Chloe Lucas looks back on her time Dancing mothers — the good and the evil. The 22-year-old dancer and former reality star took part in the upcoming special. Dance Moms: The Reuniontogether with her dance colleagues and co-stars, JoJo SiwaBrooke and Paige Hyland, Kalani Hilliker and Kendall Vertes.
After filming the reunion, the former co-stars reunited to talk to ET’s Rachel Smith about their time on the series and all the emotions the reunion brought back.
Chloe told ET that she didn’t originally plan to attend the reunion special.
“I said ‘no’ because it just didn’t feel right. I spent so many years in the past trying to break it up, and then I went to college and kind of disappeared for a minute,” Chloe tells ET. “It was my last semester when we filmed. I’ve decided – not in an arrogant way – but they’re going to talk about the people who aren’t there, so they’re going to talk about me no matter what, so I might do it.” I’ll also be there to give my input afford to express my opinion and talk about what happened in the past.
Chloe also wanted to make sure she could “express my gratitude for the experience and the opportunity and then close the door.”
During the special, Chloe made an emotional statement about the impact dance teacher Abby Lee Miller’s criticism had on her throughout her teenage years, breaking down in tears.
“It was really difficult. I’m still working on that,” Chloe tells ET. “I think when you’re that young you’re really vulnerable and you absorb everything people say to you.”
During her six years later Dancing mothersChloe often competed against top dancers Maddie Ziegler.
“I was willing to put in the hours anyway. That wasn’t necessary for me, and I think it affected both of us in different ways. “I can’t speak for how she felt, it felt unnecessarily cruel,” says Chloe. “I think it made me who I am today.”
Despite the tension at the dance studio and the fact that Maddie didn’t attend the reunion, Chloe says she still feels close to her friend.
“I still consider her one of my closest friends. She’s like a sister to me,” says Chloe about the artist, who often collaborates with singer Sia. “I don’t see her that often and we don’t get a chance to spend time together or talk often, but when we go through something like what we went through together, it’s a connection.”
As for the next phase of her life, Chloe says she’s “in a better place than ever” and calls it “a whole new era for me.”
Regarding Miller’s harsh criticism of her, Chloe remarks in the special, “She doesn’t define me anymore. She doesn’t have power over me and I started to heal.”
Chloe tells ET that while she’s grateful for the opportunities the show has given her, she has no intention of mending her fight with her former teacher.
“I wouldn’t wish what she’s going through or what she’s gone through before on anyone,” Chloe says, referencing Miller’s health issues. “But for me it’s much less about reconciling and talking. I live in peace now and have a successful career now, and it’s in spite of her, not because of her.”
Dance Moms: The Reunion airs Wednesday, May 1 at 8 p.m. ET on Lifetime.
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