Kendall Vertes is best recognized as being one of the original stars of the hit series Dance Moms. The Lifetime original has been on the air for seven seasons, and over that time, we’ve seen Kendall grow up and evolve as a dancer, singer, and role model.
We spoke to Kendall about the current season of Dance Moms, what her fans can expect from her new music, and the other exciting projects she has lined up.
Read on for our exclusive interview with Kendall Vertes below:
It sounds like there are a couple of really intense Dance Moms episodes coming up! Can you tell us a little bit about what to expect?
Kendall Vertes: There is definitely a lot of drama this season – everyone expects that – but the dances this season would have to be the best ones yet. Great, unique choreography with much more mature themes.
There have been several changes to the cast and team over the years. What do you miss most and enjoy most about the changes?
I definitely miss all of the original cast members – it’s only Nia and I left. It’s hard when someone leaves the team because we all spend every day together and then… they are gone. I keep in touch with Maddie, Mackenzie, and JoJo. I have adjusted to all of the changes and have become such close friends with all of the girls. There is change with the show all the time, we just have to get used to it.
You and Nia have both been exploring music in addition to your dancing. What’s on the horizon when it comes to singing for you?
I am currently working on releasing a song coming out in February – it’s called Where Would I Be Without You. It’s about all my friends and what we have been through since we started this journey and how far we have come. I hope to put out an EP within the next few months. It’s hard to find time to record music when we are filming every day.
You were really able to showcase what you can do when you were performing onstage with Nia in recent episodes. What do you love most about performing in front of people?
I love performing very deep and dark dances because usually at the end of the dance, someone dies or gets killed, and the audience is just silent. I also love learning new things from different performers as we travel and get to meet so many people. Nia and I also sang together onstage for the first time. I was very nervous but I hope to do it again soon!
Do you prefer dancing over singing or are there things you like about both?
I started out at a young age as a dancer. I was very fortunate to be cast in Dance Moms. The older I got, the more I wanted to sing AND dance. With singing, you don’t have to worry about competing against other people and you can just express yourself through singing and writing your own music. I still love to compete in dance competitions, but I have been in over 400 competition numbers over the last six years.
Being a cast member of Dance Moms must have its pros and cons. What would you say are the ups and downs of appearing on such a show?
I never saw myself being on a national television show and I wouldn’t take it back, but the hardest thing about traveling and being away from home would have to be keeping up with my schoolwork or not being able to see my family every day. On a good note, I have traveled all over the world, and our show won a Kids’ Choice Award – that was fun!
Do you enjoy the fan interaction part of this experience? Social media kind of opens the door for you to reach your fans and bond with them.
Social media is getting so big and that’s really the only way I get to interact with all my supporters and fans. They are so supportive and protective of all of us, but there are obviously haters out there and you just have to block them out. For every 100 fans who love you, you may have one hater, and that’s just how it works.
You recently branched out with your own set of personalized emojis. What inspired you to create that? How has the response been?
I have always wanted to create my own app, but I never knew what to create [until] people were coming out with emojis. The response was amazing and all my fans are so awesome. I really loved how they turned out, too.
Your dance coach Abby Lee Miller is known for her negativity, but you all have become a source of positivity for so many young girls out there. What does it mean to you to be a role model for your fans?
Everyone is going to come across someone like Abby in their lifetime. You just have to handle it like a pro. I stay positive for my fans and for myself. I know they look up to me, so I have to stay strong and not let it get me down. I use it to make me work harder.
What else are you working on? What can your fans expect from you next?
I recently partnered with Target and designed my own clothing, which was really awesome. I am also working on my music, and I’m getting more and more into to acting. I have been going on auditions and practicing, so hopefully my fans will see me in the movies someday.
Thanks so much to Kendall Vertes for taking the time to answer some questions for us!
Keep up to date with Kendall by following her on Twitter and Instagram, and be sure to watch Dance Moms Tuesdays at 9/8c on Lifetime!
Did you know we’ve also interviewed other members of the Dance Moms cast, including Gianna Martello, Kalani Hilliker, and Asia Monet Ray? Follow us on Twitter and Facebook for all our entertainment coverage!
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