Nia Sioux
Birth dateJune 20, 2001 (age 25)
Birth placePittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.
OccupationDancer · actress · singer · influencer
Years active2011–present

Nia Sioux Frazier (born June 20, 2001) is an American actress, singer, social media influencer and dancer. She initially gained attention for appearing on the Lifetime reality television series Dance Moms from 2011 to 2017. Following the series, Sioux has appeared in various acting projects including portraying Emma Barber on the CBS soap opera The Bold and the Beautiful and appearances in various off-Broadway stage productions. Sioux has also released various singles, as well as publishing a memoir, Bottom of the Pyramid (2024).

Early and personal life

Nia Sioux Frazier was born on June 20, 2001.[1][2] She was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to Holly and Evan Frazier, and has two brothers.[3] As a young child, she began training in dance at the Abby Lee Dance Company.[4] Whilst continuing her professional projects, Sioux studied American Literature and Culture at the University of California (UCLA), graduating in 2024.[5]

Career

Aged nine, Sioux was cast alongside her mother on the Lifetime reality television series Dance Moms.[3] Her parents were hesitant for her to appear on the series since they worked full-time and were caring for three children. They also did not believe Dance Moms would amount to much and liked to stay away from drama.[3] The beginning of each episode typically featured dance coach Abby Lee Miller unveiling her personal ranking of the dancers on her competition team, known as the "pyramid". Sioux became known for usually being ranked at the bottom of the pyramid and being given less solos and opportunities than other cast members.[3] She appeared in seven seasons of Dance Moms from 2011 to 2017, with Sioux and her mother becoming the longest-serving cast members.[6] Sioux pursued music alongside dance whilst appearing on the series, notably releasing singles including "Star in Your Own Life" and "Slay", the latter of which featured Coco Jones.[7]

In 2016, Sioux appeared as a dancer in the off-Broadway production Trip of Love.[8] Following leaving Dance Moms in 2017, Sioux joined the cast of the CBS soap opera The Bold and the Beautiful.[9] She was cast in the regular role of Emma Barber and appeared from 2018 to 2019.[10] Also in 2018, she appeared as a correspondent for NBC at the Winter Olympics in South Korea, as well as making her film debut in Runnin' From My Roots.[8] Then from 2019 to 2020, she starred in Brat TV's Sunnyside Up.[11] 2021 saw Sioux star in the drama film Imperfect High, as well as The Code.[12][13]

In 2024, Sioux appeared in a string of films including musical Mean Girls, The Lies I Tell Myself and thriller The Lady of the Lake: The Legend of Lake Ronkonkoma, as well as starring in Saving Nora, a miniseries.[14][15][16] Also in 2024, Sioux published a memoir titled Bottom of the Pyramid, which she wrote whilst in her junior year at UCLA.[17] The memoir details her experiences on Dance Moms, particularly with Miller, whom she alleges she had various racist encounters with.[18] She then appeared as a dancer in Shuffle of Love: A Descendants Short Story (2025).[19] 2026 saw Sioux return to the stage in the off-Broadway production of 11 to Midnight.[20]

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
2018Runnin' From My RootsZoe Whitfield
2020Zombies 2: The CollabWillaShort film
2021Imperfect HighHanna Brooks
2021The CodeSonitas
2024Mean GirlsSocial Media Friend
2024The Lies I Tell MyselfAlly
2024The Lady of the Lake: The Legend of Lake RonkonkomaJamie Schultz
2025Shuffle of Love: A Descendants Short StoryDancerShort film

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
2011–2017Dance MomsHerselfMain cast
2018–2019The Bold and the BeautifulEmma BarberRegular role
2019The JoJo & BowBow Show ShowKyra / Hamela (voice)Recurring roles
2019–2020Sunnyside UpLily McKayMain role
2024Saving NoraNora SmithMain role

Discography

Singles

List of singles as lead artist, showing year released
TitleYearAlbum
"Star in Your Own Life"2015rowspan="3"
"Slay"
(featuring Coco Jones)
"Down"2016
"DJ Fav"High Strung
"Winner"rowspan="7"
"Dance (Just Rock)"2017
"You Don't Really Wanna"
"Lose My Mind"2019
"Girl Code"
"Low Key Love"2020
"Imma Catch"
(with Jake Clark)		2024

Stage

YearTitleRoleVenue
2016Trip of LoveDancerStage 42[21]
202611 to MidnightDancerOrpheum Theatre[22]

Bibliography

  • Bottom of the Pyramid. Harper Horizon. November 4, 2025. ISBN 978-1400253043.

References

  1. ^ Caporimo, Alison. "7 Fun Facts About Nia Sioux That'll Make You Love Her Even More". Seventeen. Retrieved May 26, 2026.
  2. ^ Clark, Tanya. "Emma Barber on The Bold and the Beautiful is played by Dance Moms star Nia Sioux!". Monsters & Critics. Retrieved May 26, 2026.
  3. ^ "Nia Sioux is finally ready to talk about Abby Lee Miller and racism on 'Dance Moms'". USA Today. Archived October 31, 2025 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved May 26, 2026.
  4. ^ Kaur, Brahmjot. "Dance Moms' Nia Sioux Reveals Why She Skipped Their Reunion". E! News. Retrieved May 26, 2026.
  5. ^ Grossbart, Sarah. "Where Nia Sioux Stands With Her Dance Moms Costars After Skipping Reunion". E! News. Retrieved May 26, 2026.
  6. ^ Miller, Brittany. "Dance Moms star Nia Sioux responds to fans criticizing her mom for keeping her on the show despite mistreatment". The Independent. Archived November 4, 2025 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved May 26, 2026.
  7. ^ Bhat, Tanisha. "'Dance Moms' Star Nia Sioux Claims Abby Lee Miller Tried to Bribe Mentor Aubrey O'Day $10,000 Not to Work with Her: New Memoir". People.com. Archived November 11, 2025 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved May 26, 2026.
  8. ^ "Dance Moms stars who went on to launch successful careers". Nine.com. Retrieved May 26, 2026.
  9. ^ Rice, Lynette. "'Dance Moms' star Nia Sioux joins 'The Bold and the Beautiful' as series regular". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved May 26, 2026.
  10. ^ Eades, Chris. "Skip to content Menu Soap Opera Digest Games Newsletters Login CHECK IT OUT Who Was Emma on Bold and Beautiful?". Soap Opera Digest. Retrieved May 26, 2026.
  11. ^ Hipes, Patrick. "Brat TV Winter Slate Includes New Series 'Sunnyside Up' Starring 'Dance Moms' Alum Nia Sioux". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved May 26, 2026.
  12. ^ Butler, Karen. "Sherri Shepherd, Nia Sioux land leads in Lifetime's 'Imperfect High'". United Press International. Retrieved May 26, 2026.
  13. ^ N'Duka, Amanda. "Nash Grier, 'Dance Moms' Nia Sioux, D'Ambrosio Twins, & Nina Kiri To Star In Indie Film 'The Code'". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved May 26, 2026.
  14. ^ Eileen, Flaherty. "Nia Sioux Has A Cameo In The 'Mean Girls' Musical Movie & I'm Freaking TF Out". Her Campus. Retrieved May 26, 2026.
  15. ^ Hansen, Renee. "Walking Dead’s Seth Gilliam cast in The Legend of Lake Ronkonkoma". Undead Walking. Retrieved May 26, 2026.
  16. ^ Gordon, Jason. "From 'Dance Moms' to resilient voice: Nia Sioux reclaims her power". Uptown. Retrieved May 26, 2026.
  17. ^ Bhat, Tanisha. "Nia Sioux Reveals the Truth About Her Fallout with Abby Lee Miller in New Memoir, Bottom of the Pyramid (Exclusive)". People.com. Archived November 13, 2025 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved May 26, 2026.
  18. ^ Ellis, Maddie. "Nia Sioux Calls Memoir 'Bottom of the Pyramid' A 'Diary': 'Like Reading Your Life'". Today.com. Retrieved May 26, 2026.
  19. ^ "First Look At Disney's "Shuffle Of Love: A Descendants Short Story"". What's on Disney Plus. Archived September 14, 2025 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved May 26, 2026.
  20. ^ Culwell-Block, Logan. "Dance Moms' Nia Sioux Will Join 11 to Midnight Off-Broadway". Playbill. Retrieved May 26, 2026.
  21. ^ Clement, Olivia. "Dance Moms' Nia Sioux Joins Trip of Love Tonight". Playbill. Archived October 18, 2021 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved May 26, 2026.
  22. ^ Russo, Gillian. "'Dance Moms' star Nia Sioux to join '11 to Midnight' Off-Broadway cast". New York Theatre Guide. Retrieved May 26, 2026.