moms*.

In 2016, the original Pittsburgh studio was rented out and turned into "Appolonia Leake Dance Company", the original studio reopened around 2018-2019 prior to filming for Season 8. This location remained open until December 2022, when Abby sold the studio for $300K. In July 2017, the original ALDC LA studio was closed and re-located, this location is still open.

## Dance Moms Teams

### Elite Competition Team

The Elite Competition Team (formerly the Junior Elite Competition Team) is the team featured on *Dance Moms*, with the team members being selected prior to the show's debut in 2011. The team originally consisted of six members in the first season but was brought to a total of seven in the second season- which was the most consistent team over the course of the first four seasons. Since then, multiple members departed from the show and new members were added in their place. The team originally disbanded in *Everyone's Replaceable... Even Abby*, following the departure of Abby Lee Miller. However, it was later reformed for Season 8 with new dancers.

### Junior Elite Line-Up Gallery

The original 6 in **Season 1**

**Season 1** Team with the addition of Vivi-Anne

**Season 2** Team with the addition of Kendall and loss of Vivi-Anne. This was the most consistent team line-up.

**Season 2** Team during Kendall's time at Candy Apple's

**Season 3** Team

**Season 3** Team with the addition Asia

**Season 4** Team with the addition of Kalani and loss of Paige and Brooke

**Season 4** Team with the loss of Kalani

**Season 5** Team with the return of Kalani and loss of Chloe

**Season 5** Team with the addition of JoJo

**Season 6** Team with the addition of Brynn

**Season 6** Team with the loss of the Ziegler sisters

**Season 6** Team with the loss of JoJo

Season 6 Team with the addition of the minis

**Season 7** Team

**Season 7** Team with the loss of Camryn, Kalani, Kendall and Nia

**Season 8** Team

Season 8 Team with the addition of Elliana and the loss of Savannah

Season 8 Team with the addition of Paris and the loss of Elliana

### Junior Select Ensemble

In 2013, Abby announced she would be holding auditions nationwide to find new members for the Junior Elite Competition Team. However later that year she decided to find an entire new team rather then just new members for her current team. The team was officially formed in February 2014. All current members currently dance at other studios. The team debuted in the episode *Presenting My New Team*, where Maddie Ziegler was added to the new team. Each team member (with the exception of Maddie) was selected to rival a member of the Junior Elite Team.

In the second half of *Season 4*, the members of the ensemble have fluctuated. Only Kamryn and Tea' have stayed as consistent members. Sarah H, Sarah R, and Jade have all competed for the Original Junior Elite Team while Ava was dismissed from the Ensemble before Nationals. Most of the time, the girls only stayed for the week. Maddie and Chloe only performed for the team for one week before returning to the Junior Elite Team. In *Hollywood Here We Come, Part 2*, Abby officially disbanded the Ensemble.

#### Former Junior Ensemble Members (Prior to disbandment)

 Sarah Hunt | Inactive
 Chloe Lukasiak | Moved back to Junior Elite
 Maddie Ziegler | Moved back to Junior Elite

### ALDC Mini Team

At the start of Season 6, Abby formed a mini team as she was hoping that these dancers would carry on the legacy that the elite team created. The mini team was featured on the show for the entirety of the sixth season but was finally disbanded at the start of Season 7.