Sia is back with another powerful video starring the young and incredibly talented dancer Maddie Ziegler. This time, it's for a dance-pop anthem called "The Greatest." (Kendrick Lamar is featured in the official single version of the song.)

The video, directed by Sia and Daniel Askill, takes place in some vague, dystopian future where children are homeless castaways against a monotonous, grey landscape. Sullen and oppressed, they while away the hours in abandoned buildings until Ziegler appears and rallies them to rise up and seek freedom. While the song builds and soars, celebrating inner strength, the video makes a haunting shift in tone in the final minute that suggests the salvation the children fought to attain was all a cruel dream.

"The Greatest" was choreographed by Ryan Heffington, who has collaborated with Ziegler and Sia on a number of videos. The young dancer first blew minds in the 2014 video for Sia's "Chandelier." She later appeared in the videos for "Elastic Heart" and "Big Girls Cry."

Copyright 2016 NPR. To see more, visit NPR.

300x250 Ad

300x250 Ad

Support quality journalism, like the story above, with your gift right now.

Donate