Dance Moms Season 5 premieres with two-hour event

Could it be the revenge of Kelly and Christi is finally upon us?

In the preview clip for the Jan. 6 season 5 premiere of Lifetime’s once-mighty Dance Moms, just four of the series’ original dancers — Maddie and Mackenzie Ziegler, Nia Frazier and Kendall Vertes — appear in the studio, and Kendall’s mom Jill forewarns of former Dance Moms Christi Lukasiak and Kelly Hyland’s plan to “destroy the ALDC.”

Even the splashy graphics announce that ABBY’S EMPIRE IS FALLING APART!

But first, let’s have a little Girl Talk. Part Two.

Before the Season 5 premiere episode — pointedly titled “99 Problems But A Mom Ain’t One” — Disney star Coco Jones takes the place of Dance Moms executive producer Jeff Collins as host, which will likely mean a kinder, gentler reunion show than Dance Moms fans are used to. The PR for the special reveals that the remaining ALDC dancers will answer fans’ (carefully curated) questions about boyfriends, besties, rivalries and of course, Abby Lee. The little ladies will also reveal their favorite routines from throughout the past four seasons and give on-the-spot lessons on how to perform their signature moves. Do not try Nia’s patented Death Drop at home.

And then the drama begins. As Season 5 bows, Christi and her long beleaguered daughter Chloe have cut all ties to the ALDC, the remaining dancers and their moms, requiring a California dreamin’ Abby to call in a familiar backup if the shows, and the competitions season, will go on. And Ms. Miller’s problems don’t end there. With her much-anticipated  move to Hollywood on the horizon, Abby faces yet more legal setbacks when  a former student (Psssst! It’s Paige!) supplements the ever-evolving lawsuit filed by Kelly Hyland with a claim of her own.

Presumably, there will also be some dancing in there somewhere.

So what say you, Dance Moms fans? Are you looking forward to Season 5, no matter what the drama entails? Or no Chloe, no deal, as many of you have threatened? Or is watching Abby possibly — finally — getting her comeuppance all you need to lure you back in? Sound off in the comments section below.

Dance Moms Girl Talk 2 premieres Tuesday, Jan. 6 at 8/7CT, followed by the Dance Moms Season 5 premiere at 9/8CT on Lifetime.

Photo/video: Lifetime