Let's be real: the Dance Moms we grew up with is basically a fever dream at this point. That specific, toxic, high-intensity magic that Abby Lee Miller cultivated in Pittsburgh? It's gone. But people still search for Dance Moms Season 9 every single day because the craving for that competitive dance drama never really went away. The reality, though, is a bit messy.
There is no "Season 9" in the way we usually think about television. Lifetime hasn't rolled out a new season with the original numbering. Instead, the franchise has fractured into reboots, reunions, and a whole new show on a different platform. If you're looking for the continuation of the ALDC saga on cable, you're gonna be disappointed.
Abby Lee Miller isn't even part of the official "reboot" that most people are calling the ninth season. That's the biggest hurdle for die-hard fans. How do you have the show without the woman who became the internet’s favorite villain?
The Confusion Around Dance Moms Season 9 and the Hulu Reboot
The term "Dance Moms Season 9" has become a sort of catch-all phrase for Dance Moms: A New Era, which premiered on Hulu in 2024. It’s not technically Season 9. It’s a total reimagining. Different studio. Different teacher. Different city.
Bryan Stinson, the original executive producer, is the guy behind it. He moved the cameras to Ashburn, Virginia, to follow Glo Hampton at Studio Bleu. Honestly, it’s a smart move. Glo was actually on the original show a few times back in the day—her daughter Kaeli was a guest dancer—so there’s a legitimate connection to the lore. But it feels different. The vibe is more polished, maybe a bit more self-aware.
The kids are incredible, obviously. You’ve got dancers like Audrey and Ashlan who are already social media stars. But it lacks that gritty, industrial Pittsburgh aesthetic that made the original show feel so raw.
Why Abby Lee Miller Isn't Involved
Abby's relationship with Lifetime ended on a pretty sour note. Between her health struggles with Burkitt lymphoma and the accusations of making racist remarks toward former students, the bridge wasn't just burned; it was demolished.
She's been doing her own thing. She has her "Leave It On The Dance Floor" podcast. She’s active on YouTube. She even tried to shop around her own version of a Season 9, often referred to as Abby's Virtual Dance Off, but it never caught the same lightning in a bottle.
Fans keep asking about her return. It’s not happening. At least not on a major network. She’s essentially a free agent now, coaching independently and leaning into her "Abby Lee" brand through social media and Masterclasses.
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What the "New Era" Gets Right (and Wrong)
If you decide to treat the Hulu series as the unofficial Dance Moms Season 9, you’ll notice the drama is still there. It’s just... updated. The moms aren't just fighting about who’s on the bottom of the pyramid. They’re fighting about TikTok followers and brand deals. It’s very 2026.
The kids are under a different kind of pressure now. Back in 2011, Maddie Ziegler didn't know she was going to be a global superstar. Today, these kids enter the studio knowing exactly what a viral moment can do for their careers. It makes the "reality" part of reality TV feel a little more staged.
- The Teacher: Glo Hampton is "Miss Glo." She’s tough, but she’s not Abby. She doesn't have that same terrifying unpredictability.
- The Talent: The technique is actually higher. These kids are doing things in the first episode that took the OG girls years to master.
- The Moms: Still chaotic. Still hovering. Still convinced their child is the next big thing.
Is it worth watching? If you miss the competitive world, yes. If you miss the specific chemistry of Holly, Christi, and Kelly? No. Nothing will ever replicate that.
The Reunion Factor
In early 2024, Lifetime aired a reunion special that featured JoJo Siwa, Chloe Lukasiak, the Hylands, and the Vertes family. Notably missing? The Zieglers and Nia Sioux.
This special was actually what reignited the search for Dance Moms Season 9. It reminded everyone why they loved the show. It also highlighted the trauma. Seeing Chloe and the Hylands talk about how the show affected their mental health was heavy. It made a lot of viewers realize that the "entertainment" we enjoyed for a decade came at a really high cost for the kids involved.
It’s hard to go back to a standard Season 9 format after seeing the survivors—and they really do call themselves survivors—talk about the reality of being under Abby’s thumb.
The Legal and Production Hurdles
Why didn't we just get a traditional Season 9? Lawsuits.
The production company, Collins Avenue, faced numerous legal headaches toward the end of the original run. Then you have the child labor laws which have become much more stringent and scrutinized in the age of "kidfluencers." Filming a show like Dance Moms requires insane hours.
Production also shifted because the audience shifted. Cable TV is dying. Streaming is where the money is. That’s why the "New Era" ended up on Hulu instead of Lifetime. It’s a play for a younger demographic that doesn't own a DVR.
What You Should Watch Instead
If the Hulu reboot doesn't scratch that itch, you’re basically looking at archival footage. Most people don't realize that there are hundreds of hours of unreleased footage and "lost" competitions from the original run that fans have started digging up on TikTok and YouTube.
The "reality" of Dance Moms Season 9 is that the franchise has evolved into a legacy brand. It’s no longer a weekly show; it’s a culture. You see it in JoJo Siwa’s music career or Maddie Ziegler’s film roles.
Next Steps for Fans
To truly keep up with the spirit of what a ninth season would have been, you should pivot your focus toward the individual journeys of the cast and the new landscape of competitive dance.
- Follow the Studio Bleu dancers on social media to see the "New Era" cast in real-time. They post more behind-the-scenes content than the show ever could.
- Check out the "Back to the Barre" podcast. Christi Lukasiak and Kelly Hyland go through every episode and reveal what was edited, what was fake, and what actually happened behind the scenes. It's the closest thing to a "Directors Cut" of the series.
- Monitor Hulu’s renewals. While a "Season 9" of the original show isn't coming, a Season 2 of A New Era is the most likely path forward for the franchise.