Since 2011, Abby Lee Miller and the Dance Moms franchise have taken talented, hopeful dancers and turned them into stars (and millionaires) in their own right. And the season 8 cast of Dance Moms: Resurrection is shaping up to be no different. Since none of the original girls will be returning for this redemption season, the all-new (save for one familiar face) cast is eager to make an impression on both Abby and the audience. Abby and longtime choreography partner Gianna Martello diligently watched hundreds of casting call tapes and held cut-throat auditions before inviting the lucky few to be a part of this year's team. Who will be the new Maddie Ziegler and dominate the top of the pyramid?
One thing's for sure: Abby is taking no prisoners this season. "Nobody has a permanent spot on this team," she says in a recent teaser video. Not to mention, the ALDC hasn't competed in two years, so all eyes will be on the new team. Take your guesses now. Season 8 is about to begin.
Kamryn Smith
Age: 8
Dance styles: jazz, contemporary
The youngest dancer on Abby’s elite team this year, Kamryn is no stranger to beating the odds. At just 8, she's already been dancing for five years and was named the 2018 Petite National Dancer of the Year at Rainbow Nationals.
On being on the show, her mother Adriana told their local paper,"it’s a lot of pressure. She is only eight, so she’s going in with these big kids...this is not a preexisting team. This is a bunch of kids from different studios brought together into one team and now you have to figure out how to work together.”
Lilliana Ketchman
Age: 10
Dance styles: Ballet, contemporary, acro
As the only returning member of the ALDC, Liliana (Lilly) admits in her intro video on Lifetime that she feels some pressure going into the new season with all new teammates. A dancer, model, and actress, she was first featured on Dance Moms as part of the ALDC mini team in the second half of season six. She then joined the elite team in the following season, after the minis disbanded. Lilly had her first solo with Abby at just 7 years old, but Abby is proving to take no favorites going into this new season, asking Lilly to remove her ALDC jacket to even out the playing field in the Season 8 sneak peek.
Sarah Georgiana
Age: 11
Dance style: Jazz, contemporary
Originating from Studio 19 (the same Pittsburgh studio that Chloe Lukasiak joined after leaving the ALDC), Sarah is a powerhouse dancer who was named a Nuvo Breakout Artist and a Pro Reveler by Revel Dance Convention. Her Lifetime bio reads that her mother has "yet to find the perfect studio for Sarah and is hoping the ALDC will be it."
Savannah Kristich
Age: 12
Dance styles: Lyrical, ballet, contemporary
In 2018, Savannah competed in the second season of NBC’s World Of Dance competition, making it all the way to the division finals with her Nevada-based hometown team, The Rock Company. She won Mini Core Performer at the 2018 Radix Dance Competition Nationals and took home Best Dancer at the 2018 Dance Awards.
Pressley Hosbach
Age: 12
Dance styles: Jazz, lyrical, hip hop
Dancing since she was just 2 years old, Pressley got to live out her dreams when she performed as a backup dancer on Justin Bieber's Purpose tour in 2016. According to her Lifetime bio, her mom was also a professional dancer and dance studio owner. She's modeled for dance wear companies, attended the prestigious TDA (The Dance Awards) and was named a Pro Reveler by Revel Dance Convention for 2018-2019. She has experience previously dancing with Gianna Martello, Abby Lee’s lead choreographer on the show.
GiaNina Paolantonio
Age: 13
Dance styles: Hip hop, jazz fusion, lyrical
At just 13, GiaNina has quite the impressive performance resumé. The cat-ear-clad triple threat made her broadway debut at just 9 years old in an 18-month stint as Amanda Thripp in Matilda the Musical. She has also performed with Mariah Carey, danced for the New York Knicks City Kids Dance Team, and made her movie debut as a ballerina in The Greatest Showman. Her mother is a dance teacher as well.
Hannah Colin
Age: 14
Dance styles: Lyrical contemporary, tap, and hip hop
Hailing from Dance Works Center in New Albany, Indiana, Hannah has been dancing and performing since she was just 18-months-old. She’s also a former gymnast, and according to her Instagram, she also loves theater, singing, and playing the ukulele in her free time.
Hannah's mother is a former choreographer and pageant director, according to her Lifetime bio.
Brady Farrar
Age: 14
Dance styles: Ballet, contemporary, lyrical, jazz, modern, tap, acro, hip-hop and ballroom
Before the show has even begun, 14-year-old Brady is already making a buzz thanks to his advanced technical skills and slew of impressive accolades. Aside from being the first male to be a permanent member on the team, he’s earned both the mini male Best Dancer at The Dance Awards and Young Male Dancer of the Year at American Dance Awards along with being a national Mini Outstanding Dancer for the New York City Dance Alliance and making it to the prestigious Youth America Grand Prix New York Finals. In his introduction video Brady admits, “There’s been some clash with me and the moms because Miss Abby likes me,” but says he loves the girls on the team and believes they’ll stay friends regardless.
Watch the new kids on the season 8 of Dance Moms airing on Lifetime on June 4 and catch up on all the old seasons on Hulu.
And see a sneak peek of the new season now:
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Mackenzie is the Senior Commerce Manager for Lifestyle at Hearst, working across multiple titles to make informed product recommendations to readers. She has been writing and editing for over 5 years with bylines in The Spruce, MyDomaine, Shape, Instyle, Editorialist, and more.
