Jill Vertes

Jill was not too happy with the way Kendall was treated as a dancer initially and left Abby Lee to join Cathy and Candy Apple’s Dance Centre. However, after a while she found the situation even worse at Cathy and Candy and she returned to Abby Lee. Some say the whole episode was stage managed for effect. She was initially quite abrasive in her behaviour on the show and was known to use foul language and even hurled shoe at one instance. This made her very unpopular amongst the other Moms on the show. It is said that she bribed Abby as well as her own daughter in order to gain points and was ever ready to dance in public.

Somehow, she got along with Melissa on the show and became good friends, despite being poles apart in their behaviour. However, she mellowed down as the show progressed and became more acceptable to other mothers on the show. As per Jill, some of her actions were prompted by the show and would not have been her reaction under normal circumstances. At the end of the day her daughter went on to become a professional dancer.

Jill has also done her share of dancing and acting in show business. In May 2013, she won the first place while competing in the dance competition called ‘Dancing with the Celebrities of Pittsburgh’.

Besides ‘Dance Moms’, she has appeared in the Jo Jo Siwa’s music video ‘Boomerang’ and Todrick Hall’s music videos ‘Freaks Like Me’ and ‘Ease on Down the Boulevard’.

Jill Vertes was born on August 15, 1965 in Pennsylvania, USA, to Italian-American parents. She was interested in dance and gymnastics as a child and participated in competitive cheerleading in high school. She had also been a member of the cheer group and student council while in the University of Pittsburgh, from where she graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree.

As a child, she loved to dress, use makeup, sing and dance. She participated in her senior school play ‘Oklahoma’ and was a member of the dramatics club. She also loved animals and horse riding.

After graduation, she worked as a pharmaceutical sales representative for 10 years. She married tennis player Erno Valer Vertes and has three daughters Kendall, Ryleigh and Charlotte. While Kendall and Ryleigh took up dancing at Abby Lee Dance Company, Charlotte followed her father’s footsteps and learnt tennis.

Jill’s greatest regret is not having one more child, when she could have done so.

She loves reading, taking long walks and gets over her frustration by venting to her husband and chewing gum.