Abby Lee Miller Celebrates ‘Dance Moms’ Season 6; Shares Maddie Ziegler Birthday Video

The fearless star of Lifetime’s “Dance Moms” is ready to begin filming Season 6 of the hit reality series. Abby Lee Miller announced on Instagram Thursday that she was en route to an unknown location just as filming is set to commence on the 2016 season. Her announcement came one day after she celebrated her star student Maddie Ziegler’s 13th birthday.

“Leaving on a Jet Plane, Don’t Know when I’ll be back again!” Abby wrote. While Abby has yet to announce her official return to the Lifetime show, her post included the telling hashtags “#ALDC #dancemoms #seasonsix #aldcla #soproud.”

Abby’s leave comes two days before the youngest members of the “Dance Moms” cast are scheduled to film a reunion special for the upcoming season. As we previously reported, Maddie, Mackenzie Ziegler, Kendall Vertes, Nia Frazier, JoJo Siwa, and Kalani Hilliker will film a live episode of “Girl Talk: No Moms Allowed” in Los Angeles Saturday.

Before announcing her trip, Abby celebrated her pupil’s birthday. On Wednesday, Abby flooded her social media accounts with praise for Maddie, her longtime student and “Dance Moms” co-star. “You have touched the lives of so many through your dancing, including mine!” Abby gushed of the young performer. “Keep a journal so you don’t forget about one single solitary spectacular moment of your incredible life!” The post was accompanied by a shot of Maddie posing head to toe in ALDC (Abby Lee Dance Company) gear and posing with Abby.

Abby later shared a video from Maddie’s birthday celebration. The footage shows Maddie sitting with a birthday cake placed in front of her and smiling as her friends cheer. In one shot she can be seen quickly stealing a swipe of icing from the cake as her friends and co-stars, Kendall, 12, and Nia, 14, look on.

Maddie later shared a shot of her friends at her birthday dinner on Instagram. “Thank you girls for making this the best birthday!!” reads the caption. “Cannot wait for my teen years #13.”

Abby wasn’t the only one to wish Maddie a happy birthday. Her mother, Melissa Gisoni, also addressed her eldest daughter’s big day via Instagram. “You have become such an amazing young woman,” Melissa wrote. “I am so very proud that you are my daughter. Keep staying humble, sweet and the loving girl you are. So many amazing memories to come.”

Melissa’s youngest daughter, Mackenzie, followed in her mom's footsteps. “Happy bday to the best sister ever! Even though we fight sometimes I still love you,” Mackenzie, 11, wrote Wednesday. “Have a great bday teenager. Hope it’s the best day of your life.”

“Dance Moms” Season 6 began filming in Los Angeles last month. Abby was the first cast member spotted filming as auditions for her West Coast studio, ALDC LA (Abby Lee Dance Company Los Angeles), were underway. The cast of “Dance Moms” will compete at their first Season 6 competition Oct. 10 in Glendale, California. "Dance Moms" is expected to return to Lifetime in 2016.