A visit to the Abby Lee Dance Company brought about emotional moments, tutus, and conflicts among adult women vying for their eight-year-olds to be in the front row.
The reality TV show Dance Moms from the 2010s showcased a group of talented young dancers and their dramatic mothers navigating intense training and competitions.
However, the true star of the Lifetime reality series was always Abby Lee Miller, known for critiquing young girls’ dance moves and ranking them weekly on a pyramid from best to worst.
Miller’s harsh comments included phrases like “save your tears for the pillow” and “I wasn’t put on this Earth to make her feel special,” among others.
Almost seven years after the show concluded, a parody musical based on Dance Moms is in the works.
Named The Pyramid: An Unauthorized ‘Dance Moms’ Musical, the idea originated from a simple question posed by college friends James Stryska and Isabelle Grace Blankenship during a visit to a thrift store in Greensboro, N.C.
They are now part of the music and lyrics team for the musical, collaborating with a group of fellow Dance Moms enthusiasts to bring the production to fruition.
What began as a college project evolved into the creation of their first original song, My Little Kendall, which gained popularity after being shared on TikTok in 2023, amassing over five million views.
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“It was a really great feeling,” Blankenship expressed. “We were like, ‘Oh my gosh, Christi’s reaching out, Jill’s reaching out.'”
The viral success caught the attention of L.A.-based producer Logan Clark, a former crew member of Dance Moms, and Tye Blue, director and co-creator of Titaníque, a successful parody musical centered around Céline Dion, who joined as a creative producer.
Clark discovered the TikTok video and recognized its potential, leading to his involvement in the project.
He emphasized the theatricality of Dance Moms, noting its dramatic elements, talented young dancers, and Abby Lee Miller’s iconic pyramid ranking system.
“Dance Moms emerged during the rise of social media,” Clark remarked. “It set the pace for others to follow. I believe it