Nia Sioux knows what it’s like to live at the bottom of a dance pyramid, of a power structure, of people’s expectations. In “Bottom of the Pyramid,” the former “Dance Moms” star turns a painful and previously defining symbol of ranking and rejection into one of resilience and self-acceptance.
Known best for her role on Lifetime’s pop culture phenomenon “Dance Moms,” Sioux’s memoir shares her story as the only Black girl on a competitive dance team in a vulnerable, heartfelt way. The book tells how she reclaimed her power from the system and people who often placed her last.
“Some may criticize me for what I have to say, or even for speaking up at all,” Sioux wrote. “But I’ve come to a place where I don’t let the negativity of people I don’t respect bother me. I simply don’t listen to the voices of those who have harmed me.”
Throughout the memoir, Sioux reflects on the emotional toll of being compared to her white castmates and how her race often had people underestimating her. Sioux dives in to tell a multitude of stories centered around the racism she faced as a Black dancer, both in the real world and in the world of “Dance Moms.”
“I was particularly careful with my words and behaviors because I did not want to be called aggressive, loud, disruptive, or angry,” Sioux wrote. “It seemed to me that these loaded terms were usually reserved for Black girls, while my peers were called cute, playful, and excited for exhibiting the same behaviors. There were different rules and standards for different people.”
Sioux told several stories about the racism she faced, some of which had been leaked throughout the years. While Sioux does go into some detail regarding her relationships with certain cast members, namely her dance teacher, Abby Lee Miller, some fans may wish for a deeper behind-the-scenes tell-all. However, Sioux’s focus isn’t gossip — it’s growth.
The structure of the book feels more episodic, a collection of reflections rather than a deeper, cohesive narrative arc. The book keeps a fluid timeline, beginning with Sioux’s family life, then moving to her time at her dance studio and the show and finally rounding out where Sioux has landed since “Dance Moms” ended.
Sioux makes it clear in the beginning of the book that she had wanted to tell her story in her own way, in her own time. She even rejected an offer to be a part of a “Dance Moms” reunion show in 2023.
“… just the thought of being among many of my former castmates made me sick with anxiety,” Sioux wrote. “I didn’t trust them or some of the producers. Production had seven years to turn my narrative around and failed to do so. This was my time to put my foot down and show them they didn’t own or control me.”
By the final chapters of the book, Sioux’s transformation feels as complete as it can be, considering she still has so much more to look forward to in the future. She set out to reclaim and tell her story in her own words, and she did just that.
“My healing journey is part of the reason why I decided to write this book,” she wrote. “For a long time, I was too afraid to tell my side of things because I was broken and unsure of how people would perceive me. However, with the work I’ve done on myself, I feel I can finally let go and have the guts to talk about my experience.”
