Maddie Ziegler facts for kids

Maddie Ziegler in February 2021

Madison Nicole Ziegler (born September 30, 2002) is an American actress and dancer. She became famous on the TV show Dance Moms from 2011 to 2016. Maddie also starred in many music videos for the singer Sia, like "Chandelier" and "Elastic Heart". These videos have been watched over 6 billion times on YouTube! Maddie has also appeared in movies, TV shows, concerts, and on magazine covers.

Maddie was a judge on So You Think You Can Dance: The Next Generation in 2016. She also toured with Sia in 2016 and 2017. Maddie has even done dance tours with her younger sister, Mackenzie. Her book, The Maddie Diaries, became a New York Times Best Seller in 2017.

Maddie has acted in several films. Some of her roles include Camille in Ballerina (2016), Christina in The Book of Henry (2017), the main role in Music (2021), Mia in The Fallout (2021), Velma in Steven Spielberg's West Side Story (2021), Lindy in Fitting In (2023), and Ruthie in My Old ... (2024).

Time magazine named Maddie one of the "30 most influential teens" every year from 2015 to 2017. In 2023, she was on the Forbes 30 Under 30 list for Hollywood & Entertainment. She has a huge following on social media, with over 13 million followers on Instagram.

Early Life and Dance Training

Maddie Ziegler was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Her parents are Melissa Ziegler-Gisoni and Kurt Ziegler. She started ballet lessons when she was just two years old. At age four, she joined the Abby Lee Dance Company. There, she learned many dance styles like tap, ballet, lyrical, and jazz. Maddie has a younger sister, Mackenzie, who is also a singer and dancer. Mackenzie appeared with Maddie on Dance Moms.

Maddie went to Sloan Elementary School in Murrysville, near Pittsburgh. In 2013, she started homeschooling so she could focus on her career. As a teenager, she spent most of her time working in Los Angeles. Since 2019, she has been dating singer-songwriter Eddie Benjamin.

Career Highlights

Dance Moms and Music Videos

While at the Abby Lee Dance Company, Maddie won many awards in dance competitions. In 2011, when she was eight, Maddie and her mom joined Dance Moms. This reality show was about young dancers and their moms at the Abby Lee Dance Company. Maddie became a standout dancer on the show, appearing for six seasons until 2016. Dance Moms helped her become one of the most famous dancers in the world.

Maddie has appeared in music videos for artists like Sia and Todrick Hall. She became widely known at age 11 for starring in Sia's 2014 video for "Chandelier". Sia found Maddie on Dance Moms. The "Chandelier" video won an award for Best Video and has over 2.5 billion views on YouTube. Maddie said the choreography was "really out of the box" and helped her grow as a dancer.

In 2015, Maddie starred with Shia LaBeouf in "Elastic Heart", another Sia video. This video has over 1 billion views on YouTube. She also appeared in "Big Girls Cry" to finish a group of three videos for Sia's album. Maddie performed with Sia on many TV shows, including The Ellen DeGeneres Show and Saturday Night Live. She also performed with Sia and Kristen Wiig at the 2015 Grammy Awards.

Maddie continued to work with Sia, starring in videos for "Cheap Thrills" (2016) and "The Greatest" (2016). She also danced in Sia's music videos for "Thunderclouds" (2018) and "Together" (2020).

Acting Roles

Maddie Ziegler in 2015

Maddie's first acting job was in 2012 on the TV show Drop Dead Diva. In 2015, she had guest roles on Disney Channel's Austin & Ally and Pretty Little Liars. She also appeared in Nicky, Ricky, Dicky & Dawn on Nickelodeon in 2016 and 2017.

Maddie lent her voice to the character Camille in the animated movie Ballerina (2016), which was called Leap! in the US. She also played Christina in the film The Book of Henry (2017). The director of The Book of Henry said Maddie is "extraordinarily capable" and can quickly show any emotion needed.

In 2021, Maddie starred in the musical film Music, directed by Sia. She co-starred in the high school drama film The Fallout, which won an award at South by Southwest in 2021. Critics praised her performance as Mia, calling it "stunning" and "complex". She also played Velma in Steven Spielberg's West Side Story (2021).

Maddie starred as Lindy in the film Fitting In (2023). Reviewers said her performance was "strong" and "natural," showing her dry wit and vulnerability. In 2024, she played Ruthie in the comedy film My Old ..., which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival. Variety magazine gave her a "Breakthrough Award" for her role. Maddie is also filming roles in upcoming movies like Ballerina Overdrive and Shiver.

Modeling and Fashion

Maddie has modeled for big brands like Clean & Clear, Capezio, Target, Ralph Lauren, and Tiffany & Co.. She has also been on the covers of many magazines, including Vogue, Elle, and Teen Vogue.

In 2014, Maddie and her sister launched their own fashion line called The Maddie & Mackenzie Collection. Maddie also launched her own casual fashion line, MaddieStyle, in 2016. She has collaborated with Morphe Cosmetics for makeup and Fabletics for fashion. In 2023, she and Mackenzie released a back-to-school collection with American Eagle Outfitters.

Dance Judging and Tours

In 2016, Maddie was a featured dancer in the ABC TV special The Wonderful World of Disney: Disneyland 60. She also performed live with Sia at events like Coachella and the iHeartRadio Music Festival. In June 2016, Maddie became a judge and guest performer on So You Think You Can Dance: The Next Generation.

She joined Sia on her Nostalgic for the Present Tour in 2016. Maddie and her sister Mackenzie also led dance workshops in Australia in 2017 and 2018, and in the UK in 2019. In 2020, they were guest judges on the dance competition show Floored.

Giving Back

Maddie cares about helping others. In 2012, she worked with Starlight Children's Foundation to help kids who are very sick. In 2016, Maddie and her sister made a public announcement for DoSomething.org. This campaign helps people send homemade birthday cards to children in homeless shelters.

Since 2016, Maddie has worked with Dancers Against Cancer. She helps raise money and awareness for people fighting cancer. In 2017, she starred in a video for the ASPCA to encourage people to adopt shelter dogs. In 2019, Maddie appeared on Celebrity Family Feud with her family to raise money for "My Friend's Place," a charity that helps homeless youth.

Achievements and Awards

Maddie's dancing in Sia's "Chandelier" video was called "dazzling" by Billboard magazine. The Guardian said she "dances with such impressive flexibility." Rolling Stone praised her "charisma that makes this video mesmerizing." People magazine even joked that she is "a super-human graceful alien."

Ballet choreographer Troy Schumacher said in 2016 that Maddie has "really created her own world of dance." He noted her strong personality that shines through her movements. Critics have praised her live performances with Sia, saying she "possesses an astounding control of her physicality" and adds "dimension and weight" to the songs.

Time magazine named Maddie one of the "30 most influential teens" in 2015, 2016, and 2017. She won a People's Choice Award in 2016. She also won the Choice Dancer award at the Teen Choice Awards in 2016, 2017, and 2018. In 2023, she was included in the Forbes 30 Under 30 list.

Awards and Nominations

Filmography

Film

Television

Music videos (selected)

Tours

• Nostalgic for the Present Tour with Sia (2016–17)
• The Ziegler Girls 2017 tour of Australia (with Mackenzie Ziegler)
• Maddie & Mackenzie Australia & New Zealand Tour 2018 (with Mackenzie Ziegler)
• Maddie and Mackenzie UK tour

Images for kids

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  A robot for kids

See also

• List of dancers