The notorious clashes among the Dance Moms cast have been dismissed as mere theatrics by some former participants. However, Nia Sioux’s newly released memoir reveals that the intense rivalries and disputes during the show’s production were very real and persist to this day.

For those doubting the authenticity of these claims, Cathy Nesbitt-Stein, a fellow alum, has openly declined to even glance at Sioux’s latest literary work.

Sioux’s decision to skip a Dance Moms reunion, attended by personalities like Jojo Siwa last year, adds fuel to the fire of her shocking disclosures, potentially igniting fresh conflicts within the group.

In her memoir, “Bottom Of The Pyramid,” Sioux unveils startling accusations against Abby Lee Miller, the infamous coach and perceived antagonist of the series, notorious for her numerous altercations with both the young dancers and their mothers, such as Maddie and Mackenzie Ziegler, and Brooke and Paige Hyland.

Now in their twenties, these dancers have openly criticized the show’s ‘toxic’ atmosphere, condemning Miller’s harsh instructional tactics, which often involved verbal abuse, as well as the psychological and emotional manipulation employed to heighten the drama on the popular Lifetime series.

Now, Sioux, who was on the show for seven years from 2011 to 2017, has accused Miller, 60, of making racial remarks toward her, allegedly telling her ‘your people have flat feet’, and that she wished the young dancer had ‘white-girl hair’.

Sioux, 24, also claims that several of her solo routines had ‘racial undertones’, including one titled ‘Nattie of the Jungle’ which was about a child raised by monkeys.

Nia Sioux (pictured in October) has revealed new bombshells about her experience on Lifetime’s Dance Moms in her new book, Bottom of the Pyramid

The dancer alleged Abby Lee Miller (pictured during filming), head coach and the show’s villain, made racial remarks toward her, including allegedly telling Sioux she wished she had ‘white-girl hair’

The native of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, also alleges that producers protected Miller at the time because the show ‘was huge and she made really good TV.’

But though Sioux’ bombshell allegation threaten to tear open old wounds, some moms are refusing to be dragged back into what they see as that dark period of their lives.

Cathy Nesbitt-Stein, the mother of dancer Vivi-Anne, has vowed not to read the book and expressed her resentment in an exclusive interview with the Daily Mail.

As fans of the show are aware, Stein, 66, and Nia Sioux had several confrontations on the show due to Stein’s Candy Apples Dance Center being a fierce rival of the Abby Lee Dance Company.

‘I don’t have any interest in that book,’ Stein told the Daily Mail. ‘Well, I mean, I think all of us at one point or another have said we lived it, so we clearly don’t need to reinforce what we experienced by reading books.’

When asked about allegedly racist remarks made by Miller, Stein – who was on the show for six seasons with her daughter – said: ‘I haven’t paid any attention to those comments. I mean, I’m being perfectly honest – if it pops up on my Instagram or my Facebook or whatever, I am scrolling [past]. I’m not stopping to look at it, digest it or anything.’

Despite alleging she is not aware of the claims Sioux has made, Stein said that she doesn’t share ‘any bitter thoughts towards Abby’, as she doesn’t ‘feel like living in the past’.

Cathy Nesbitt-Stein told the Daily Mail that she won’t be reading Sioux’s book: ‘I think all of us at one point or another have said we lived it, so we clearly don’t need to reinforce what we experience by reading books’ (Stein is pictured above with daughter Vivi-Anne)

Stein (pictured) had several confrontations on the show with Miller and Sioux due to her Candy Apples Dance Center being Abby Lee Dance Company’s rival

The girls, who are now in their 20s, have previously spoken out about what they claim is the show’s ‘toxic’ environment and Miller’s strict teaching style (dancers and Miller pictured in 2015 at the Kids’ Choice Awards)

The reunion stars original cast members Brooke Hyland, 26, Paige Hyland and Kalani Hilliker, both 23, Chloe Lukasiak, 22, Kendall Vertes, 21, and Jojo Siwa 20

Stein reconciled with Miller four years ago when she was asked to be part of the choreographer’s podcast, Leave It On The Dance Floor.

‘Abby and I were pitted against each other to be our nemeses, and that’s the role that we played… We are no longer the enemies that we were pitted to be. I mean, we had roles to play,’ Stein said.

Given that the studio owner is still based in Ohio, she said she doesn’t remain in touch with the other moms.

‘I mean, they don’t invite me to Thanksgiving dinner, but I’ve been on Christi [Lukasiak] and Kelly [Hyland’s] podcast. I’ve been on Melissa [Gisoni’s] podcast when she had something that she was doing solo,’ she told the Daily Mail. ‘So, occasionally they’ll reach out, but we live different lives. They don’t live around me.’

She also said that when it comes to stars like JoJo Siwa and Maddie and Mackenzie Ziegler, whose careers have skyrocketed since starring on the show, she has no contact. ‘We don’t deal with them. We don’t talk to the kids, so I wouldn’t have a clue as to whether or not anybody’s upset with anybody else’s success,’ she said.

Dance Moms was on the air for eight seasons from July 2011 until September 2019. During the Covid pandemic, there was a resurgence in its popularity, with fans of the show rewatching past episodes as well as a new audience diving in.

With the show in the spotlight once again, Sioux dropped her bombshell memoir on November 4 – a project she revealed was secretly in the works for years.

Stein claimed that she and Miller (seated) were ‘pitted against each other to be nemesis’ since they ‘had roles to play.’ The pair have since reconciled and are on good terms 

Miller (center left) remains close to only a few stars and their moms, while others like Maddie and Mackenzie Ziegler, and Brooke and Paige Hyland have cut off contact (cast members pictured in 2014)

Dance Moms, which aired July 2011 until September 2019, featured stars (from left to right) Kendall Vertes, Kalani Hilliker, JoJo Siwa and Maddie Ziegler

Reflecting on the writing process, Sioux told the Daily Mail that it was ‘difficult to confront those feelings and to feel them again’ and even rewatch some episodes, because she didn’t ‘want to open this wound again’.

‘I still never really had closure with the show in that way. I never shared what I really went through with anybody,’ she revealed.

‘So, it was important to go back to those moments, as uncomfortable as they may have been, because I deserve to share my side of things. I was knocked down so many times, but at the end of the day, I would keep getting back up.

‘I would keep going. I wouldn’t let someone else bully me or dictate my life. As hard as things got, I never quit.’

She said that now, as an adult herself, ‘seeing how some of the adults in the situations would handle certain things or say certain things, especially to children, I just could not ever imagine doing those things.’

Sioux also told the Daily Mail that she does not keep in contact with her former head coach, and has ‘no idea’ whether Miller will be reaching out regarding her memoir.

Sioux has talked about not being as close to the other stars, especially after publicly stating she didn’t want to be part of the Dance Moms 2024 reunion, which brought back original cast members Siwa, Chloe Lukasiak, the Hylands, Kendall Vertes and Kalani Hilliker to rehash drama and memories from the show.

Some of the stars from the show reunited for a Dance Moms Reunion special in 2024 (pictured)

JoJo Siwa (left), who was part of the reunion taping, has remained on good terms with most of the cast, including Miller (Siwa pictured with Kalani)

Sioux (pictured) did not take part in the Dance Moms reunion, and, instead, came out with her book on November 4 to share her side of the story

‘I talked to a couple of people here and there, but it’s mostly Chloe. She’s been so supportive throughout this whole [book process],’ Sioux said. ‘I really appreciate her support throughout all of this because it’s not easy doing this [without] people from the show rallying behind you.’

Jeanette Cota, the mom of Ava Cota, who had a recurring role on the show for seasons four through seven, told the Daily Mail that she is ‘super proud of Nia for being so courageous to come out and speak the truth’.

Jeanette also said that some of what she has read about in the book does not come as a shock to her.

‘Does it surprise me? No. Did I witness anything racial toward her? No. But I also was not in the room when they were with the original team,’ she said.

‘The only thing that I ever heard was some of the dances. [Miller] would do an ethnic dance for [Sioux] just because she was black. I can’t remember what dance it was – there’s been a couple of them that have been like that.

‘But actually hearing her say things like that – I never heard it, but it also does not surprise me. Honestly, I don’t think that there’s anything that really would surprise me that Abby would say.’

As far as where her friendship stands with the other moms, Jeanette, 52, said she is closest to Sioux and her mother, Holly Hatcher-Frazier.

Sioux (right) told the Daily Mail that Chloe Lukasiak (left) has been the most supportive of the book: ‘I talked to a couple people here and there, but it’s mostly Chloe’

Jeanette Cota (left), the mom of Ava Cota (right), told the Daily Mail that she is ‘super proud of Nia for being so courageous to come out and speak the truth’

Miller, who is confined to a wheelchair due to complications from her cancer treatment surgery, has yet to speak on Sioux’s book or respond to her allegations 

‘Every once in a while I’ll talk or I’ll see Jessalyn [Siwa] and JoJo because we all are out here in the Los Angeles area,’ Jeanette said. ‘Every once in a while I hear from Melissa [Gisoni]. I still follow all the girls and watch their successes, and I’m so proud of all of them.’

But when it comes to Miller, Jeanette said that she is ‘trying to distance any negativity or anything out of my life’.

‘I don’t talk with Cathy, I don’t talk with Abby. I don’t really talk with anyone other than the women that I see,’ she explained, adding, ‘I really don’t have any desire [to reconcile]. It’s not like that’s holding me back in my life.’

Miller, who now uses a wheelchair due to complications from her cancer treatment surgery, has yet to address Sioux’s book or respond to her allegations.

The Daily Mail has reached out to Miller for comment, but has not heard back.

Sioux’s book appears to be the beginning of what’s to come from the other Dance Moms stars, as Cota believes more bombshells are in the works.

‘I think that Nia has opened that door for these kids,’ she said. ‘These girls are getting to the age to where they’re understanding [their experience with Dance Moms] when they’re looking back, when they’re looking at their future and all of that.

‘And I think they all have a story to tell, whether they decide to share with the world or just keep it in a journal at home.’

Which begs the question: could the aftershocks from this new memoir provoke other former Dance Mom – or their daughter – to tell their side of the story, however provocative it may be?