Bottom of the Pyramid: A Memoir of Persevering, Dancing for Myself, and Starring in My Own Life

by Nia Sioux

From my earliest memory I was always frightened of Abby Lee Miller. Imagine being a little kid and walking into the studio. Abby is sitting at the front desk, filling the space with her tremendous presence. She is not what most people would envision when they think of a dance teacher. In fact, you’ve rarely ever seen Abby dance—just choreograph and teach. She is loud, big, and usually draped in black. She is intimidating, scary, and likes to yell. You’d hope Abby wouldn’t be there, especially if you were late.

Rather than send us flying out the door, however, her being hard on us had the opposite effect of bringing us together. We saw her harshness as a form of tough love and became a tight-knit group because of it.

Interestingly, the program was easier on my mental and emotional health. There were no teachers yelling at me or disregarding my worth. I felt valued by the people who pushed me, and because I felt valued, I knew I was capable of so much more. That was one of the first times I realized the power of a teacher.

While my dance technique had regressed during my absence and recovery, the other girls had advanced. I was playing a cruel game of catch-up on a visual stage, and there was a lot to learn.

Over time those comments started to impact me. Little by little, my light was dimmed.

I knew my potential even if others did not see it.

you were on the bottom of the pyramid, you still had to show up for work, but your role was more as background and supporting cast than a potential future star. Your presence was needed but not necessarily valued.

So when people say their experiences at the ALDC were different from mine, I think it’s because they were not an OG. They didn’t know what it was like to grow up with Abby. And most of them didn’t know what it was like to be Black around Abby either.

Moms complained to production, and production told the moms to complain to Abby, and then they would capture it on camera. It was a vicious cycle.

many of the new cast members were fans of Abby’s, so they were not critical of her teaching methods and would not hold her accountable for her behavior.

can only control myself; I cannot control the actions of others.

Somehow Abby’s pyramid turned into America’s pyramid,

As long as you still have life to live, you can change your circumstances.

You didn’t come this far just to get this far. You still have so much more to do, so much further to go.