Barnard College’s renowned Dance department recently announced that industry legend and former Dance Moms star Abby Lee Miller will be joining the faculty as an adjunct lecturer. For the Fall 2025 semester, Miller is rumored to be teaching Tap Ensemble (DNCE-BC2558) and Dance Criticism (DNCE-BC3576), as well as a new course in the Psychology department about the impacts of punishments on child development, called “Jojo, Have You Learned Nothing” (PSYC-BC2723).
Miller’s appointment to the department has not been without controversy. On-campus group Survivors of Dance Abuse (SoDA) recently issued a statement contesting Miller’s appointment, citing concerns that Miller would bring a culture of emotional abuse, negatively impacting their mental well-being. Many students also fear that taking a class with Miller would reignite feelings of inadequacy that they felt in their youth.
Last year, Miller was invited as a guest lecturer for Ballet I. President Rosenbury, who was enrolled as a student in the course, reportedly ran out of the studio crying after Miller criticized her performance by commenting, “Boring. Yawning. Sloppy. Lazy.” In an interview, Rosenbury, with noticeable puffy eyes, vehemently denied these claims, stating that she “always saves her tears for the pillow”.
Miller will also bring her expertise in pyramids to Columbia’s Cheer team as a part-time assistant coach. This semester, Miller has been spotted at the LeFrak Financial Wellness Center attending #LunchandLearn events. Leaders of these events explained that Miller has been showing great potential in her work to stop committing bankruptcy fraud.
