[ot-caption title=”Accomplished in dancing, acting, and modeling, Maddie Ziegler’s talents pose her as a triple threat in the entertainment industry. (via, Jason Kempin/Getty Images)”]

Maddie Ziegler has been a huge fan-favorite on the hit reality show Dance Moms since the show’s debut in 2011. At only eight years old, Ziegler was one of the original cast members on the show, and so when news of her leaving began circulating late 2015 and later confirmed late this season, fans were understandably heartbroken.

The show undoubtedly contributed significantly to her professional career. She has won numerous titles at regional, state, and national dance competitions, an example being the 2014 Dancers’ Choice Award. In addition to her career as a dancer, Ziegler began her acting career in 2011, acting in the Lifetime series Drop Dead Diva. Since then, she has landed several notable roles, guest starring on shows such as Disney Channel’s Austin and Ally and ABC’s Pretty Little Liars. Ziegler has also appeared in many music videos by a wide range of artists, most notably the singer Sia. In 2014, Ziegler’s popularity skyrocketed when she was featured on Sia’s music video for “Chandelier,” which now has over 1.2 billion views. The video also won a Grammy for best choreography in the 2014 MTV Video Music Awards. Ziegler also appears in several of Sia’s later music videos, starring in “Elastic Heart” with Shia LaBeouf in January 2015 and “Big Girls Cry” in April 2015. Ziegler is also involved with the fashion industry, modeling for brands such as Betsey Johnson and Ralph Lauren, designing her own fashion label with her younger sister Mackenzie, and even acting as a correspondent for Elle at the 2015 New York Fashion Week.

When Ziegler confirmed that she was leaving Dance Moms, both her fellow dancers and her fans alike were disappointed but excited for what Ziegler has in store in the future. Ziegler remarks, “I am leaving, but it’ll be a good thing because we’re moving on to cool things.” Although she is leaving the famous dance studio in the sixth season of the show, her past accomplishments clearly point to an exciting and busy future. Stating before that she plans on focusing on her acting this year, Ziegler has a few projects lined up that will surely excite her fans. She has been cast in the forthcoming film The Book of Henry, set to premiere sometime this year, as well as in a film written and to be directed by Sia titled Sister. She also recently performed with Sia at Coachella, dancing alongside the famous singer as well as in pre-taped performances played at the event. Ziegler will also appear on the show So You Think You Can Dance: The Next Generation, as the youngest judge ever on the show at 13 years old. “It’s weird for me, because I’m not the one competing. I’m the one giving feedback to the kids,” Ziegler remarks in an interview with Entertainment Tonight. “I’ll just be honest and give them my feedback- in a nice way though, because I’m not an adult, so I really can’t be rude to them, and I would never be rude to them anyways.” The show premieres May 30 on Fox, where Ziegler will be critiquing the young contestants alongside Paula Abdul, Jason Derulo, and Nigel Lythgoe.

And so, even though she is leaving behind an old chapter in her life, Ziegler is undoubtedly entering a new chapter that is bound to hold new and exciting experiences for her. She’s moving on to bigger and better things, and we can’t wait to see what she accomplishes as a talented young dancer and actress in the future.

Sources: Us Magazine, Youtube, New York Post, Entertainment Tonight; Photo Source: Jason Kempin