Nia Sioux has grown up on camera on the reality television show Dance Moms and although viewers have followed her dance career since she was 8 years old, it is her music career that everyone’s talking about now. We sat down with the 15-year-old to discuss her music, Dance Moms and her experiences with cyberbullying.
CM: Let’s talk about your upcoming single “Dance (Just Rock),” what was the vision behind it? What kind of vibe does it have?
Nia: “Dance, Just Rock” is a song that makes you want to dance. It has an old school vibe like Ciara and Janet Jackson.
CM: You’ve had incredible responses to you branching out into the music business – and you were named the Best New Artist at our CelebMix Awards in December – how does the support make you feel?
Nia: My supporters mean so much to me! My fans push me to be better because it is a way that I can give back to them since I can’t say thank you to each person individually. Being named CelebMix’ Best New Artist was a huge honor and I was humbled to be recognized with that award. That was my first award as a music artist so it means a lot to me.
CM: You have been dancing your whole life and it was how people knew you. Were you nervous to release music at first?
Nia: I was definitely nervous to release new music. I was doing it all on my own without the other girls on the show so I was a little shy to post at first. I was used to being part of a group and being in the background. Releasing music on my own was a big step in becoming more independent and confident.
CM: Speaking of dancing, a lot has happened on ‘Dance Moms’ since the season six finale. What can you tell us about season seven?
Nia: Season 7 has a lot of surprises – more than usual. It is like a rollercoaster! We had the incredible opportunity to work with many different choreographers and I learned so much. The dances this season are some of the best dances we have ever done and I know people will be talking. We have definitely grown up!
CM: As some people may know, Cheryl Burke came on the show to coach your team. How was it to work with her?
Nia: I love Cheryl Burke! She taught me so much in the little time she was there. I’m so happy I got a chance to work with her and her assistant, Ryan Ramirez. Cheryl is a mentor/big sister to me now.
CM: How would you describe your friendship with the other ‘Dance Moms’ girls? You have known some of them your whole life, how is it to share this experience with them?
Nia: We have a really good relationship. We all consider each other sisters. Most of the girls who are now on the show, I met while filming [the show] so we pretty much had an instant connection. I still keep in touch with the OG girls like Chloe (Lukasiak), Maddie and Kenzie (Ziegler). I will always consider them my life long friends. I do not remember a time when I did not know them.
CM: You recently shared an Instagram post about cyberbullying. What experiences have you had with it and what influence has it had on you?
Nia: I have had some really nasty cyberbullying experiences. People said mean things about my dancing and my athletic build. It was as if they were trying to shame me into thinking I was not good enough or I had to be like someone else. I got so fed up one day I decided to post something about it. Some people think that just because I am “famous” words do not hurt. The hateful comments do hurt. I am a person. I am a kid. I still have feelings too. I have been wrestling with my feelings about this for a long time so I decided to share my reflections on Instagram. I had no idea what type of response I would get but I wanted to share those thoughts online. I wanted people to know that I see their bullying and I want it to stop. Enough is enough! I could not be silent or ignore it any longer. I did not want the bullies to win and I did not want them to think it was ok. I felt like the time was right for me to speak up and I am glad that I did.
CM: What advice would you give to other young people who are going through the same thing?
Nia: First – you have to talk to someone about it. You cannot carry that weight on your shoulders alone. When you are bullied you feel like you have no power or voice. It is important to reach out to your family and friends. People who know YOU and whose opinions YOU value. That is helpful in keeping a healthy perspective on things. You do not want to give away your power, so it is important to use your voice. Stand up for yourself. Love yourself for who you are. Do not change who you are because a bully is trying to make you feel inferior. I think it is also important to surround yourself with allies who can encourage you and discourage bully-behavior.
CM: Let’s talk about your awesome mom! We have all witnessed your close relationship on ‘Dance Moms,’ what is it that makes your bond so strong and special?
Nia: My mom and I are super close. We do basically everything together. She’s basically my best friend haha. She is always there for me no matter what.
CM: What’s next for Nia Sioux?
Nia: The next few months will be incredibly busy for me. I am excited about going to Playlist Live in Orlando this weekend where I will be performing my new song. I am looking forward to going back to LA to finish working on some new music projects as well as attending Wango Tango. I am thrilled that I will get to go to BeautyCon in NYC for the first time later this month. While I am doing all of this traveling, I am also planning my sweet 16 birthday party which will be in LA. Plus there are some more fun summer plans that I can’t wait to announce! Make sure you check my social media for updates!
CM: Is there anything you would like to say to your fans?
Nia: THANK YOU! I love my fans and I am so thankful for their love and support. I would not be here today if it was not for the support of my fans. I appreciate that they have been with me since I started this journey and I hope they will continue to be with me as I grow up and mature.
Nia Sioux’ new single “Dance (Just Rock)” is available on iTunes, Google Play, and Amazon now.
Don’t forget to keep up with Nia on her social media sites: