Nia Sioux is a talented dancer, singer, and actress who rose to fame as one of the original cast members of the reality TV show Dance Moms. She started her journey on the show at the age of nine and stayed for seven seasons, becoming one of the longest-running members of the Abby Lee Dance Company (ALDC). However, in 2017, she decided to leave the show and pursue other opportunities in the entertainment industry. In this article, we will explore why and when did Nia leave Dance Moms, how her mother supported her decision, and what she has been doing since then.
Nia’s Journey on Dance Moms
Nia joined Dance Moms in 2011, along with her mother Dr. Holly Hatcher-Frazier, a former school principal and education consultant. She was the only African-American dancer on the show and often faced discrimination and unfair treatment from the dance instructor Abby Lee Miller. Despite the challenges, Nia proved herself to be a hard-working, versatile, and resilient dancer who could perform various styles, such as jazz, contemporary, hip hop, musical theater, and acro. She also showcased her vocal skills by releasing several singles, such as “Star in Your Own Life”, “Slay”, and “Winner”.
Nia was known for being loyal, respectful, and supportive of her teammates and friends. She formed close bonds with fellow dancers Maddie Ziegler, Mackenzie Ziegler, Chloe Lukasiak, Kendall Vertes, and Kalani Hilliker. She also had a friendly rivalry with JoJo Siwa, who joined the show in season five. Nia earned many fans and admirers for her positive attitude, graceful demeanor, and fierce personality. She was nicknamed “Nia Sioux Frazier, the girl who never gives up” by her mother.
Throughout her journey on “Dance Moms”, Nia faced numerous challenges. Despite not being among the top dancers initially, she showed an amazing stage presence and a willingness to improve. Her mother, Holly, often argued with the dance coach Abby Lee Miller, accusing her of not providing Nia with competitive choreography and typecasting her in ethnic roles. Despite these challenges, Nia remained resilient and continued to improve her dance skills.
Nia’s signature step, the death drop, was admired by many, and she perfected her art over the years. She was also a great team player and excelled in partner work most of the time. Her lively personality, expressiveness, and eagerness to learn were truly inspirational.
Decision to Leave Dance Moms
In an episode titled “Ashlee’s Big Decision Part 1” in season 7, Nia and her mother announced their exit from the show. This news deeply saddened many fans.
Being the longest-running original cast member of “Dance Moms”, she made the decision to leave the show after its seventh season. Her departure was less dramatic compared to some of the other original cast members. Unlike dancers who left due to drama with Abby Lee Miller or to pursue other opportunities, Nia and the entire older team just didn’t come back.
Nia’s decision to leave the show was influenced by her desire to take on new opportunities and her growing frustration with the show’s environment. She felt that she wasn’t being given competitive choreography and was constantly made to feel that she wasn’t as good as the other young performers. In an interview with Teen Vogue, Nia stated, “I was just like, I’m 16 now, I’m growing up, the show has been a great platform, but it’s time to move on. During the show, I couldn’t take all the opportunities that I wanted to, and now since I’m off the show I’m getting to do what I want to do”.
Despite the challenges she faced on the show, Nia expressed gratitude for the experience. In a YouTube video reflecting on her departure, she admitted feeling sad but also expressed gratitude for the experience, calling it the “experience of a lifetime”. She thanked her dance teachers and expressed excitement for the future of her fellow dancers and moms.
Reasons to leave Dance Moms
Some of the reasons that Nia gave for leaving Dance Moms were:
- Desire for New Opportunities: Nia expressed her desire to pursue new opportunities that she couldn’t take while being on the show. She felt that being on “Dance Moms” limited her ability to explore other interests and opportunities.
- Frustration with the Show’s Environment: Nia felt frustrated and unappreciated by Abby Lee Miller, the dance coach. She felt that she wasn’t being given competitive choreography and was constantly made to feel that she wasn’t as good as the other young performers.
- Negative Impact of the Show: Nia admitted that being on “Dance Moms” did escalate her childhood a bit. She revealed that she “learned so many lessons from Dance Moms,” though the show “still does have a negative kind of effect” on her.
- Desire to Focus on Education: Nia also wanted to focus more on her education. Being on the show required a significant time commitment, which could interfere with her academic pursuits.
- Need for Personal Growth: Nia felt that it was time for her to grow up and move on. She believed that leaving the show would allow her to mature and develop in ways that she couldn’t while being part of “Dance Moms”.
Nia’s Mother’s Perspective
Nia Sioux’s mother, Dr. Holly Hatcher-Frazier, played a significant role in supporting Nia’s decision to leave “Dance Moms” after seven seasons. She believed that the decision to leave should be Nia’s choice and not influenced by external factors.
Dr. Holly was known for her supportive nature, not just towards her daughter, but also towards the entire team. She often stood up for Nia against Abby Lee Miller, the dance coach, accusing her of not providing Nia with competitive choreography and typecasting her in ethnic roles. Despite the challenges, she encouraged Nia to stay resilient and improve her dancing skills.
In an interview with Entertainment Tonight, Dr. Holly shared her perspective on their decision to leave the show. She stated, “I’m a person who believes very firmly that we leave when we say we’re ready to leave. I don’t want anyone in my children’s lives to dictate to them ‘you leave because I’m forcing you out or because you’re not wanted.’ It’s your choice and I always made it Nia’s choice. ‘Whenever you’re ready to leave we can leave; so that’s the reason why we stayed”.
She also revealed that they were invited back for the eighth season of “Dance Moms”, but they declined the offer. Dr. Holly felt that their story had been told and it was time to move on. She said, “Honestly, I feel like my story’s been told, and by the end of my season 7, when our contract was up, I told a lot of the moms that were coming on like ‘No need to fight with me. I’m just here to finish telling my story.’ and I think everything we’ve needed to say has been told and well on a good note and I’m happy”.
Nia’s Transition to Social Media Influencer
After leaving “Dance Moms” in 2017, she focused on building her platform as a social media influencer.
Nia began her social media journey by posting on the TikTok predecessor Musical.ly. She gradually pivoted to sharing vlog-style content on YouTube, discussing her workout routine and vacation plans with fans. Despite being a full-time college student, she manages to post occasional vlogs to give viewers a glimpse into her life at UCLA.
With 5.8 million Instagram followers and 1.1 million YouTube subscribers to her name, Nia has built a robust social media following. She works with brands, including drink company SunnyD and makeup brand Benefit Cosmetics, on sponsored partnerships while studying American Literature at UCLA. Across TikTok, YouTube, and Instagram, she has 15 million followers.
Growing a social media presence wasn’t just a savvy career choice for Nia, it’s also helped her process and open up about her experiences as a child star. Despite being surrounded by online users who don’t want to see her grow up, she wants her millions of followers to start seeing her as an adult.
Nia’s Future Plans
Nia Sioux has a number of exciting plans for her future. After leaving “Dance Moms”, she has been focusing on her acting career, music, and education.
- Acting: Nia recently filmed a movie in New York. While she hasn’t revealed much about it yet, she described the experience as really fun.
- Music: Nia has music in the works. She has previously released singles and music videos, and her fans are eagerly awaiting her new music.
- Education: Nia is currently studying American Literature at UCLA. She is also a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated, the first Black sorority in the United States.
- Social Media Influence: Nia continues to be a prominent social media influencer. She has millions of followers across TikTok, YouTube, and Instagram, and works with brands on sponsored partnerships.
- Travel: Nia loves to travel. She recently went to Paris and has plans for a family trip later in the season.
Conclusion
Nia Sioux is a remarkable and inspiring young woman who has achieved a lot in her career and life. She started her journey on Dance Moms as a nine-year-old dancer and left the show as a 16-year-old star. She decided to leave Dance Moms to pursue other opportunities and challenges in the entertainment industry. She also wanted to have more creative control and freedom over her projects and career choices. She had the support and guidance of her mother, who was her biggest fan and advocate. She transitioned to becoming a social media influencer and a digital content creator. She also continued her acting and music career and worked on various projects and collaborations. She also used her social media influence to promote causes and issues that she cared about. She has many future plans and goals that she wants to achieve in her career and life. She is a role model and an inspiration for many people, especially young girls, who want to follow their dreams and passions.