Coordinated production logistics for ABC’s Dancing with the Stars: Juniors, a spinoff featuring junior ballroom dancers on their own star shaped stage.
Dancing with the Stars: Juniors is ABC’s family friendly spinoff of the celebrity dance competition, pairing kid dancers with professional junior partners to compete for the mirrorball trophy. As Assistant Production Coordinator, I managed production logistics, scheduling, and day to day coordination for cast, crew, and production assistants, with extra attention to the scheduling and safety guidelines a young cast requires.
Behind the Scenes
Where were you?
Los Angeles, California
What’s the moment things went sideways?
We wanted something that would make this show stand out from the original Dancing with the Stars and reach a wider audience. We shaped the stage as a star, which made the build a bit difficult. We also had to make sure that dancers felt safe while they were performing. Since this was not the same stage as the original, it took time for the performers to learn the stage to make sure they did not fall off.
A crew or cast story that still gets told
The audition process was a long day. We were all tired, and more dancers arrived than we were expecting. Not only was the crew making sure the kid dancers were excited and on time to their interviews and auditions, but we were also working with their parents and making sure they were kept in the loop and that all paperwork was signed. We needed to stay organized and on top of the day.
What would a viewer never guess?
Working with kids requires new rules and guidelines for the crew to follow. We were limited by the hours we could be on stage, and by union rules we needed to be sure to follow. It was a great experience, but it required more planning and scheduling between the families and the pro dancers that were a part of the show.
What were you actually running day to day?
We kept the chain of command as we would on the original show. I would follow the goals and expectations that were set by my Executive in Charge and my Production Managers. This was the best way for all of us to stay in communication and to make sure we met the deadlines to keep the show running smoothly.
What are you proudest of on this one?
This was during the summer I was starting to make headway in my career. I was no longer a Production Assistant or a Receptionist. It was one thing to watch how it was done. But it was a new experience for me to be the one making the calls and starting to build a relationship with vendors that would help me through my career.