As one of the most popular reality TV shows of the 2010s, “Dance Moms” is back with a new ensemble cast, now available to stream on Hulu. Starring overbearing stage mothers and their prodigious children, “Dance Moms” has garnered a huge fan base and seen a surge of popularity during quarantine when clips of the show resurfaced in viral TikTok videos.
The show centers around an elite competitive dance team that enters weekly competitions. These dancers have one goal — to win first place. Alongside the dancing aspect, the girls’ moms are also dramatic stage mothers, who make the story infinitely more interesting because they throw fits about almost everything. Tension is placed on both the mothers and their children by the team’s dance teacher, who strives for nothing short of perfection and often pits the girls against each other.
The original show created stars such as Maddie Ziegler and Jojo Siwa, who amassed great lengths of fame and have shone in the movie and music industries, including Siwa’s smash hit “Karma.” With all the girls from the original show now grown up and moving on to their professional careers, Hulu looked to recreate the immense popularity “Dance Moms” once had with “Dance Moms: A New Era.”
Replacing the iconic Abby Lee Dance Company is a new studio located in Virginia named Studio Bleu. The “new” bone-breaking instructor is a dance coach Gloria Hampton, whom the girls refer to as “Ms. Glo.” If you’re an avid fan of the original series, her name may sound familiar because she made guest appearances during Season 3. During her short cameo that season, she tried and failed to get her daughter on the elite dance team.
While the producers clearly scramble to make her a pseudo-Abby, they fail on many fronts. Abby’s quick-witted humor and almost abusive tendencies make her an extremely interesting persona to watch, characteristics that Hampton lacks. Although Hampton is definitely a strict teacher, she also tries to positively encourage the kids, making her a more nurturing figure. Although she provides a more healthy environment for learning dance, her cardboard-like personality unfortunately makes for boring reality TV.
The new junior elite dance team consists of seven dancers: Ashlan, Audrey, Bellatrix, Isabella “Smiley,” Leilah Bell, Lily and Mina. There’s no doubt that all of them are immensely talented, easily giving the original girls a run for their money, but their personalities all seem artificially and predictably cultivated.
Audrey, who has trained with Miss Glo since age 4 and performed on Broadway, mirrors Maddie Ziegler with her technical precision, national titles and polished stage presence. Meanwhile, the constant berating of Lily, one of the youngest girls in the cast, parallels the treatment of Mackenzie Ziegler, who was also constantly pressured due to her young age.
One key difference that sets the new cast apart from the old one is the relationship between the girls. In the original seasons, the moms were the ones doing most of the arguing, while the girls often bonded over their moms’ antics. Although they were competitors, they didn’t let that get in the way of their friendships. In contrast, the younger cast members of the new season appear to lack that genuine connection. The girls seem more focused on competition, and the intensity of their rivalry leaves less room for real friendships and supportive moments.
However, there’s one girl that we absolutely adore: Ashlan. Why? Although she’s the embodiment of a Sephora kid, her bratty yet silly personality makes her extremely fun to watch. She’s an example of an interesting and nuanced character, which, sadly, the rest of the cast didn’t match.
Ugh. The moms. Where do we even start? While we did crack at the moms’ antics during the original show, especially Christi and Kelly, the new moms are just too much. It’s extremely overstimulating to even begin watching the show because the moms are screaming all the time, and usually, it’s for no reason. Some arguments, such as between Tammi, Audrey’s mom, and the other mothers over Audrey’s favoritism, are strikingly familiar to the original.
However, some moms, like Roxce, Bellatrix’s mom, frequently criticized each other’s parenting styles and approaches to competition, adding to the chaotic atmosphere without any real resolution. The drama among the moms feels super manufactured, which seems to be an overarching theme in the show.
Overall verdict: While it’s not the worst thing on the internet, “Dance Moms: A New Era” is a painstaking watch. From reused storylines to boring characters, it’s a complete slogfest. If you’re a true lover of the original, we recommend rewatching the original eight seasons already available on Lifetime’s website.
