'I'm not a villain': Dance Moms star Abby Lee Miller defends militant teaching style - but looks terrifying as the Black Swan

PUBLISHED: 17:25 EST, 13 March 2013 | UPDATED: 17:25 EST, 13 March 2013

Tough-talking Dance Moms instructor, Abby Lee Miller, has defended her militant style of teaching.

The 47-year-old reality TV star from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, is often seen verbally attacking her elementary school-aged students during rehearsals.

But the longtime choreographer told In Touch Weekly that it is necessary to be strict with her girls because 'their moms aren't'.

Queen bee: Tough-talking Dance Moms teacher, Abby Lee Miller, has defended her militant style of teaching

Addressing critics who have branded her a bully and 'number one villain', Miss Miller simply says that she wants her students to achieve their full potential.

'I have bigger dreams for these kids than they have for themselves. I want them to be better - I want them to win... Life is a competition,' she explained.

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Dance Moms, which airs on Lifetime,focuses on Miss Miller's all-star competition team, including Maddie, ten, Chloe, 11, Mackenzie, eight, Nia, 11, Brooke, 15, Paige,12, and Kendall, ten.

Offering advice to those who don't want to be in her firing line, Miss Miller said that it is important to pick up routines quickly.

'When I tell a child something the first time, I’m nice,' she revealed.

Get it right first time kids: Miss Miller said that children who fail to pick up routines quickly, make her angry

Strict coaching method: Miss Miller is often seen verbally attacking her elementary school-aged students during rehearsals

'The 15th time, I start to get aggravated. By the 30th time, they’re doing 100 push-ups and I’m screaming at them.'

Miss Miller, who founded her eponymous dance school aged 14, previously highlighted how her harsh coaching method helps foster success.

'There are children who work on Broadway because of me, I have kids at Tokyo Disney.

'There's still an innocence to me... I've done a lot of nice things for my girls'

'I have kids that have made a lot of money and own a lot of property and are doing really well because of me,' she said during an installment of Access Hollywood Live.

Despite her fearsome exterior Miss Miller told In Touch that she has a softer side that is not captured on camera.

'I’m a schoolgirl at heart... There’s still an innocence to me. I’ve done a lot of nice things for my girls.' she said.

She highlighted that many of her pupils come from underprivileged backgrounds, and in her spare time she likes to treat them - especially as she has no children of her own.

'I take them to dinners, to movies, to Broadway shows. Most of my kids, over the years, have never seen a plane or been to a five-star hotel.

'I teach them which fork to use and things they won’t learn in school.'

EXCLUSIVE PHOTO SHOOT: 'Dance Moms' Star Abby Lee Miller: "I'm Not a Villain"

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She is a hypocrite. She needs to lead by example. Being said we all know that big mouth of hers works fine just looking at her.

- Texan , Houston, 14/3/2013 18:56

Click to rate Rating 4

She's so fat because she gives everything she has to make her girls successful. She is harsh but you know that she loves those girls like her own. My daughter is a gymnast coached by Russians and believe me the silent treatment and piercing devil stare is harder to deal with than a teacher yelling but still directing you.

- Southerntwinb , Usa, 14/3/2013 18:34

Click to rate Rating 1

We stopped watching this show because her abuse is unnecessary and the other mothers don't stand up to Abby Lee Miller.

- happynewyorker , westchester NY, 14/3/2013 17:50

Click to rate Rating 3

I'm afraid, any so called 'teacher' who told my 8yr old 'I'm going to make you or break you' personally shouldn't be anywhere near kids. I'm also of the opinion that if someone is going to teach my child how to dance that they actually be able to do it themselves, and there's no getting away from the fact that that woman coulldn't even touch her knees, never mind her toes.

- grumpy old woman , Planet Zorg, 14/3/2013 15:09

Click to rate Rating 20

its like being taught swimming by someone who cannot swim, or joining a diet where the teachers obese, how can she expect these children to understand a dance routine if she cannot perform it herself to show them? it looks like a case of making others do what she was not driven enough to do herself. She clearly has a total lack of self control over herself, hence why she may need to exert it over others? i feel sorry for her.

- bradshaw91 , liverpool, 14/3/2013 14:15

Click to rate Rating 23

Maybe the girls just find it difficult to take an obese woman seriously when she says they need to use more control and work harder...? Yeah, that's it.

- Annamarie , Little Igloo, 14/3/2013 13:45

Click to rate Rating 20

I can't get over her obvious obesity! Even id she is lazy as hell, She has more than enough $$ for lipo or gastric bypass. Americans are gross!

- Dee Braz , New York, US, 14/3/2013 12:40

Click to rate Rating 23

Shouldn't one practice what they preach? Your waistline says you don't practice what you teach those little girls.

- Omnivorous Fitness Bombshell , United States, 14/3/2013 11:37

Click to rate Rating 43

Abby Lee Miller does work her pupils very hard and expects a lot from them and sometimes she seems unreasonable, but the children are very talented and if they want to be professional dancers they will have to put themselves through much harsher treatment on that career path. I am sure they would be worked even harder at somewhere like the Royal Ballet School.

- Lily , Lincoln, 14/3/2013 09:23

Click to rate Rating 54

I actually love her, shes harsh but brilliant. it's one of my favorite shows on TV.

- breezy , san francisco, 14/3/2013 08:33

Click to rate Rating 38

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