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Bottom of the Pyramid: A Memoir of Persevering, Dancing for Myself, and Starring in My Own Life
When you’ve been told over and over that you belong at the bottom, how do you come out on top? Dance Moms star and triple threat Nia Sioux shows the way via her story of resilience, triumph, and defining success for herself.
Young dancer Nia Sioux was only nine years old when she stepped into stardom as one of the original cast members of Lifetime’s reality TV show Dance Moms. Nia learned new choreography week after week and competed against dancers from across the country as well as at her own studio. Perhaps her greatest obstacle was suffering through her dance teacher’s ranking of the girls against each other in her infamous pyramid, where Nia spent the majority of her time on the bottom—all in front of an audience of millions.
But there was much that viewers didn’t see. How her experiences in the studio went far beyond what made it into the show. How she was ostracized for not fitting into an aesthetic that wasn’t designed for girls like her. How her friendships and her mental health crumbled under the strain of the show. How she lost control of her story and her voice.
But don’t be fooled—this is a story about resilience. Nia is not looking for pity, sympathy, or validation as she reflects on her experiences. Instead, she is choosing to use her story as a celebration of triumph. Nia finally gets to tell her story in her own way and in her own words. In this captivating memoir, Nia reclaims both the spotlight and her narrative.
In addition to going behind the scenes of the seven seasons of Dance Moms, she shows how she fought against the negative perceptions that dominated her tween and teen years and emerged as a confident young woman secure in her talents and her direction. Anyone who has ever felt misunderstood, overlooked, or stuck at the bottom of the pyramid will be inspired by Nia’s story of overcoming. “Despite barriers and constant naysayers, assumptions and criticisms, only you know who you are inside and out,” Nia says. “And you have the power to create your own narrative, your own level of success.”
Young dancer Nia Sioux was only nine years old when she stepped into stardom as one of the original cast members of Lifetime’s reality TV show Dance Moms. Nia learned new choreography week after week and competed against dancers from across the country as well as at her own studio. Perhaps her greatest obstacle was suffering through her dance teacher’s ranking of the girls against each other in her infamous pyramid, where Nia spent the majority of her time on the bottom—all in front of an audience of millions.
But there was much that viewers didn’t see. How her experiences in the studio went far beyond what made it into the show. How she was ostracized for not fitting into an aesthetic that wasn’t designed for girls like her. How her friendships and her mental health crumbled under the strain of the show. How she lost control of her story and her voice.
But don’t be fooled—this is a story about resilience. Nia is not looking for pity, sympathy, or validation as she reflects on her experiences. Instead, she is choosing to use her story as a celebration of triumph. Nia finally gets to tell her story in her own way and in her own words. In this captivating memoir, Nia reclaims both the spotlight and her narrative.
In addition to going behind the scenes of the seven seasons of Dance Moms, she shows how she fought against the negative perceptions that dominated her tween and teen years and emerged as a confident young woman secure in her talents and her direction. Anyone who has ever felt misunderstood, overlooked, or stuck at the bottom of the pyramid will be inspired by Nia’s story of overcoming. “Despite barriers and constant naysayers, assumptions and criticisms, only you know who you are inside and out,” Nia says. “And you have the power to create your own narrative, your own level of success.”
256 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 4, 2025
1744 people are currently reading
8065 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,554 reviews
September 30, 2025
okay so this is like a 3.75?? i think because there are a lot of anecdotes that help this book serve as an important primary source for anyone interested in dance moms or television or the racism that black women face in media, i can't judge this book solely on the quality of it's writing. the content balances out nia's unfortunately juvenile cadence, narrative structure, and syntax, so while bottom of the pyramid can start to repetitively drag at times because of her lack of literary practice, it isn't like the book is terrible slop. the best way i can think to describe it is that if feels like a bunch of different college application essays put back-to-back—events are a bit too patched together to feel truly linear, but the vignettes are vivid enough to hold things down and keep you going.
all that said, abby lee miller really is an even eviler person than we all thought and the fact that essentially kid from dance moms ended up relatively well adjusted is absolutely wild to me. nia is a far more forgiving person than i would ever consider being coming out of this situation (though, not to abby, which is the correct decision). she dealt with racial aggression on a daily basis for like 15 fucking years (pre-dating the show in many incidents) from almost everyone she interacted with. idk if she would still be friends with a lot of these people if they weren't trauma-bonded from their experience on this nightmare reality child abuse vehicle. at the end of the day, this is probably going to be the only decent account of dance moms we'll be betting for a long time, specifically because nia suffered such specific emotional terrorism at the behest of lifetime's producers and america's lack of real child labor laws (and sag-aftra's lack of protections for reality tv stars).
idk how we can make anything close to dance moms illegal but if going to the dnc is so cool we should focus on lobbying for children being protected in the media next
all that said, abby lee miller really is an even eviler person than we all thought and the fact that essentially kid from dance moms ended up relatively well adjusted is absolutely wild to me. nia is a far more forgiving person than i would ever consider being coming out of this situation (though, not to abby, which is the correct decision). she dealt with racial aggression on a daily basis for like 15 fucking years (pre-dating the show in many incidents) from almost everyone she interacted with. idk if she would still be friends with a lot of these people if they weren't trauma-bonded from their experience on this nightmare reality child abuse vehicle. at the end of the day, this is probably going to be the only decent account of dance moms we'll be betting for a long time, specifically because nia suffered such specific emotional terrorism at the behest of lifetime's producers and america's lack of real child labor laws (and sag-aftra's lack of protections for reality tv stars).
idk how we can make anything close to dance moms illegal but if going to the dnc is so cool we should focus on lobbying for children being protected in the media next
Want to read
May 9, 2025Out of all the girls that could write about their experience on Dance Moms, Nia is the one I want to hear from the most! Very much anticipating this.
Want to read
May 14, 2025I am SAT
November 5, 2025
If there was any cast member on Dance Moms that I wanted a memoir from it’s Nia. As the only consistent Black dancer on the cast for seven seasons and a highly overlooked talent by both the network and Abby, Nia’s arch on the show always felt unfinished and misrepresented. Nia’s story is a powerful testament to the effects of racism, childhood trauma, and growing up in the entertainment industry.
Despite the interesting source material, one can’t help but notice that the writing in this memoir is juvenile. You can easily tell this book was written by a girl in her 20s for the better and for the worse. The storylines and themes often feel repetitive, rather than as motifs for thorough analysis and reflection. Perhaps this memoir would have been best served another decade down the road…
Despite the interesting source material, one can’t help but notice that the writing in this memoir is juvenile. You can easily tell this book was written by a girl in her 20s for the better and for the worse. The storylines and themes often feel repetitive, rather than as motifs for thorough analysis and reflection. Perhaps this memoir would have been best served another decade down the road…
November 10, 2025
empathises everything i already knew to be true, but with evidentiary support. f abby lee miller. love this!
November 7, 2025
3.5 ⭐️
Moral of the story is Abbey Lee Miller is a racist evil POS. But we been knew that. The first half of this book I thought was great. The end though…. It’s clear this is her first book. It ended up feeling very preachy and a watered down regurgitation of what I’m sure her therapy sessions sound like. The vignettes of certain moments from her youth were by far the most engaging part of the story. It was revealing and raw. Outside of that though, each chapter felt like college application essays strung together. There wasn’t really a clear enough through line to the broader story outside of her time on Dance Moms. I’m so here for Nia holding all the people on the show’s racist actions accountable. I think I just wish she delved more into the implications of those moments rather than just exposing that they happened. It was interesting and informative, but felt like a first draft.
Moral of the story is Abbey Lee Miller is a racist evil POS. But we been knew that. The first half of this book I thought was great. The end though…. It’s clear this is her first book. It ended up feeling very preachy and a watered down regurgitation of what I’m sure her therapy sessions sound like. The vignettes of certain moments from her youth were by far the most engaging part of the story. It was revealing and raw. Outside of that though, each chapter felt like college application essays strung together. There wasn’t really a clear enough through line to the broader story outside of her time on Dance Moms. I’m so here for Nia holding all the people on the show’s racist actions accountable. I think I just wish she delved more into the implications of those moments rather than just exposing that they happened. It was interesting and informative, but felt like a first draft.
November 11, 2025
Was so excited to read this, but objectively, this was one of the weaker memoirs I've read.
As a Dance Moms fan, one of my critiques would have to be the instances in the book where Nia maintains certain TV-realities, which have since been widely regarded as false or manufactured, to be true. Like when she writes that the competitions were always 100% real even when they switched to invitationals...but between Kendall beating Brynn's TDA solo and other red flags like production allegedly pulling random kids on stage for awards because so little routines were competing, most fans acknowledge that the later competitions were no longer of the same caliber as real dance competitions.
Another example in the book is when the Joffrey Ballet School in NYC is referred to as "one of the most prestigious dance schools in the world." However, this is incorrect; the Joffrey Ballet in Chicago is the world-renowned company and has no relation to the school in New York featured on the show, which doesn't have the same reputation.
I think this book needed a bit more time to brew, as it appears Nia still has more to come to terms with about how manufactured the show really was (at the expense of so many girls and their families).
On that note, I really do think this memoir came too soon. I appreciate that the book did not seem to be ghostwritten, which is why I have not read books from the other Dance Moms girls, but it certainly could have benefitted from some more structure, editing, and further maturity.
There are a few parts of the book I'm not sure would have been included if we were hearing from a woman in her thirties rather than one in her early/mid twenties. The parts that come to mind are:
- When Nia agrees that viewers were trained/brainwashed to only watch Maddie and think highly of her. She then explains how Abby made this happen. I found this to be a bit odd since Abby hated Chloe and tried to put her down in the viewers' eyes constantly, but Chloe was a fan favorite since season one.
- She also goes on to write that it seemed like the cast was brainwashed when she was not selected for a trio.
- When she explains that she doesn't want to throw anyone under the bus and appreciates how the OGs haven't aired out each other's dirty laundry, but proceeds to include a couple memories about specific girls that didn't seem necessary to sharing her story and experiences.
- The excuses made on behalf of her parents as opposed to admission that mistakes were made. Nia's appreciation for her mom being strong and supportive of her throughout the situation can coexist with the fact that a child should not have been in that situation. The last bit about advocacy in politics would have been a great spot to advocate for kids in the entertainment industry.
Some of the most eye-opening and brave portions of the memoir were about Nia's experience often being the only Black girl. She goes into detail about micro-aggressions, racism, and exclusion, but backpedals at times and writes that the exclusion (among friends) could have just been because she liked "younger" things like stuffed animals and cartoons (and easily bonded with a younger girl) or because cliques formed between girls who were put in duets and trios together often.
To finish this out, Dance Moms fans reading this memoir likely won't learn much they didn't already know. There were even a couple scenes from the show summarized in the book where a few details were left out, leaving quotes up for misinterpretation. For example, when the story about Abby asking Nia's mom if she had an afro wig is told, the book leaves out how Abby was asking to see if she still had an afro wig from a previous dance (My Hair Looks Fierce, which is actually referenced in the book) and instead implies that Abby was only asking because she assumed all Black women would have one. I'm certainly not implying that Abby was not actually as bad as Nia and so many other of her victims say she was - only that if you're a Dance Moms fan with a lot of BTS knowledge of the show, you may be taken out of the reading experience by a couple inaccuracies.
As a Dance Moms fan, one of my critiques would have to be the instances in the book where Nia maintains certain TV-realities, which have since been widely regarded as false or manufactured, to be true. Like when she writes that the competitions were always 100% real even when they switched to invitationals...but between Kendall beating Brynn's TDA solo and other red flags like production allegedly pulling random kids on stage for awards because so little routines were competing, most fans acknowledge that the later competitions were no longer of the same caliber as real dance competitions.
Another example in the book is when the Joffrey Ballet School in NYC is referred to as "one of the most prestigious dance schools in the world." However, this is incorrect; the Joffrey Ballet in Chicago is the world-renowned company and has no relation to the school in New York featured on the show, which doesn't have the same reputation.
I think this book needed a bit more time to brew, as it appears Nia still has more to come to terms with about how manufactured the show really was (at the expense of so many girls and their families).
On that note, I really do think this memoir came too soon. I appreciate that the book did not seem to be ghostwritten, which is why I have not read books from the other Dance Moms girls, but it certainly could have benefitted from some more structure, editing, and further maturity.
There are a few parts of the book I'm not sure would have been included if we were hearing from a woman in her thirties rather than one in her early/mid twenties. The parts that come to mind are:
- When Nia agrees that viewers were trained/brainwashed to only watch Maddie and think highly of her. She then explains how Abby made this happen. I found this to be a bit odd since Abby hated Chloe and tried to put her down in the viewers' eyes constantly, but Chloe was a fan favorite since season one.
- She also goes on to write that it seemed like the cast was brainwashed when she was not selected for a trio.
- When she explains that she doesn't want to throw anyone under the bus and appreciates how the OGs haven't aired out each other's dirty laundry, but proceeds to include a couple memories about specific girls that didn't seem necessary to sharing her story and experiences.
- The excuses made on behalf of her parents as opposed to admission that mistakes were made. Nia's appreciation for her mom being strong and supportive of her throughout the situation can coexist with the fact that a child should not have been in that situation. The last bit about advocacy in politics would have been a great spot to advocate for kids in the entertainment industry.
Some of the most eye-opening and brave portions of the memoir were about Nia's experience often being the only Black girl. She goes into detail about micro-aggressions, racism, and exclusion, but backpedals at times and writes that the exclusion (among friends) could have just been because she liked "younger" things like stuffed animals and cartoons (and easily bonded with a younger girl) or because cliques formed between girls who were put in duets and trios together often.
To finish this out, Dance Moms fans reading this memoir likely won't learn much they didn't already know. There were even a couple scenes from the show summarized in the book where a few details were left out, leaving quotes up for misinterpretation. For example, when the story about Abby asking Nia's mom if she had an afro wig is told, the book leaves out how Abby was asking to see if she still had an afro wig from a previous dance (My Hair Looks Fierce, which is actually referenced in the book) and instead implies that Abby was only asking because she assumed all Black women would have one. I'm certainly not implying that Abby was not actually as bad as Nia and so many other of her victims say she was - only that if you're a Dance Moms fan with a lot of BTS knowledge of the show, you may be taken out of the reading experience by a couple inaccuracies.
November 16, 2025
Abby Lee Miller, they can NEVER make me like you.
November 6, 2025
Didn't like the writing style
It read like a college essay, it didn't feel personal at all. It wasn't very organized in the way it was told and I just didn't care for the way it was written. It didn't make you feel engaged in the story at all and for a memoir, I thought it would be more detailed.
It read like a college essay, it didn't feel personal at all. It wasn't very organized in the way it was told and I just didn't care for the way it was written. It didn't make you feel engaged in the story at all and for a memoir, I thought it would be more detailed.
November 11, 2025
The anticipation is REAL!! The title eats down!
This is a well deserved moment for Nia and as a fan of the show, I am so tremendously proud of her. For becoming great despite the negativity shown to her, for standing firm in who she is and WHOSE she is, and for telling this truth as an adult who has overcome and, hopefully, healed from that toxic environment.
She never gave bottom of the pyramid but look who’s on top now!
UPDATE: I finished the book in one day. I cried! The flashbacks of the episodes played in my mind as Nia retold them and I got chills. I didn’t like certain moments when they aired and I don’t like the moments/people even more after hearing further backstory. The mental abuse and mind games that were played for Nia and a few other girls on the show… I feel terrible. Although the views and ratings gave them more visibility and opportunities, I hate that the show did as much damage as it did. I’m glad they all found peace in their own ways, found inner strength and self-love, and circled back to meaningful friendships aside from the chaos.
Thank you, Nia, for sharing your most vulnerable thoughts with us. That ending broke my heart but was also a crucial piece of closure.
Aside from being a Dance Mom fan, I feel that the book only replayed episodes for the most part. I do appreciate the insight or spotlight on her POV from a racial standpoint and what her and her family endured throughout their time. It really showcased the magnitude of obstacles we face to stay on even playing field and/or to get ahead to a better life. The shame and disrespect Holly took on the chin to give her daughter joy… she’s the real MVP.
This is a well deserved moment for Nia and as a fan of the show, I am so tremendously proud of her. For becoming great despite the negativity shown to her, for standing firm in who she is and WHOSE she is, and for telling this truth as an adult who has overcome and, hopefully, healed from that toxic environment.
She never gave bottom of the pyramid but look who’s on top now!
UPDATE: I finished the book in one day. I cried! The flashbacks of the episodes played in my mind as Nia retold them and I got chills. I didn’t like certain moments when they aired and I don’t like the moments/people even more after hearing further backstory. The mental abuse and mind games that were played for Nia and a few other girls on the show… I feel terrible. Although the views and ratings gave them more visibility and opportunities, I hate that the show did as much damage as it did. I’m glad they all found peace in their own ways, found inner strength and self-love, and circled back to meaningful friendships aside from the chaos.
Thank you, Nia, for sharing your most vulnerable thoughts with us. That ending broke my heart but was also a crucial piece of closure.
Aside from being a Dance Mom fan, I feel that the book only replayed episodes for the most part. I do appreciate the insight or spotlight on her POV from a racial standpoint and what her and her family endured throughout their time. It really showcased the magnitude of obstacles we face to stay on even playing field and/or to get ahead to a better life. The shame and disrespect Holly took on the chin to give her daughter joy… she’s the real MVP.
November 26, 2025
4⭐️ i was obsessed with Dance Moms as a kid, and now I see it for what it truly was. Nia was so strong and intelligent in this book that I found it inspiring. Such an incredible story to read about. The writing felt juvenile but I will let it pass since it’s a memoir.
November 6, 2025
I would rate this book at the bottom of the pyramid but that would be too ironic. This is a quick and underwhelming read that I would only recommend to obsessed dance mom fandom folks who fully understand the lore. The average reader without a Lifetime TV obsession can look away. However, I don’t throw out the book altogether.
Here’s the good parts: discourse on race and diversity in the ALDC studio and dance industry in general, inner relationships and exclusivity of the team, Nia’s background and upbringing, and a better understanding of the reality of child labor and reality TV.
But the bad: poorly organized, more of a soapbox than a memoir, non contextual in most parts, and has a voice that comes off as whiny in many sections. This might have been a great podcast or YouTube series, but it is not literature.
Also I believe any Dance Mom girl is entitled to tell their story and the trauma they went through, but at the end of the day, many of them stayed as long as they did simply for the monthly checks and the chance of fame. Nia stayed until the end, so obviously that was worth it to her. Not that it justifies any of the unfair experiences she endured, but she had a choice to weigh the pros and cons of leaving TV and dancing somewhere else and she chose to stay.
I’m glad she has peace and confidence and a happy ending, but I believe she should have invited a strong writer as a coauthor for this book if she wanted it to have more impact than coming off as another gimmick produced from the former Dance Moms clan clinging to remnants of fame.
Here’s the good parts: discourse on race and diversity in the ALDC studio and dance industry in general, inner relationships and exclusivity of the team, Nia’s background and upbringing, and a better understanding of the reality of child labor and reality TV.
But the bad: poorly organized, more of a soapbox than a memoir, non contextual in most parts, and has a voice that comes off as whiny in many sections. This might have been a great podcast or YouTube series, but it is not literature.
Also I believe any Dance Mom girl is entitled to tell their story and the trauma they went through, but at the end of the day, many of them stayed as long as they did simply for the monthly checks and the chance of fame. Nia stayed until the end, so obviously that was worth it to her. Not that it justifies any of the unfair experiences she endured, but she had a choice to weigh the pros and cons of leaving TV and dancing somewhere else and she chose to stay.
I’m glad she has peace and confidence and a happy ending, but I believe she should have invited a strong writer as a coauthor for this book if she wanted it to have more impact than coming off as another gimmick produced from the former Dance Moms clan clinging to remnants of fame.
November 25, 2025
Happy Nia was ready and able to tell her story! I enjoy the audiobook. Abby not naming her in her apology statement is crazy.
Read
November 8, 2025Yes I did have a Dance Moms fan account on Instagram in 2012, what about it?
November 9, 2025
Based on the story the book tells i wanna give it 5 stars. Nia deserves her healing journey and hearing her talk about her past and experiences was really important. What she’s been through needed to be said, people needed to be held accountable and her feelings are valid.
That said
The book as a book, i didnt like very much. I think in the writing of memories, she wrote what she knows know in hindsiggt. Looking back on it and how she felt then get twisted up a lot. I would have liked watching through 10 year old Nia’s eyes. Because in season 1-2 of dance moms she wouldn’t have understood the micro aggressions or the gaslighting. That’s something she surely knows now as a grown up/ been through therapy. I missed the evolution of her feelings.
Also, towards the ending it just felt like forced positivity, forced happy ending, just accolades on what she accomplished and how well she’s doing now, how well she worked through the trauma. Which realistically just isn’t possible she’s in her early 20s. Nothing is happy ending yet and while she deservers all the credits to her accomplishments i feel like it was just “and i did this and this and this” without much storytelling anymore.
I also kind of miss the parts of her living, not just rolling along with things being done to her. i mean it reads like “im a victim and this is my journey”. But it isn’t that easy? Like i miss the falling and getting up parts, the i argued with my mom on this parts, the i was so upset about my friends leaving me out so i lashed out parts. It just felt like the book was written with Nia just reacting to all things done to her (which were awful by the way) but I would have really enjoyed delving deeper in experiences and behaviour and “gods this was just frustrating”. Like not a polished version of events but things must have been awful, but they were written and fell a bit flat. While in the moment it would have been a storm inside her.
I agree with other reviews that for a memoir as a book it would have been better if she waited till she was older. But as a fan of dance moms i enjoyed her speaking her truth
So for Nia as a person: 5 stars
Nia as a writer: 2 stars
That said
The book as a book, i didnt like very much. I think in the writing of memories, she wrote what she knows know in hindsiggt. Looking back on it and how she felt then get twisted up a lot. I would have liked watching through 10 year old Nia’s eyes. Because in season 1-2 of dance moms she wouldn’t have understood the micro aggressions or the gaslighting. That’s something she surely knows now as a grown up/ been through therapy. I missed the evolution of her feelings.
Also, towards the ending it just felt like forced positivity, forced happy ending, just accolades on what she accomplished and how well she’s doing now, how well she worked through the trauma. Which realistically just isn’t possible she’s in her early 20s. Nothing is happy ending yet and while she deservers all the credits to her accomplishments i feel like it was just “and i did this and this and this” without much storytelling anymore.
I also kind of miss the parts of her living, not just rolling along with things being done to her. i mean it reads like “im a victim and this is my journey”. But it isn’t that easy? Like i miss the falling and getting up parts, the i argued with my mom on this parts, the i was so upset about my friends leaving me out so i lashed out parts. It just felt like the book was written with Nia just reacting to all things done to her (which were awful by the way) but I would have really enjoyed delving deeper in experiences and behaviour and “gods this was just frustrating”. Like not a polished version of events but things must have been awful, but they were written and fell a bit flat. While in the moment it would have been a storm inside her.
I agree with other reviews that for a memoir as a book it would have been better if she waited till she was older. But as a fan of dance moms i enjoyed her speaking her truth
So for Nia as a person: 5 stars
Nia as a writer: 2 stars
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November 10, 2025Abby Lee Miller when I catch you….
November 4, 2025
Never been so proud of a stranger!!!
I have been watching dance moms and in the shows zeitgeist for probably over 10 years, so this feels like a long time coming.
This book is so wise, so strong, and so powerful!!!!
Abby Lee miller needs to be locked up AGAIN. once wasn’t enough.
I have been watching dance moms and in the shows zeitgeist for probably over 10 years, so this feels like a long time coming.
This book is so wise, so strong, and so powerful!!!!
Abby Lee miller needs to be locked up AGAIN. once wasn’t enough.
November 2, 2025
Such a good book and one that broke my heart. I’m sorry Nia endured such racism at the hands of adults. But I believe she is going to make a difference in this life I really enjoyed reading it!
November 29, 2025
abby lee miller is truly the scum of the earth
November 6, 2025
"I realized that between the two of us, only my coach got to act like a child."
I am so glad I decided to pick Nia’s book up. Bottom of the Pyramid was an intriguing glimpse at going through your formative years with an adult you’re meant to trust to teach and support you, who doesn’t want to foster your success. This is essentially formative years with ALDC and Dance Moms through Nia Sioux’s eyes.
Her story starts with her love of dance and the goals she set for herself, moving through the struggles of health, favoritism in the dance studio, and complicated friendships/relationships, and ending with all of her accomplishments and hope for the future regardless of her past.
I loved this glimpse at her experiences with Abby and the ALDC, the other company girls, the competitions, the moms, and the bond all of these things helped (maybe unintentionally) make so much deeper with her own mother, Dr. Holly. I’ve seen some gripes about Nia talking about the other girls and she does, but it’s all her experience with them through her POV. She’s not speaking for them she’s speaking for herself.
All in all this was a great listen. I think Nia did a great job telling her story both pen to paper and narrating it. I loved their dance.
AVAILABLE NOW!
ARC
I am so glad I decided to pick Nia’s book up. Bottom of the Pyramid was an intriguing glimpse at going through your formative years with an adult you’re meant to trust to teach and support you, who doesn’t want to foster your success. This is essentially formative years with ALDC and Dance Moms through Nia Sioux’s eyes.
Her story starts with her love of dance and the goals she set for herself, moving through the struggles of health, favoritism in the dance studio, and complicated friendships/relationships, and ending with all of her accomplishments and hope for the future regardless of her past.
I loved this glimpse at her experiences with Abby and the ALDC, the other company girls, the competitions, the moms, and the bond all of these things helped (maybe unintentionally) make so much deeper with her own mother, Dr. Holly. I’ve seen some gripes about Nia talking about the other girls and she does, but it’s all her experience with them through her POV. She’s not speaking for them she’s speaking for herself.
All in all this was a great listen. I think Nia did a great job telling her story both pen to paper and narrating it. I loved their dance.
AVAILABLE NOW!
ARC
November 9, 2025
Bottom of the Pyramid, a Memoir written by Nia Sioux, follows the retelling of a young girl facing the monstrosities of being the only black girl on a nationally televised dance reality show. Along with her, follows her mom through these insanely tough years as they both faced the brunt of the viciousness of Abby Lee Miller, Nia's former dance coach. From microaggressions to being excluded from events and gatherings, Nia has faced a ton on the show and has now gotten to a place where she can tell her story.
Bottom of the Pyramid as a whole was something I knew I would be indulging in once it was released due to Nia being one of my favorite girls from the Lifetime reality television show, Dance Moms. I think for a first novel, Nia Sioux did a fantastic job of sharing her experiences in a way that was easy to read and digest, making this memoir very appealing to a wider audience than I initially had thought it would have! I think the writing style feels very straightforward yet nostalgic, it feels like something I would write. She did an amazing job sharing her experiences on and off the show in a way that felt authentic to her, while maintaining the boundaries she had set for herself and the public.
Even if you're not a watcher of the show, this novel shares some insight into how age, environment, and other factors play into the forming of one's behaviors and mental health, emphasizing and amplifying these things because we are following a young, black girl on television, who the world had grown up watching.
Bottom of the Pyramid as a whole was something I knew I would be indulging in once it was released due to Nia being one of my favorite girls from the Lifetime reality television show, Dance Moms. I think for a first novel, Nia Sioux did a fantastic job of sharing her experiences in a way that was easy to read and digest, making this memoir very appealing to a wider audience than I initially had thought it would have! I think the writing style feels very straightforward yet nostalgic, it feels like something I would write. She did an amazing job sharing her experiences on and off the show in a way that felt authentic to her, while maintaining the boundaries she had set for herself and the public.
Even if you're not a watcher of the show, this novel shares some insight into how age, environment, and other factors play into the forming of one's behaviors and mental health, emphasizing and amplifying these things because we are following a young, black girl on television, who the world had grown up watching.
November 23, 2025
After reading this book you definitely understand the extent of Nia's resume...
That's about it.
I think Nia definitely had a lot to say and this book could have been really interesting, but the way it was formatted was confusing and the tone was a little juvenile. Often, the book would have random time jumps without explanation which impeded clarity. For example, Nia talked about how much Abby disliked some of the dances she did with the Irreplaceables and talked about her new teacher before explaining what the Irreplaceables were. As a reader who has never seen the 7th season (yes, there are 7 seasons...) I was very confused and had to reread to figure out what was going on.
Nia didn't really employ different types of sentences in the book which often made reading monotonous. The way the book was written was very dry with very little discernable voice. Things that happened to Nia were described but not really addressed and so it was difficult to have much empathy, I guess?
As a viewer of the show I had a vested interest in Nia because I watched her grow up and wanted to hear her experience in her own words. But, honestly, the book was kind of dull. I think maybe the format of a book was not the right medium to tell this story as it often reads as a laundry list of grievances and/or achievements.
I think Nia does have a story worth telling but it doesn't come across well in this book. Maybe she should have lived a bit more life before writing a memoir.
That's about it.
I think Nia definitely had a lot to say and this book could have been really interesting, but the way it was formatted was confusing and the tone was a little juvenile. Often, the book would have random time jumps without explanation which impeded clarity. For example, Nia talked about how much Abby disliked some of the dances she did with the Irreplaceables and talked about her new teacher before explaining what the Irreplaceables were. As a reader who has never seen the 7th season (yes, there are 7 seasons...) I was very confused and had to reread to figure out what was going on.
Nia didn't really employ different types of sentences in the book which often made reading monotonous. The way the book was written was very dry with very little discernable voice. Things that happened to Nia were described but not really addressed and so it was difficult to have much empathy, I guess?
As a viewer of the show I had a vested interest in Nia because I watched her grow up and wanted to hear her experience in her own words. But, honestly, the book was kind of dull. I think maybe the format of a book was not the right medium to tell this story as it often reads as a laundry list of grievances and/or achievements.
I think Nia does have a story worth telling but it doesn't come across well in this book. Maybe she should have lived a bit more life before writing a memoir.
November 5, 2025
When young celebrities release memoirs, it often feels like either a. A cash grab or b. Written too soon for genuine reflection to take place. That being said, I had a feeling that Nia would be more insightful than that, and I was not disappointed! Rewatching episodes of dance moms as an adult, the overt racism and mistreatment of Nia becomes apparent. I was disheartened (but not surprised) to read that the behind the scenes behavior was even worse, especially by Abby. Reading of all that Nia had to endure makes me sad, but it also makes me even more impressed with all of her talent, work ethic and everything that she was able to accomplish on the show. I’m happy to hear about all of her fabulous achievements from her adult life as well.
Despite the best efforts from Abby, the producers and certain cast mates, I hope Nia knows that many of us always admired her dancing talent and never found her it to be “bottom of the pyramid” worthy. Thank you to Nia for sharing her story, I can’t wait to hear what you accomplish next!
Also side note the cover slays, 10/10!
Despite the best efforts from Abby, the producers and certain cast mates, I hope Nia knows that many of us always admired her dancing talent and never found her it to be “bottom of the pyramid” worthy. Thank you to Nia for sharing her story, I can’t wait to hear what you accomplish next!
Also side note the cover slays, 10/10!
October 14, 2025
Nia has grown into a beautiful woman. I can’t imagine what trauma writing this book could have brought back up for her.
From watching the show you can tell how toxic Abby was and that the girls went through things that a kid should never have to go through. But hearing from Nia’s experience and what was not shown on camera makes the situations even worse. I can’t believe some of the things that Nia reveals in this book!
I am so glad Nia talks about how her mom advocated for her. Like Nia says in the book, people are willing to do anything for fame (or in this case get on Abby’s good side) and they throw what’s right and sometimes morals out the window. Holly being there for Nia was huge!
The book talks a lot about the racism displayed in the show and how Nia was treated. I think this is an important aspect for Nia to talk about, but at times I felt through the writing, some parts became repetitive.
Also there is a chapter stating how she isn’t throwing any of the cast under the bus, but at some points, even after that chapter, it felt like it. In my opinion it’s absolutely fine to talk about your experience with the cast, but you can’t speak for them.
I like how the book ends highlighting Nia’s achievements, growths, and what gives her joy in her life.
If you read this Nia, you are the star in your life! You are talented and have so many great adventures ahead of you! Thank you for sharing your story.
From watching the show you can tell how toxic Abby was and that the girls went through things that a kid should never have to go through. But hearing from Nia’s experience and what was not shown on camera makes the situations even worse. I can’t believe some of the things that Nia reveals in this book!
I am so glad Nia talks about how her mom advocated for her. Like Nia says in the book, people are willing to do anything for fame (or in this case get on Abby’s good side) and they throw what’s right and sometimes morals out the window. Holly being there for Nia was huge!
The book talks a lot about the racism displayed in the show and how Nia was treated. I think this is an important aspect for Nia to talk about, but at times I felt through the writing, some parts became repetitive.
Also there is a chapter stating how she isn’t throwing any of the cast under the bus, but at some points, even after that chapter, it felt like it. In my opinion it’s absolutely fine to talk about your experience with the cast, but you can’t speak for them.
I like how the book ends highlighting Nia’s achievements, growths, and what gives her joy in her life.
If you read this Nia, you are the star in your life! You are talented and have so many great adventures ahead of you! Thank you for sharing your story.
November 18, 2025
It brings me great pain to give this book 1 star. I parasocially love Nia as a person, but I can't ignore that I had to listen to the last few chapters on 3.5x speed to finish.
The most sane girl from Dance Moms' memoir SHOULD be my mona lisa. Here's where I think it fell flat for me:
-It reads like a LinkedIn post: Girl was so knocked down on the show that it almost felt like this book was her proof to the world that she is successful. Most every story felt shallow because you can't be both infallible and vulnerable. It felt like a bunch of grand statements about how she is Good. Like how she spoke heroically of how she wanted to start a non-profit, but admitted she didn't know what it would be for. The type of things you would say as a kid just knowing you'd get brownie points for it. This general LinkedIn effect is worse in the audiobook, because she pauses. every few words. like she is delivering. an inspirational Ted Talk.
-There's no room for growth: All her memories are told through her current confident lens. This leads to it feeling like a disorganized collection of times Nia was right and misunderstood.
-Very little drama: Nia being a certifiably good person who takes the high road unfortunately works against her here. There's very few revelations about her relationships with the other girls and moms.
The most sane girl from Dance Moms' memoir SHOULD be my mona lisa. Here's where I think it fell flat for me:
-It reads like a LinkedIn post: Girl was so knocked down on the show that it almost felt like this book was her proof to the world that she is successful. Most every story felt shallow because you can't be both infallible and vulnerable. It felt like a bunch of grand statements about how she is Good. Like how she spoke heroically of how she wanted to start a non-profit, but admitted she didn't know what it would be for. The type of things you would say as a kid just knowing you'd get brownie points for it. This general LinkedIn effect is worse in the audiobook, because she pauses. every few words. like she is delivering. an inspirational Ted Talk.
-There's no room for growth: All her memories are told through her current confident lens. This leads to it feeling like a disorganized collection of times Nia was right and misunderstood.
-Very little drama: Nia being a certifiably good person who takes the high road unfortunately works against her here. There's very few revelations about her relationships with the other girls and moms.
November 14, 2025
the writing was very juvenile (which i expected, to be fair). i am honestly glad she’s told her story and exposed her reality, which so many viewers expected to be terrible, though not as cruel as nia has revealed.
i did stop reading at the point she got to praising genocidal joe and the rest of that evil administration + is the reason i’m leaving this as a one star.
i did stop reading at the point she got to praising genocidal joe and the rest of that evil administration + is the reason i’m leaving this as a one star.
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November 25, 2025❥- (I will not leave ratings on personalized books of someone’s life of any kind because that is inappropriate in my opinion.) I think it is beautiful that Nia was able to finally share her story after so many hard years and needing to heal. Even me and my family used to watch Dance Moms years ago when it first came out and it didn’t go unnoticed to us how awful of a person Abby was. I will say it’s beyond shocking to learn just HOW bad Abby was to Nia though. But again; it’s not surprising that production would cut the worst of the worst out. This book sets a beautiful example of what resilience looks like. Nia was able to not only complete her full lifetime contract for the show but go onto college, do some off broadway and acting, as well as be a big part of politics, voter advocacy, human and women’s rights.
November 6, 2025
Back to my audiobook lifestyle ✌️ this was a very quick read and very cool to hear Nia narrate her own book- this made me hate Abby Lee Miller even more than I had previously and like whyyyy did all those adults enable her behavior for so long 🙄🙄 poor Nia she did not deserve all the mistreatment she got on that show
November 4, 2025
5 FREAKING STARS. Nia was ALWAYS one of my favs and reading this made me remember why. Truly so inspirational.
Also, screw Abby Lee miller 🖕🏼
Also, screw Abby Lee miller 🖕🏼
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