Everything I Learned about Life, I Learned in Dance Class Read online

  B.Sew her an adorable dwarf costume and tell her how proud of her you are.

  C.Ask the teacher how much money it took to make that loser’s runt the lead.

  4.You play a round of tennis with your BFF and she kicks your butt. You:

  A.Hurl your racket at her head.

  B.Offer to buy her lunch—she deserves it.

  C.Insist that the tennis pro check your racket, your sneakers, and the net. Clearly, something is amiss!

  5.Your little sister just announced that she’s gotten a huge job promotion. You’re a stay-at-home mom. You:

  A.Call her office and make sure they know what they’re in for—your sis is way too young for so much responsibility!

  B.Send her flowers and a congrats card.

  C.Scream at your husband and kids for getting you into this situation.

  If you answered mostly As:

  A little bitter, are we? Do you think pitching a fit and throwing furniture is going to get you anywhere? Have you met Cathy?

  If you answered mostly Bs:

  You are a graceful and gracious loser. You appreciate that it’s not always about winning, it’s how you play the game. Kudos for your self-control.

  If you answered mostly Cs:

  Have you looked in the mirror lately? Because there’s the person who’s really to blame. Stop shrugging off the responsibility for your shortcomings and you won’t lose so often.

  PHOTO SECTION

  STANDING OVATION

  Acknowledgments

  I’ve got a lot of people to thank, starting with that girl I hit over the head with a baton in second grade when she didn’t perform the correct choreography I had taught her for my weekly revue in the garage. If it wasn’t for her, I probably would never have found my calling as a choreographer.

  The Powers family, the Murphys, Diana Corbett, the Solaniks, the Pampenas, the Snyders, the Earleys, Rich Erdelyi, Stephanie Wedge, the Kreilings, the Litmans, Mary Stelluto, Lisa and J. T. Shontz, Laini Samuels, Linda Cravy Williams, Cindy Rohm, the Taorminas, and the Ices.

  John and Marilyn Haack, Joanne King, Nancy Shubert, Gibby and Henrietta Goodworth, Karen and John Tobias, Graham, and Gary.

  Andrew Para, Rachael Thoma Dennison, Gianna Martello, Jennine Wedge, James Washington, Kerra Alexander, Matt Saffron, Michelle Pampena, Colleen Sherer, Kelsey Keller, Auriel Welty, Deb and Elissa Berardi, Olivia Ice, Shannon Pratt, Emma Neal, Melissa Bowman, Sherri Markel, John Cunningham, Michael Cerniglia, Kim Martello, Patti Fiumara, Holly Frazier, Jill Vertes, and Melissa Gisoni.

  Gil Stroming, John Crutchman, Alan Sherfield, Linda Diamond, Joe Lanteri, Vickie Sheer, Sheer Talent, Kevin, Alex, Dustin, Gary Pate, Ray Leeper, Anthony Morigerato, Doug Caldwell, Rowena Costumes, Cicci’s, Joffrey Ballet, Richie Jackson, Robin Antin, Kevin Manno, Rachelle Rak, Michael Rooney, A. C. Ciulla, Eileen Grace, Andrew Logan, Raj Kapoor, MSA, and CTA.

  Kathy Nickel McFaden, David Markman, Greenburg/Traurig, Todd Christopher, the Gersh Agency, Don Calaiaro, David Valencik, Suchir Batras, Ed Medvene, Dr. Robert Crossey, and Dr. Valerie Paul.

  Jerry Ross, Mindy Rossi-Stabler, John Culbertson, Cookie Ramos, Michelle Rogers, Mark McCormick, Lori Kutch, Robert DiDiano, Terry Flaherty, Robin Dawn Ryan, Melissa Stokes, Darni Fenerty, Michele Larkin, R.J. Mitchell, Joanne and Barry Chapman, Sharon Howard, Becky Smitley, Rosanne Slifko, Lucy Mudrick, Ruby Daugherty, and Johnathan Hoffman.

  Jane and Marcus Buckingham, Robert and Rosanna Chafino, Gino and Carrie Bonaroti, Amanda and Justin Chang, Jenny Kim and Frederick Beddingfield III, Brad Krevoy, and Rob Fox.

  Lifetime network: Tim Nolan, Michael Padula, Linda Medvene, Kim Chesler, Mary Donahue, Rob Sharenow, Gena McCarthy, Tara Pietri, Nancy Dubuc, Aaron Day, Aaron Goldman, Richard McClaren, Jeff Collins, Collins Ave. Productions, Lesley Bandy, Sandi Johnson, Michael Hammond, all the Hammonds, Bryan Stinson, Dianna Kazandjidan, Andy Villalobos, Woody Lighting, Chip, Adesa, Jimmy Chriss, Adam Bultler, Carlos Palmer, Scott Shatsky, and the assistant director Theresa Moio.

  HarperCollins: Lisa Sharkey, Tessa Woodward, Peter Economy, Dale Rohrbaugh, Mary Schuck, Lynn Grady, Lisa Stokes, Nyamekye Waliyaya, Liate Stehlik, and Carly Bornstein.

  Chris Hoye, Alissa Panichella, Tim Baudier, Portraits with Pride, Donna at Kinkos, the Dirty “O,” Napoli’s Pizza, and Pricilla My Twitter Girl.

  Happiness is not something you find, but something you create . . . many thanks to each and every one of my Illustrious Alumni, Loyal Students, and their Supportive Parents who never caused any problems and always paid on time.

  CURTAIN CALL

  About Abby Lee Miller

  ABBY LEE MILLER is the owner and director of the Maryen Lorrain Dance Studio in Pittsburgh. In May of 1995, she opened the doors to her brand-new state-of-the-art facility, renamed Reign Dance Productions. Ms. Miller founded the Abby Lee Dance Company in 1980 at the ripe old age of fourteen.

  Ms. Miller was certified to teach by Dance Masters of America and received her twenty-five-year pin in 2011. In addition, she has been a consultant to several public school districts and was an adviser to Dancer magazine. She is honored to be a past president of Dance Masters of Pennsylvania. She has been the teacher and choreographer of sixty state and regional title holders and thirty national title winners!

  Ms. Miller is a current member of Dance Educators of America and teaches master classes across the United States. She is a sought-after adjudicator—invited to judge dance competitions throughout the United States and Canada. When time permits, Ms. Miller coaches top-notch dancers and critiques and corrects their solo performances. She currently operates ALDC Dance Off, an online dance competition where dancers submit their solo routines via the Internet and Ms. Miller gives them feedback, comments, and corrections.

  A teacher’s reputation is based solely on the success of her students—and successful they are! Ms. Miller has students receiving standing ovations on Broadway, pleasing crowds at Walt Disney World in Orlando and Tokyo Disneyland in Japan, bringing Christmas joy to Radio City Music Hall, and wowing visitors in Las Vegas—many have performed all over the world. For every child who has gone on to dance professionally, there are a hundred more who have traveled to exciting cities, stayed in four-star hotels, and won major competitions. Thanks to Ms. Miller, there are countless more who have stood a little taller, spoken a little louder, and learned the value of hard work. She truly teaches a child that everything is possible!

  Ms. Miller gained international recognition for her hit TV series Dance Moms, the highest-rated show on the Lifetime network, and debuted her newest project on Lifetime, Abby’s Ultimate Dance Competition. She has received accolades from around the world, inspiring countless children to dance. As Dance Moms hits Season 4.5 and its one hundredth episode, Ms. Miller has been offered another show with her family at Lifetime. Ms. Miller also owns two retail stores: Broadway Baby’s Dancewear and Costume Shoppe, located adjacent to the dance studio in Pittsburgh, and another in the downtown area. All Abby Lee Apparel is available online.

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  COPYRIGHT

  The names of certain individuals have been changed to protect their privacy.

  EVERYTHING I LEARNED ABOUT LIFE, I LEARNED IN DANCE CLASS. Copyright © 2014 by Abby Lee Miller. All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the nonexclusive, nontransferable right to access and read the text of this e-book on-screen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, downloaded, decompiled, reverse-engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of HarperCollins e-books.

  FIRST EDITION

  Dancer silhouette images © by Chris Hoye

  ISBN 978-0-06-230481-0

  EPub Edition JULY 2014 ISBN 9780062
304889

  1415161718OV/RRD10987654321

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