Kendall From Dance Moms Now: Reflects on Trauma and Growth in Reunion Special

Dance Moms, the reality TV show that captivated audiences with its intense dance competitions and dramatic mother-daughter dynamics, remains a significant cultural touchstone. Premiering on Lifetime in 2011, the series offered a glimpse into the demanding world of competitive dance under the controversial direction of Abby Lee Miller. The young dancers and their mothers became household names, their journeys filled with both triumphs and tribulations.

Now, almost five years after Dance Moms concluded, fans are eagerly anticipating a reunion special. Lifetime is bringing back six beloved mother-daughter pairs for a two-hour event airing May 1st. Among the returning stars is Kendall Vertes, alongside JoJo Siwa, Chloé Lukasiak, Brooke Hyland, Paige Hyland, and Kalani Hilliker. Their mothers – Jessalynn Siwa, Kelly Hyland, Jill Vertes, Kira Girard, and Christi Lukasiak – will also join them.

Kendall Vertes, now 21, was a key figure on Dance Moms from 2012 to 2017. Joining the Abby Lee Dance Company in Season 2 and later becoming part of the Irreplaceables, Kendall’s journey was marked by both intense pressure and personal growth. Speaking to Yahoo Entertainment about the reunion, Kendall shared her immediate enthusiasm: “The second my mom told me [about the reunion], I was on board.” She emphasized the unique bond shared by the cast, forged through shared experiences: “We’ve been through so much together. We’re basically trauma-bonded and that bond will never break. It was another great experience for us to get closure, tie up loose ends, close the book and move on as a whole.”

The reunion provides an opportunity for these dancers, now in their early twenties, to reflect on their formative years spent in the spotlight. As children, some as young as 8 or 9, they navigated the pressures of reality television and the demanding environment of Abby Lee Dance Company. Many have openly discussed the emotional and mental toll of their experiences, acknowledging the toxic atmosphere created by Miller. Past lawsuits filed against Miller by some of the dancers further underscore the challenging environment they endured.

Filmed over two intense 14-hour days in Los Angeles, Dance Moms: The Reunion promises an emotional rollercoaster. Kendall, along with JoJo, Chloé, and the Hyland sisters, revisits painful memories, pivotal moments, and headline-grabbing controversies from their time on the show.

Kendall highlighted a central motivation for participating in the reunion: “I think a huge reason why we all came to do this reunion is to show our viewers and the audience our true personalities and who we are as adults, and how we would respond to a situation that we weren’t even old enough to fully understand.” This reunion is not just a look back, but a statement of how far they’ve come.

Notably absent from the reunion are Maddie Ziegler, Mackenzie Ziegler, and Nia Sioux, all prominent Dance Moms alumni. Their decision to not participate is addressed in the special, with JoJo Siwa commenting in the trailer that their absence feels like an attempt to “erase my past, pretend it never happened.”

The reunion filming was emotionally charged, with Kendall revealing that tears flowed freely. Revisiting past traumas and unhealthy dynamics proved to be a deeply affecting experience for the group. “We cried in almost every segment, only because when you see your friends crying, that makes you upset. But you also understand where their emotions are coming from because you went through it as well,” Kendall explained, emphasizing the shared understanding and empathy within the group.

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Kendall’s personal journey during Dance Moms is a significant part of her reunion story. She was often labeled a “crybaby,” a characterization she felt was unfair given the immense pressure and environment she was in. Throughout her time on the show, Kendall was seen experiencing panic attacks and grappling with anxiety.

Looking back, Kendall reflects on her emotional openness: “I was open about it. I’m an emotional person. I don’t like seeing my mom fighting with my dance teacher.” The intensity of revisiting these memories during the reunion filming was palpable. “And after two days of filming [the reunion], we were physically, mentally drained because all of those memories that we had to bring up again [that] we have pushed so far down was really hard. I didn’t know if I wanted to revisit all of that trauma,” she admitted.

A particularly impactful aspect of the reunion was watching old clips from Dance Moms for the first time with her former castmates. “That brings a whole new set of emotions that we weren’t prepared for,” Kendall explained. Despite the vulnerability of the experience, Kendall found solace in the presence of her fellow dancers: “It was definitely a very vulnerable experience for us, but I’m glad that the girls were there. We get each other. We can talk each other through any situation and I’m very thankful that I had them there.”

Kendall Vertes and Dance Moms cast at reunion premiere.

Paige Hyland, Brooke Hyland, Kelly Hyland, Chloé Lukasiak, Christi Lukasiak, Kalani Hilliker, JoJo Siwa and Kendall Vertes attend the Dance Moms: The Reunion premiere in New York. (Bonnie Biess/Getty Images for Lifetime)

Almost seven years removed from Dance Moms, Kendall Vertes is now a junior at James Madison University, pursuing a degree in political science and pre-law while also being a member of the university’s dance team. Reflecting on her childhood in the public eye, Kendall acknowledges, “it wasn’t a normal childhood at all.” She emphasizes the authenticity of what viewers saw: “It was our lives. We weren’t acting, we weren’t told to do something. Those were our raw emotions. And those were truly our personalities that you guys saw — or half of our personalities,” she clarified.

Despite the challenges, Kendall maintains a positive outlook on her Dance Moms experience. “The one thing that I’ve learned from it is I have very thick skin,” she stated. She credits the show with building resilience in the face of public scrutiny, particularly in the age of social media. “Now with social media, there’s people who have different opinions of you or don’t really agree with the things that you said or your mom said. But I can just tell myself, ‘You know what? People have said so much worse and I shouldn’t let someone dictate who they think I am because I know who I am.’”

The lasting impact of Dance Moms is evident even today, as clips resurface on social media. For Kendall, revisiting these moments can be “crazy,” bringing back memories of traumatic experiences from when she was just 8 years old. “I’m like, ‘Oh, I didn’t remember that happened but I can just go watch my childhood on TV,’” she reflects on the surreal nature of her televised upbringing.

Kendall Vertes, Abby Lee Miller, and JoJo Siwa accept award for Dance Moms.

Kendall Vertes, Abby Lee Miller and Jojo Siwa walk onstage to accept the Favorite Reality Award for Dance Moms onstage during Nickelodeon’s 28th Annual Kids’ Choice Awards in 2015. (Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

Regarding her relationship with Abby Lee Miller, Kendall reveals they haven’t seen each other “in a very long time.” However, she expresses concern for Miller, who was diagnosed with Burkitt lymphoma in 2018 and has been using a wheelchair. “If I were to see her, I would obviously be very happy that she’s still here, that she’s still teaching,” Kendall said. She also acknowledged a sense of responsibility and compassion towards her former coach: “I do feel bad that I wasn’t there when she needed us because she really doesn’t have any family and we were kind of like her kids. I feel like the space was needed for us to move on,” she added, concluding, “I’ll always respect her. She has definitely made me the person I am today — the good and the bad.”

Dance Moms: The Reunion airs May 1 at 8 p.m. ET on Lifetime.