Penelope Fejes, 4, and her little sister, Adele, almost 3, bopped around the front patio of Bethel Park High School, incapable of standing still.
Each was dressed Saturday in a rainbow of pastel-colored skirts, tops, shiny shoes. At one point, they marched in circles chanting “Jo-Jo-Si-wa! Jo-Jo-Si-wa!”
The tots have never watched “Dance Moms,” the Lifetime reality show that launched the career of JoJo, 15, as well as Maddie Ziegler. The program, which ramps up the drama between moms and “Abby Lee Dance Company” founder Abby Lee Miller, is not for kids.
“They’ve seen her on [JoJo’s] YouTube channel,” said their mother, Heather Fejes of Ohio Township.
JoJo, known for her trademark outrageous hairbows, also was a recent Nickelodeon “Kids’ Choice Award” winner.
There were hundreds of young dancers, dance fans and yes, dance moms, at the high school for the Ignite Dance Live convention and dance competition. The crowd on the patio, at least at first, skewed younger than tween because JoJo is big on the internet with her boppy video channel.
But “Dance Moms” was an equally big draw. A production crew is currently shooting new episodes at Abby Lee Miller’s studio in Penn Hills as well as competitions where the troupe competes. JoJo visited the studio Friday.
When a big chartered bus swung into the roundabout driveway of the high school Saturday afternoon, not only were the screams for JoJo, but for the newest generation of ALDC members. And of course for Ms. Miller, who is making a return to the show after quitting more than a year ago.
It’s been a rocky couple of years for Ms. Miller. She did prison time for bankruptcy fraud, then had spinal surgery on top of treatment for non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma last year. When she descended from the bus with JoJo Saturday, it was from a wheelchair ramp.
But she’s back on “Dance Moms,” which returns in June. Also returning this summer is JoJo.
She will be bringing sparkles and song-and-dance on her “Dream Tour” stops at the Petersen Events Center July 30.
Maria Sciullo: msciullo@post-gazette.com or @MariaSciulloPG.
First Published: March 30, 2019, 10:03 p.m.
