Abby Lee Miller is a renowned American dance instructor, choreographer, and television personality. She gained fame through her dance studio, Abby Lee Dance Company, and her prominent role on the reality TV show "Dance Moms" from 2011 to 2019. Miller is also a published author.
September 21, 1965: Abby Lee Miller's Birth
Abby Lee Miller was born on September 21, 1965.
1965: Birth and Upbringing
Abby Lee Miller was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in 1965.
1980: Formation of Abby Lee Dance Company
Abby Lee Miller formed the Abby Lee Dance Company, a dance team at her mother's studio, in 1980.
1986: Dance Masters of America Certification
Abby Lee Miller became certified by Dance Masters of America and a member of their Pennsylvania Chapter #10 in 1986.
1995: Taking Over the Studio
Abby Lee Miller took over her mother's dance studio in 1995 and renamed it Reign Dance Productions.
2000: George L. "Salty" Miller's Death
Abby Lee Miller's father, George L. "Salty" Miller, passed away in 2000.
December 4, 2010: Bankruptcy Filing
Abby Lee Miller filed for bankruptcy on December 4, 2010, due to owing over $400,000 in back taxes to the IRS.
April 6, 2011: Start of Dance Moms Filming
Abby Lee Miller began filming for Dance Moms on April 6, 2011, which later brought improvements to her financial situation.
July 2011: Dance Moms Premieres
The airing of Dance Moms began in July 2011, marking the beginning of Miller's rise to fame and subsequent financial turnaround.
2011: Premiere of Dance Moms
Abby Lee Miller's show, Dance Moms, premiered in 2011, offering a glimpse into the world of competitive dance.
2011: Dance Moms Premiere
Abby Lee Miller began appearing on the Lifetime reality television show, Dance Moms, in 2011.
February 2012: Termination of Dance Masters of America Membership
Abby Lee Miller's membership with Dance Masters of America was terminated in February 2012 due to their view that her reality show, Dance Moms, misrepresented dance educators.
2012: Start of Alleged Financial Misconduct
The allegations of Abby Lee Miller's financial misconduct, for which she was later indicted, began in 2012.
2013: Continuation of Alleged Financial Misconduct
Abby Lee Miller's alleged financial misconduct continued into 2013, contributing to her eventual indictment.
2014: Maryen Lorrain Miller's Death
Abby Lee Miller's mother, Maryen Lorrain Miller, a dance teacher and studio owner, passed away in 2014.
2014: Lawsuits and Allegations of Misconduct
In 2014, Abby Lee Miller faced legal trouble when Paige Hyland sued her for assault, alleging a hostile environment encouraged by producers. Another lawsuit was filed against the show's producers for staging conflicts. These lawsuits highlighted alleged instances of bullying and inappropriate behavior by Miller towards her students.
2014: Publication of "Everything I Learned about Life, I Learned in Dance Class"
In 2014, Abby Lee Miller shared her life lessons in her published book, "Everything I Learned about Life, I Learned in Dance Class."
October 13, 2015: Indictment for Fraud
Abby Lee Miller was indicted by the Department of Justice on October 13, 2015, for fraud related to hiding income and failing to file accurate reports during her bankruptcy case.
November 2015: Plea of Not Guilty
Abby Lee Miller pleaded not guilty to the fraud charges against her in November 2015.
2015: Opening of ALDC LA
Abby Lee Miller expanded her dance studio business by opening a new location in Los Angeles, called ALDC LA, in 2015.
2015: Opening of ALDC LA
Abby Lee Miller opened a Los Angeles location of her studio, ALDC, in 2015.
February 2016: Delay in Fraud Case
Abby Lee Miller's fraud case was delayed for the fifth time in February 2016.
June 27, 2016: Plea Deal in Fraud Case
Abby Lee Miller reached a plea deal with the IRS on June 27, 2016, agreeing to plead guilty to reduced charges related to her fraud case.
October 11, 2016: Sentencing Postponement
Abby Lee Miller's sentencing was initially scheduled for October 11, 2016. This marked the beginning of a series of delays in her legal proceedings.
2016: Appearance on The Eric Andre Show
Abby Lee Miller made a guest appearance on the season 4 premiere of The Eric Andre Show in 2016.
January 20, 2017: Sentencing Postponement
Abby Lee Miller's sentencing was postponed to January 20, 2017, marking the second delay in her legal case.
February 24, 2017: Sentencing Postponement
Abby Lee Miller's sentencing was further delayed to February 24, 2017, extending the legal proceedings.
March 2017: Departure from Dance Moms
Abby Lee Miller announced her departure from Dance Moms in March 2017.
May 8, 2017: Sentencing Postponement
The final postponement of Abby Lee Miller's sentencing occurred on May 8, 2017, setting the stage for the final hearing.
May 9, 2017: Sentencing and Penalties
On May 9, 2017, Abby Lee Miller received her sentence after a two-day hearing. She was sentenced to one year and a day in federal prison, two years of supervised release, a $40,000 fine, and a $120,000 judgment. She was also required to provide a DNA sample.
July 12, 2017: Imprisonment
Abby Lee Miller began her prison sentence on July 12, 2017, at the Victorville Federal Correctional Institution in California.
2017: Closure and Relocation of LA Studio
Abby Lee Miller's Los Angeles studio was closed and sold in 2017 due to her prison sentence. She later relocated to a smaller space.
March 27, 2018: Transfer to Halfway House
On March 27, 2018, Abby Lee Miller was transferred to a halfway house in Long Beach, California, to complete the remainder of her sentence.
April 2018: Cancer Diagnosis and Personal Life
In April 2018, Abby Lee Miller was diagnosed with Burkitt lymphoma, a type of cancer. This came after she underwent spinal surgery. Miller has never been married and has no children, stating she prioritized her studio over family.
July 2018: Return to Dance Moms Announced
In July 2018, Abby Lee Miller announced her return for season 8 of Dance Moms.
June 4, 2019: Premiere of Dance Moms: Resurrection
Abby Lee Miller returned to Dance Moms for season 8, titled "Dance Moms: Resurrection," which premiered on June 4, 2019.
September 2019: Conclusion of Dance Moms Run
Abby Lee Miller's time on Dance Moms, which followed the young dancers under her tutelage, ended in September 2019 after eight seasons.
2019: End of Dance Moms Run
Abby Lee Miller appeared on Dance Moms for eight seasons, concluding in 2019.
May 4, 2020: Announcement of Departure from Dance Moms and Lifetime
On May 4, 2020, Abby Lee Miller announced her departure from Dance Moms and Lifetime after nine years.
June 2, 2020: Blackout Tuesday Post and Allegations of Racism
Abby Lee Miller's post for Blackout Tuesday on June 2, 2020, sparked accusations of racism from Adriana Smith, a mother of a dancer on Dance Moms season 8, who shared her negative experiences with Miller.
June 3, 2020: Camille Bridges' Allegations of Racism
On June 3, 2020, Camille Bridges, another Dance Moms mother, accused Abby Lee Miller of racist treatment towards her daughter, Camryn, and fostering a hostile environment.
June 4, 2020: Abby Lee Miller's Apology
Abby Lee Miller issued an apology on June 4, 2020, addressing the allegations of racism and acknowledging the harm caused, though Adriana Smith stated she did not accept it.
June 5, 2020: Lifetime Severes Ties with Abby Lee Miller
Following allegations of racist remarks, Lifetime cut ties with Abby Lee Miller on June 5, 2020, canceling her upcoming show and ending her involvement with Dance Moms.
December 2022: Closure of Pittsburgh Studio
In December 2022, Abby Lee Miller's Pittsburgh studio was permanently closed and later repurposed into a bus lot and daycare.
2024: Current Mobility Status
As of 2024, Abby Lee Miller relies on a power wheelchair for mobility.