Renowned dancer, choreographer, actor and director Jamal Sims has been breaking barriers and making his presence known in the dance community for decades, and he’s not stopping anytime soon.
The dance veteran choreographed moves we saw in the “Aladdin” reboot with Will Smith. Sims’ long list of work also includes the “Step Up” franchise and being a judge and choreographer for “RuPaul’s Drag Race.”
His inspiration to become an entertainer proves the importance of representation in the industry. Seeing “The Wiz” in ’79 showed Sims people who look like him could do it all.
“At that time … there wasn’t this career plan for being a dancer or choreographer. There was no one I could look up to that showed me I could do this for a living. So, in some ways, ‘The Wiz’ did that for me,” Sims told The Block.
The glamour of Diana Ross and Michael Jackson inspired him to continue dancing and even briefly pursue singing. Years later, things came full circle when he was cast as a dancer in Michael Jackson’s “Remember the Time.” Sims was 17, it was his first audition for a major music video and his first job. To sit next to and perform alongside Jackson himself—Sims was living the dream.
But he quickly realized the harsh reality of the entertainment world. Making a name for himself wouldn’t be easy, but he was determined.
“This industry is still full of many ‘no’s,’ but the beauty of my journey is I never let the ‘no’s’ stop me,” he explained. “The ‘no’ means I’m shifting right next to my yes. So rejection is just God’s protection.”
Sims has since gone on to become a choreographer to the stars, working on music videos and shows for Madonna, Usher, Toni Braxton, Jennifer Lopez, Miley Cyrus, T-Pain, Ciara and many more.
Reminiscing on his journey, Sims is grateful for the support he had from his family. And while everyone may not have the parental or familial support, he says it’s important to surround yourself with people who’ve seen success and are dreamers just like you.
“find big-minded people who have had any dream come true because they will believe your dream can come true, too.”
Jamal Sims
As he made his way through the dance community taking on bigger roles, Sims noticed the elephant in the room: he was often the only Black person in a decision-making role.
Now, it’s his mission to make sure people are educated on diversity and inclusion, especially in entertainment. On set, Sims is known for coloring with every shade to ensure diversity is visible—from race and religion to sexual orientation and gender.
Sims has remained humble yet confident, taking on a career that requires intense work mostly behind the scenes. While fans cheer on the main screen actors, singers and entertainers, unsung heroes of creative projects like Sims often remain out of the spotlight.
People didn’t bear witness to Sims having to quarantine alone for weeks in Toronto last summer. We don’t see the 3 a.m. mornings or the level of sacrifice to consistently make a project look excellent. It’s a grind many creatives know all too well.
“I do all of this to do my art,” Sims said, “And that’s just the power of a creative spirit.”
The Future of Dance
Though we live in a digital age where there’s ample space for the TikTok dancer, Sims encourages young dancers to get an education. If you want to make it in the world of dance, he believes you must study your craft for the sake of longevity.
With a resume that spans beyond dance to film, TV, stage, directing and even corporate—Sims exemplifies how a dance career can stem into other areas. Nowadays, you have to be more than a dancer. You have to be solution oriented, and people have to trust you.
“Dancers age out—and quickly. I’ve been able to continue past 30 because I’ve learned to pivot.”
Jamal Sims
Through it all, Sims looks forward to seeing more dancers, choreographers, and department heads willing to not let racial inequality, gender roles and other boundaries get in the way of success.
Sims added that it’s important to learn to work with people, not against them, because social capital is your best currency. And this is true for any profession.
“I hope my generation lets kids explore whatever hobbies they want,” he said.
“I don’t know when dance became gendered. … When the music comes on, you just move. Dance class provides the structure [and] sometimes we need different skill sets [to] can bring something else out of us.”
Whether you’re hoping to dance professionally or you’re just moving in your living room, dance has the potential to change your attitude and make any moment a little better.
Stay up to date on Jamal Sims’ latest projects by following him on Instagram .
