If you ever watched Dance Moms back in the day, you remember Vivi-Anne Stein. She was the tiny, deadpan kid who basically became a meme before memes were even a big thing. While the other girls were crying over pyramid placements, Vivi was famously declaring that she didn’t even like dancing and just wanted a taco.
It’s been over a decade since she first graced our screens as Cathy Nesbitt-Stein’s daughter. People still ask: what is Dance Moms Vivi-Anne now up to? Honestly, the answer might actually surprise the skeptics who thought she’d quit the second the cameras stopped rolling.
From Tacos to the Viking Dance Team
Vivi-Anne isn’t just "still dancing." She is genuinely, deeply involved in it. For a kid who looked like she’d rather be anywhere else than a dance studio, she has turned into a powerhouse performer.
She graduated high school in 2023. During those years, she traded the high-stress competitive stage for the sidelines, becoming a cheerleader and joining the dance team. It turns out, when you take away the reality TV cameras and the manufactured drama of the Abby Lee Dance Company (ALDC), Vivi actually finds the sport pretty fun.
Currently, Vivi-Anne is a student at Cleveland State University. She didn’t just hang up her shoes after graduation; she’s an active member of the school’s Viking Dance Team. In fact, recent updates from the university’s athletic department list her as the Vice President of the team. That’s a massive leap from the six-year-old who famously sat on the floor during rehearsals.
The Tap Prodigy Nobody Expected
If you follow the Dance Moms fandom on Reddit or TikTok, you’ve probably seen the clips. Vivi-Anne is a beast at tap.
While the show mostly focused on her struggle with lyrical or musical theater (mostly to make her look like the underdog compared to Mackenzie Ziegler), her real strength was always percussion. Cathy, her mother, has shared various videos of Vivi’s tap solos over the years. She’s fast. She’s rhythmic. She’s light on her feet.
It’s funny because, in 2026, Vivi is arguably one of the most consistent dancers of the original "cast." While some of the other girls moved into acting, singing, or influencer life, Vivi stayed in the studio.
Why the "Bored" Persona Was Likely Fake
Reality TV is, well, not exactly real. Producers loved the "reluctant dancer" trope. It provided a perfect foil to Cathy’s over-the-top, stage-mom energy.
Vivi-Anne has since spoken out—specifically on podcasts like Leave It On The Dance Floor—about her experience. She’s hinted that a lot of her "uninterested" behavior was just a shy kid being overwhelmed by a massive production crew.
"I think she liked to dance, but didn’t like the high-stress environment of dancing on the show," one long-time fan noted in a recent community discussion.
It makes sense. Most six-year-olds don't want to spend 12 hours a day in a studio with a producer whispering lines to them.
Where is Candy Apple’s Dance Center Today?
You can't talk about Vivi without Cathy. Candy Apple’s Dance Center (CADC) is still very much alive and kicking in Canton, Ohio.
Cathy Nesbitt-Stein remains the owner and operator. While the "rivalry" with Abby Lee Miller is long gone (Abby sold her studio years ago), CADC continues to train competitive dancers.
Vivi-Anne isn't just a student there anymore; she’s often seen helping out. There’s been plenty of speculation that she might eventually take over the family business. She’s been spotted assisting with tap classes and choreography, bridging the gap between her college dance career and the studio life she grew up in.
Personal Life and Coming Out
In late 2025, Vivi-Anne made headlines for a different reason. She’s always been relatively private, but social media caught wind of her "soft-launching" a relationship.
She posted several photos with a girl named Autumn, who is also a dancer on the Cleveland State team. Fans were quick to notice Vivi’s comments calling Autumn her "girlfriend." The response from the Dance Moms community was overwhelmingly positive.
It’s a refreshing change of pace. While many child stars from that era struggled with public breakdowns or legal issues, Vivi seems... normal. She’s a college student, she has a girlfriend, and she’s still doing the thing she supposedly "hated" back in 2011.
Why Vivi-Anne Matters in 2026
The story of Dance Moms Vivi-Anne now is a masterclass in how to survive child stardom.
- She ignored the noise. People called her a "bad" dancer for years because of how she was edited. She didn't let that stop her from pursuing a dance degree.
- She stayed local. While others moved to LA, she stayed in Ohio, focused on her education, and kept her circle small.
- She found her niche. She didn't try to be the next Maddie Ziegler. She found tap and cheerleading, styles that actually made her happy.
Watching her lead a university dance team is the ultimate "full circle" moment for anyone who grew up watching her cut her finger on her mom's ring.
What You Should Do Next
If you want to keep up with her journey, the best place is her Instagram or the Cleveland State Viking Dance Team’s official page. You won't find the "Get Ready With Me" videos or the constant brand deals you see from other reality stars. She’s way more low-key than that.
If you’re a fan of the show, go back and watch her tap solos on YouTube. It’ll give you a whole new appreciation for the kid who just wanted a taco—and ended up becoming a leader in the dance world anyway.
Actionable Insight: To truly understand how much Vivi has improved, look for her performance in the "Cleveland Tap Repertory." It’s a far cry from the ALDC days and shows her technical proficiency in a style the show rarely allowed her to highlight. If you are a young dancer feeling discouraged by "rankings," Vivi’s career is proof that finding your specific style matters more than being the "number one" on someone else’s pyramid.
