Melissa Gisoni

Melissa Gosoni had no connection with show business till she was persuaded to participate in the reality show ‘Dance Moms’ with her two daughters. They were the original cast members of the show when it was called ‘Just Dance’. In fact, Melissa was not even aware that what she had joined was a reality show that would be aired on television. Later, the show was morphed to become ‘Dance Moms’, with Abby Miller entering the scene.

Maddie and Mackenzie studied dance at Miller’s studio through Reign Dance Productions from the early ages of four and two respectively. They went on to participate in six seasons of ‘Dance Moms’ with their mother from 2011 to 2016. The show followed the progress of the children and the reactions of their mothers during various dance competitions. Melissa Gisoni gained popularity as an understanding mother and has often been called a ‘second mom’ by children at Abby’s studio that teaches young dancers. Although Abby’s studio and ‘Dance Moms’ were a launch pad for Melissa and her daughters, they exited from the show after six seasons as it became too repetitive and prevented the children from pursuing other opportunities. The schedule of dancing six days a week was also getting too taxing on the girls, who wanted a change and some variety in life.

In order to fill in the void after leaving ‘Dance Moms’ and Abby’s studio, Melissa started a dance studio in her house and employed a dance instructor to continue with the dance classes of the girls. It was her perseverance and motivation that turned both her daughters into celebrities at a very tender age.

Melissa also appeared in the music videos of Todrick Hall, titled ‘Freak Like Me’ and ‘Ease on Down the Boulevard’ and acted in the TV series ‘Famewhore’. However, bringing up her celebrity children was her biggest challenge. Today, both her girls are established models and actors and have several endorsements to their credit. They have appeared in a number of music videos and television serials. Both girls have a large following on social media. Despite all this, Melissa has taught them to remain humble, respectful and to value basis etiquette. Her efforts seem to have paid as both her daughters are rising stars, with their feet very much still firmly on the ground.

Melissa was born on June 13, 1968 in New York. She came from a middle class background and regrets not having completed her graduation from college.

It was always her wish to make it up by making her daughters complete their graduation from college and perform on Broadway. However, the early celebrity status of her children forced her to give them home education. She was initially married to Kurt Ziegler, with whom she ran a mortgage company called Custom Mortgages, Inc. She had her two daughters Maddie and Mackenzie through Kurt.

In 2009, she and Kurt filed for bankruptcy and were eventually bailed out by the income of her daughter, Maddie, after she starred in Sia’s music video trilogy ‘Chandelier’, ‘Elastic Heart’ and ‘Big Girls Cry’.

Later, she divorced Kurt and married Greg Gisoni who is the Vice President of Westinghouse Electric Company. She has a step son, Mathew and step daughter, Michele from her second marriage. She is also a good friend of reality star, Abby Lee Miller, who owns the Abby Lee Dance Company.

Her children have done her proud by not only becoming dancers, but also starting successful careers as singers, actors and models. They have also given back to society by partnering ‘Starling Children’s Foundation’ to help raise awareness for chronically ill youth and help cancer patients.