Here's Which 'Dance Moms' Alums Will Be Present at the Reunion Special

The reality TV series Dance Moms, which aired on Lifetime from 2011 to 2019, peeked into the intense world of young girls' competitive dance. Set primarily at the Abby Lee Dance Company (ALDC) studios, the series focused on the training and careers of talented dancers between the ages of 6 and 12 under the rigorous instruction of renowned teacher Abby Lee Miller. The show was often controversial due to Abby Lee's strict teaching methods and the moms' intense pressure on their daughters.

After an almost five-year hiatus, the show is making a comeback with Dance Moms: The Reunion, premiering on May 1. This two-hour special will revisit some of the show's most talked-about moments and catch fans up on the lives of their favorite dancers.

So, which Dance Mom alums will be featured in the reunion? Well, we can tell you one person who won't be there: Abby Lee. That said, keep scrolling for the complete list of attendees.

JoJo Siwa is undoubtedly one of the show's most successful alumni.

Joining the show in 2015 with her mom, Jessalynn, JoJo's infectious energy and signature colorful bows made her an instant standout amongst the other girls. And unlike some of the show's more dramatic dynamics, Jessalynn championed her daughter's individuality. Though their time on Dance Moms only lasted two seasons, it became the launching pad for JoJo's multifaceted career as a singer, dancer, producer, internet sensation, and New York Times bestselling author.

Chloe Lukasiak and her mom, Christi, appeared on Seasons 1 through 4 of Dance Moms. In class, Chloe was usually paired up against Maddie Ziegler for the No. 1 spot, which frustrated Christi, who would clash with Abby Lee over it. The mother-daughter duo exited the series after Christi had a huge fight with Abby Lee and decided she needed to remove her daughter from this environment. Christi later revealed that during this argument, Abby had made fun of Chloe's rare medical condition, silent sinus syndrome, which had caused one of Chloe's eyes to appear larger than the other. Chloe has since gotten corrective surgery to remedy this.

Paige Hyland appeared on Dance Moms alongside her sister Brooke until Season 4, where they were dismissed from the team following a physical altercation between their mom Kelly and Abby.

Kelly had a heated relationship with Abby and in 2014, Paige sued Abby Lee. The suit alleged that she could often be physically and verbally abusive with her students. However, a judge dismissed the case in July 2015, citing insufficient evidence.

Debuting in season two of Dance Moms, Kendall Vertes and her mom Jill became fixtures on the show until season seven. However, family commitments occasionally pulled them away from filming and competitions. Branching out beyond dance, Kendall launched her singing career in 2015 under the stage name Kendall K, even releasing a debut single and music video. Though plans for a full album existed, it ultimately wasn't released.

Kalani Hilliker and her mom, Kira Girard, joined the cast of Dance Moms during Season 4 and left after Season 7. There wasn't a specific on-screen reason mentioned for their departure.

Following Dance Moms: The Reunion, Lifetime will debut the new compilation series, Dance Moms: Epic Showdowns at 10 p.m. EST.

Each half-hour episode will be hosted by Christi Lukasiak, who will examine the most explosive dance battles and jaw-dropping meltdowns from the series. New episodes will air on Wednesdays starting at 8 p.m. ET for three weeks, for a total of ten episodes.