"I quite like Abbie, I think the show is extremely heavily edited and very scripted. She can't be as bad as she's being portrayed"
I love Dance Moms and dragged one of my DDs (adult!) to a Masterclass in London two years ago; M&M, Nia, Kendall were all there. It was clear that 'in real life' Abby's kind and even affectionate with the girls... they obviously all adore her and seem perfectly happy and comfortable in her company - running up to her to chat all the time.
Abby's errr firm side did show at one point - she ordered one of the attending dancers off the floor during the masterclass - because her mother (in the audience) was gesturing to the girl to get nearer the front. It was quite an awkward moment but it ended ok - Abby delivered a little lecture about how dancers have to make their own decisions about where to stand/dance at an audition, that they can't have their mothers telling them what to do if they're hoping to be chosen for a professional role, and then she allowed the girl back on the floor and said some kind things, having made her point. She was easily in charge of the huge room/class, but she seemed so very much more human and supportive and kind than she usually appears on the show, though I think sometimes signs slip in that her relationship with the girls is actually easy and positive when they're not filming.
Jill and Melissa and Gia were running the merchandise stall - they were all very pleasant as they took our cash 
and tiny! But Holly stole the show for me - she looked absolutely stunning, really beautiful woman, and as she collected in our disclaimer forms she gave me the most dazzling smile.