Entertainment

Maddie Ziegler Is Keeping Busy After 'Dance Moms'

by Caitlin Flynn

In a move that many viewers coming, fan favorite Maddie Ziegler left Dance Moms after Season 6B. Although the show won't be the same without her, Maddie's reasons for leaving are totally understandable and it's a wise move on her part. In short, she's outgrown the show and, as viewers saw last season, she's in high demand for projects that will help advance her career further than the Lifetime series can. Fans saw in Season 6 that Maddie was balancing multiple jobs — she missed a number of competitions due to work obligations in New York City and elsewhere, and she had to turn down some great opportunities in order to be there for her team. So, with her Dance Moms days behind her, what is Maddie Ziegler doing now?

Well, a better question would be "what isn't she doing?" Although she's still dancing as much as ever, Maddie has more free time to pursue other projects now that she's free from the time commitment of filming the reality series. And, she's certainly taking advantage of this by trying her hand at everything from writing to fashion design. So, let's take a look at what Maddie's doing today and what's in store for the future. Spoiler alert — this 13-year-old has a busier career than most adults. Here's what Maddie's been up to:

1. She's Touring With Sia

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A turning point in Maddie's career was when Sia asked her to appear in the singer's music videos "Chandelier," "Elastic Heart," "Big Girls Don't Cry," and "Cheap Thrills." She has performed live with Sia on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, Saturday Night Live, Dancing With the Stars, and Jimmy Kimmel Live! In July, it was announced that Maddie had joined Sia’s Nostalgic for the Present tour and she'll perform alongside Sia in concerts across the country.

2. She's Launching Her Own Clothing Line

If you've ever been jealous of her natural eye for style, you're in luck — Maddie recently announced that she's launching a juniors clothing line called MaddieStyle. It'll feature casual but stylish clothes that are inspired by what Maddie likes to wear when she's not in a leotard at rehearsal. In an interview with People, Maddie described her aesthetic as “casual chic and tomboyish yet girly" — and I predict her fans will flock to the stylish, affordable pieces.

3. She's Writing A Book

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Maddie is currently working on her memoir, which is scheduled to publish in March 2017. It'll undoubtedly be a huge hit amongst aspiring young dancers and all of Ziegler's fans. She's also working on a trilogy of fiction novels, the first of which will publish in late 2017.

4. She's Still Best Friends With Her Former Teammates

Maddie divides her time between Pennsylvania and Los Angeles, and she stays in close touch with the members of the ALDC Junior Elite competition team.

5. She's An Actress

Maddie was absent from the first few episodes of Season 6 because she was filming her first movie, The Book of Henry. The drama will premiere on Sept. 16 and Maddie has more film projects lined up. She'll appear in Sia's movie Sister, and she'll lend her voice to the animated movie Ballerina.

6. She's Still Dancing As Much As Ever

Despite leaving Dance Moms, Maddie still trains at the ALDC's Pittsburgh and Los Angeles locations. In an interview with Bustle, choreographer Gianna Martello said that Maddie has continued her private training sessions at the ALDC. She also takes the opportunity to work with teachers and choreographers all over the country in order to continue honing the talent that made her famous.

Season 7 won't be the same without her, but don't despair — fans will still have plenty of opportunities to see Maddie's talents in action.