The world first met Maddie and Kenzie Ziegler in 2011, as the 8- and 6-year-old sisters at the heart of the new unscripted series Dance Moms, a Lifetime reality juggernaut that would make them household names. The series chronicled their travails in competitive dance and revealed their indisputable talent, but it also served as a very public time capsule of their childhood. Every win, loss, and memeable ugly-cry was recorded and available to fans to replay over and over… and over again.
Welcome to MADDIE ZIEGLER’s world. SBJCT partnered with Chanel to feature this extraordinary young force who from a childhood touring with Sia to MUSIC has had the entire world watching. Maddie spoke with EW about her latest project, The Fallout, finding catharsis her art, and using self expression to heal.
How old were you when you started dancing? And what led to Dance Moms? Can you explain to our readers who may not be familiar the principle of the show and your role in it?
I was two years old when I started dancing. I started at a ballet school, and by the age of four I transferred to a competition studio. When I was about seven years old, we had a production company come to the studio and interview and audition some families. My family got cast and ended up doing six seasons. We basically just learned new dances every week and competed with them every weekend. It was a fast-paced environment, and had lots of drama.
You and your sister did the show together- tell me about the dynamics of being in competition together, and maintaining your relationship and nurturing it within these structures…
It’s interesting how it worked growing up filming with my sister. I couldn’t imagine doing it without her, but at the same time we fought like crazy! Our relationship didn’t start to become incredible until after we left the show. We would always butt heads because we were so consumed by one another. Also, during her entire experience on the show, people were constantly comparing her to me, which truly breaks my heart. We are two different people. Neither of us is better than the other. She’s my best friend, and I love seeing her mature into the beautiful girl she is today.
After postponing its premiere due to the pandemic, the remake of the musical West Side Story, by Steven Spielberg, premieres its first trailer and the film is already becoming one of the great promises for the next awards ceremonies.
The trailer was unveiled during the 93rd Annual Academy Awards, commemorating the 60th anniversary of the musical’s first film adaptation. The 1961 film, directed by Jerome Robbins and Robert Wise, told the story that had already made it big on Broadway in the 1950s. A love story between two young men from rival gangs in New York City, which re-adapted and modernized Shakespeare’s ‘Romeo and Juliet’.
In this way, the story that Natalie Wood and Richard Beymer once starred in, and that won 10 golden statuettes, will return to theaters next December, as announced by the trailer for the new adaptation. A presentation video in which nostalgic musical performances can already be observed between the streets and fire escapes of a New York of the 50s.
Maddie is featured in Eddie Benjamin’s new music video, Speechless. I added screen captures and behind-the-scenes pictures to the photo gallery. Enjoy!
The Fallout is a film about the unseen faces of a tragedy, those who can’t turn their pain into effecting positive change in the world because they are too afraid to leave their bedrooms. Three teenagers form a unique and dynamic bond as they navigate the never linear, often confusing journey to heal in a world that feels forever changed.
In the film Ortega, Maddie Ziegler and Niles Fitch forge a close friendship that helps them cope with tragedy. From romantic moments to wine-downs in a hot tub, the teenagers find comfort and strength to face the world in each other.
The Fallout, which is in the 28th edition of the SXSW Film Festival Narrative Competition, also features Shailene Woodley, Julie Bowen, Will Ropp, Lumi Pollack and John Ortiz. Billie Eilish collaborator Finneas composed the music.
Producers are David Brown, Rebecca Miller, Cara Shine, Shaun Sanghani, Joannie Burstein, Todd Lundbohm and Giulia Prenna.
ICM Partners is handling sales.
“When performing on stage, you have to project all the way to people on the back row, so it’s grand and over-exaggerated. On-screen, the camera is so close that all your facial expressions and actions have to be almost internalised. They’re two different extremes! It’s something I’ve been trying to figure out.”
From Dance Moms to Music, Maddie Ziegler has spent the past decade navigating the spotlight of the public eye. Covering the Spring 21 issue, she talks turning her attention from dance to film, the lessons she’s learnt from long-time collaborator Sia, and how she’s handled the pressures of growing up on-screen.
As it says in the title, “Music” finally has a release date. It will be next February 12, 2021, in the USA, and almost a month before, (January 14) in Australia! In addition, new promotional stills and posters have been released, and also a new trailer that you can see below.
Click here if you want to see the release date of the film in your country.
Maddie and Kenzie Ziegler truly are sisters by birth, friends by choice. You may know the Actor, the Singer, Entrepreneurs, Dancers but now it’s time to really get to know them. Let’s all “Take 20” together. Take 20 with Maddie and Kenzie, an iHeartRadio Podcast.
Is there something on the site that you would like to improve? Do you have or have you seen material such as photos, videos, interviews, etc. that are not on the site? Want to see more exclusive things about Maddie?
So, go to the button below and contact me. The goal is to be your number #1 source to Maddie Ziegler and for this I need all the help you can provide.
Thank you all for your continued support!
