Nia & Holly Frazier – Dance Moms

By starrymag | January 20, 2015

By: Lisa Steinberg

 

 

 

Q) What can you tease about what we will get to see this season on “Dance Moms?”

Nia: This season you will probably see me a lot because we are featured a lot more than other seasons. There are so many exciting things coming up. I’ll be in music and singing. I have a new app that you can get at the Apple store called “Nia’s Nation” and a website. It’s been so exciting because there is so much new stuff!

Holly: I think that is what is exciting about this season. Normally, it takes place just in Pittsburgh and we are right in the beginning of Season 5. You see us on the road to Los Angeles. So, you will see us getting ready for our appearances and our time there. We have a different team who is evolving so you will see who comes, who goes and who is staying. First and foremost, I’m very excited about Nia and her singing. The show has been wonderful about wanting to chronicle Nia and the development of the songs and her vocal training. You have watched the girls grow through dance and now they can watch Nia grow with singing.

Q) Was singing always a passion of yours or did it go hand-in-hand with your dancing?

Nia: I think that singing makes me more well rounded. I want to be a triple threat: dance, sing and act. I’ve done two of those so far and I’m going for the third one soon. It’s what I want to be one day. I want to be a well known performer and I love performing!

Q) What will we get to see this season in regards to your singing?

Nia: I can’t say too much, but I do have someone who is helping me that a lot of people know. I can’t say yet, but you will know soon!

Holly: Nia works with someone who is a mentor to her. You see the development of Nia, but you see her voice coming through; not just her physical voice, but the voice of the content of the music.

Q) Holly, how hands on are you then with her vocal training and with branding for her?

Holly: At this point, my goal is to take advantage of any opportunity that seems like it is positive. If there is someone out there who wants to work with Nia who I feel is a positive force then that is what I am looking for. I am interested in exploring those opportunities, if it is acting or singing. I have really met someone incredible people who have become Team Nia and that is my focus this year and moving forward in the future. It’s all about Team Nia!

Q) With some of the moms departing this season, how are the dynamics between Nia and Abby?

Holly: It’s been an interesting season so far and we’re just at the middle of Season 5. So, it is still evolving. I think there is the ongoing tension that you normally see that is part of the cast of the show. At the same time, I think we are trying to figure things out about where they stand, where are their allegiances and what are the parts to their relationship that just don’t work. Relationships change. They don’t remain stagnant. Sometimes relationships work well in certain situations and sometimes not for others. We are looking at all of those things right now. Our team is not the same as it was in Season 1. We have lost a critical mass of our team. With that, I think we do a lot of soul searching as individuals as well. If it’s important to us, just like we’re trying to figure out what means most to us as a team we are trying to figure out as a mom what the best interest is for Nia. Right now, that is promoting her through her website and her image as well as her app so she can connect with her fans. That is something we are taking seriously. We want the fans to know we appreciate them and we want to get Nia out there as much as possible. That is what our goal is moving forward in 2015.

Q) What have you really taken away from your expeirence being a part of the show?

Holly: Being there since Season 1…

Nia: I’ve been there since the age of three!

Holly: So, Nia is really the most senior member. She has been there the longest at the studio. So, the longevity and the dance experience speaks for itself because we have been there so long. At the same time, I think we need to start thinking about what we need to do for Nia’s future. As she said, she wants to be a triple threat. As those things occur, we need to keep reevaluating what it means as members of a team. What we have learned from “Dance Moms” is not to take ourselves too seriously. We have to keep this in perspective. It is a dance competition at the end of the day and we’re mothers. First and foremost, for me, is teaching Nia to be a good person. Can you look at yourself in the mirror with whatever decision you make? Yes, dance is important, but it is most important to be a good person.

Nia: I think I have gained a lot of confidence from dance because I feel before the show started I was really shy. Now, I feel I am really outgoing. I feel like I can do whatever! I feel confident now and no one can take that away from me.

Q) The show has brought many people closer and others farther a part. What do you think is the challenge to getting past that?

Nia: When ever some of our team members leave it is pretty hard. It’s really hard when they leave, but I think they just need some time.

Holly: I think what makes it difficult and a challenge sometimes is any friendship (on TV or real life) is the seasons. Sometimes it is a season for friendship and sometimes when the season changes the friendship changes. And it is hard and can be painful to have that happen in a very public way. Friendships are complex and sometimes friendships are conditional. I think you just have to be aware of what type of friendship you are in and it is difficult for any person, young or old or whether it is a new friend or old friend.

Q) Talk about Nia’s new app and how it involves the fans.

Nia: You can get it at the app store and it gets me involved with the fans. There are pictures of me on it that aren’t on social media yet. They can see a preview before they come out or might not even get released. I feel that is another way for me to connect with my fans. It’s hard on social media to connect with everyone, but on “Nia’s Nation” you can share with all of my fans. They can get to know me better and I feel like they know a part of me now.

Holly: There may be information about her other interests on the app or messages to fans she will post. Things will be there that you won’t be able to see other places. There are photographs she actually takes.

Nia: I love taking photographs with my Cannon! I love it!

Holly: It is a new app. Fans said that they wanted to see more of Nia.

Nia: For the past seasons, I feel like they really didn’t get to see a lot of me and they really want to know more. So, I’m giving them this app!

Holly: It provides Nia an opportunity to share, “This is who I am. This is what I do outside of ‘Dance Moms.'” I think fans have responded really well to it. There is a place for fans to comment and we’re hoping to do some other promotional activities where fans can engage with Nia in different capacities. It’s a high powered app that allows us to do different things. We’re hoping to evolve into something where it is not just Nia sharing, but for fans to have a dialogue.

Q) How do the two of you balance your relationship with the show and working together so much?

Nia: I love being on the show with my mom because I feel like she knows me really well. Also, she is just always there for me. So, if I ever have a problem, I always know she will back me up.

Holly: For me, it’s a special opportunity to spend time with my teenage daughter. I know it is a luxury that a lot of moms don’t get to do. I am here for her for her highs and lows. Because we are together so much we can tell when one of us is having a good day or a bad day. Being able to put things in perspective. I think having each other there reminds us, “This is not a real world problem. We need to put this all in perspective and maintain a healthy balance.”

Q) Is there anything else you want to be sure you share with your fans?

Nia: I have a website called http://www.niasiouxfrazier.com where I blog and they can see pictures there, too. It’s a place for fans to learn more about me and what i do.

Holly: I think we have been so fortunate to have this fanbase for Nia and this is the year we strategically thought we wanted to thank our fans and find ways to get her out there and be seen. We ant to see her out there, but engage with her fans more. It’s all about the fans. So, we built more ways with Nia to engage with fans. If there are opportunities for Nia to take advantage being in LA we’re going for it this year! We hope the fans explore Nia while she is taking advantage of the opportunities. We hope it will be an incredible new year for Nia!