Jamal Sims

Jamal Sims
Born
Pomona, California, U.S.
Occupations
  • director
  • choreographer
  • executive producer
Spouse
​
​
(m. 2014; sep. 2019)​

Jamal Sims is an American choreographer, executive producer, and director.

Career

Sims created the choreography for Miley Cyrus' 2009 promotional single "Hoedown Throwdown" for Hannah Montana: The Movie. He also served as the director and choreographer for Cyrus' 2009 Wonder World Tour.

Since 2014, Sims has regularly appeared in RuPaul’s Drag Race as a choreographer and guest judge. His directorial debut, When the Beat Drops, premiered on Logo TV in 2018.

In 2022, Sims becomes a choreographer for season 2 of RuPaul's Secret Celebrity Drag Race. It was announced to the public that Sims would be serving as executive producer and choreographer for the Beauty and the Beast television special on ABC, starring Shania Twain and Martin Short.

Personal life

Sims is of African descent and he is gay. His biggest influence is Michael Jackson. He spent most of his childhood in Atlanta, Georgia.

In 2019, Sims and his life partner Octavius Terry-Sims ended their marriage.

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
2001 Vanilla Sky Himself Choreographer
2004 After the Sunset Himself
Garfield: The Movie Himself Dance choreographer
2005 Beauty Shop Himself Choreographer
2006 Step Up Himself
2007 Hairspray Himself Associate choreographer
Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story Himself Assistant choreographer
2008 Get Smart Himself Choreographer
Step Up 2: The Streets Himself
Soul Men Himself
2009 17 Again Himself
Hannah Montana: The Movie Himself
Year One Himself
2010 Madonna: Sticky & Sweet Tour Himself Choreographer; Concert film
Miley Cyrus: Live at the O2 Himself
Step Up 3D Himself Supervising choreographer
2011 Big Mommas: Like Father, Like Son Himself Choreographer
Footloose Himself
Jack and Jill Himself
2012 Step Up Revolution Himself
VeggieTales: The Princess and the Popstar Himself
2013 The Best Man Holiday Himself
Shoshana Bean: Cold Turkey Himself Director; Short film
2014 Step Up All In Himself Choreographer; associate producer
2018 When the Beat Drops Himself Director
2019 Aladdin Himself Choreographer; dance double
Descendants 3 Dr. Facilier Also choreographer
2021 Encanto Himself Choreography
He's All That
2022 13: The Musical

Television

Year Title Role Notes
2005 Six Feet Under Himself Choreographer; "The Rainbow of Her Reasons"
2009 Teen Choice Awards 2009 Himself Choreographer
2010 82nd Annual Academy Awards Himself
Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards 2010 Himself
Teen Choice Awards 2010 Himself
2011 RuPaul's Drag U (season 2) Himself Choreographer; "Nominated by Loved Ones" and "Mama Mia, I Need Help!"
2012 S2udio City Himself Consulting producer - 10 episodes
Director - 5 episodes
2014 RuPaul's Drag Race (season 6) Himself Guest Judge/Choreographer; "Sissy That Walk"
2015 RuPaul's Drag Race (season 7) Himself Choreographer; "Glamazonian Airways"
2016 RuPaul's Drag Race (season 8) Himself Guest Judge/Choreographer; "Bitch Perfect"
So You Think You Can Dance: The Next Generation Himself Guest choreographer
2019 RuPaul's Drag Race (season 11) Himself Choreographer: "Grand Finale"
2020 RuPaul's Drag Race (season 12) Himself Choreographer; "Madonna: The Unauthorized Rusical" and "Grand Finale"
Guest Judge/Choreographer; "Viva Drag Vegas"
RuPaul's Drag Race: Vegas Revue Himself Choreographer
2021 Barbie: Big City, Big Dreams Himself Choreographer; TV Movie
RuPaul's Drag Race (season 13) Himself Guest Judge; "Condragulations" and "Social Media: The Unverified Rusical"
Choreographer; "Gettin' Lucky"
RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars (season 6) Himself Guest Judge; "Halftime Headliners"
Choreographer; "This Is Our Country"
2022 Beauty and the Beast: A 30th Celebration Himself Choreographer and co-executive producer; TV special
Encanto at the Hollywood Bowl Himself Director; TV special
RuPaul's Secret Celebrity Drag Race (season 2) Himself Choreographer
2023 Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies Himself Choreographer
Dancing with the Stars (season 32) Himself Choreographer; "Motown Night"
2024 RuPaul's Drag Race (season 16) Himself Guest Judge/Choreographer; "Werq the World"
RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars (season 9) Himself Guest appearance; "Grand Finale Variety Extravaganza: Part 2"
RuPaul's Drag Race Global All Stars Himself Main judge
Dancing with the Stars (season 33) Himself Choreographer; "Premiere"
2025 RuPaul's Drag Race (season 17) Himself Guest Judge/Choreographer; "The Wicked Wiz of Oz: The Rusical!"
Guest Judge; "Grand Finale"
RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars (season 10) Himself Choreographer; "Winner Winner, Chicken Dinner"
Guest Judge/Choreographer; "Stagecooch"
2026 RuPaul's Drag Race (season 18) Himself Guest appearance; "You Can't Keep a Good Drag Queen Down!"
Guest Judge; "Drag Queens for Change" and "All RuPaul-A-Paruza Smackdown"
Guest Judge/Choreographer; "Fannie: The Hard Knock Ball Rusical" and "Grand Finale"
RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars (season 11) Himself Guest Judge; "Duets: It Takes Two", "Rappin' Roast Redux", "Disco Smackdown for the Crown"
Dancing with the Stars (season 35) Himself Choreographer; "Premiere" and "Super Bowl Night"

Awards and nominations

Emmy Awards

Year Category Work Result Ref.
2023 Outstanding Choreography for Scripted Programming Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies Nominated
Outstanding Choreography for Variety or Reality Programming Encanto at the Hollywood Bowl Nominated
Beauty and the Beast: A 30th Celebration Nominated
2024 RuPaul's Drag Race Nominated
2025 The Lion King at the Hollywood Bowl Nominated
2026 RuPaul's Drag Race Nominated

GLAAD Media Awards

Year Category Work Result Ref.
2018 Outstanding Documentary When the Beat Drops Nominated

References

  1. 1 2 "Gay Power Couple Jamal Sims and Octavius Terry-Sims Announce They Are Splitting Up". www.aazios.com. December 20, 2019. Archived from the original on September 25, 2022. Retrieved September 25, 2022.
  2. 1 2 Kozma, Leila (July 9, 2021). "Who Is 'RuPaul's Drag Race' Star Jamal Sims Dating Now? He and His Hubby Broke up in 2019". Distractify. Archived from the original on September 25, 2022. Retrieved September 25, 2022.
  3. ↑ Street, Mikelle (October 4, 2018). "Choreographer Jamal Sims Talks Directorial Debut With Queer Underground Dance Documentary 'When the Beat Drops'". Billboard. Archived from the original on August 20, 2020. Retrieved November 2, 2020.
  4. ↑ Tangcay, Jazz (January 31, 2020). "RuPaul and Choreographer Jamal Sims on Bringing 'Drag Race' to Vegas". Variety. Archived from the original on September 25, 2020. Retrieved November 2, 2020.
  5. ↑ Idelson, Karen (August 8, 2019). "'Descendants 3' Choreographer Mixed Dancing, Acting and Sword Fighting". Variety. Archived from the original on November 8, 2020. Retrieved November 2, 2020.
  6. ↑ Stephenson, Cassidy (September 23, 2022). "Beauty and the Beast: Shania Twain and Martin Short in Talks to Join ABC Special". CBR. Archived from the original on September 25, 2022. Retrieved September 25, 2022.
  7. ↑ Beck, Michael A. (January 2010). "Miley Cyrus: Queen of Gags" (PDF). Mobile Production Monthly. 3 (1). Tour Guide Publications: 36. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 11, 2010. Retrieved January 30, 2011.
  8. ↑ Shea, Ryan (August 9, 2018). "World-Renowned Choreographer Jamal Sims Discusses His New Documentary". Instinct. Archived from the original on October 29, 2020. Retrieved November 2, 2020.
  9. ↑ Eakin, Marah (August 12, 2022). "RuPaul's Secret Celebrity Drag Race Recap: Here We Go Again". Vulture. Archived from the original on September 25, 2022. Retrieved September 25, 2022.
  10. ↑ Malkin, Marc (September 22, 2022). "Martin Short and Shania Twain in Final Talks to Join 'Beauty and the Beast' TV Special (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved September 25, 2022.
  11. ↑ "When The Beat Drops Bucking Movie". The Root. August 22, 2018. Archived from the original on September 25, 2022. Retrieved September 25, 2022.
  12. ↑ August 09, Joseph Longo; EDT, 2018 at 03:02 PM. "'When the Beat Drops' honors a queer dance world beyond 'Pose'". EW.com. Archived from the original on September 25, 2022. Retrieved September 25, 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  13. ↑ "Jamal Sims Emmy History". Archived from the original on September 8, 2026. Retrieved October 12, 2026.
  14. ↑ Sonaiya Kelley (January 25, 2019). "'The Favourite,' 'Crazy Rich Asians' and 'Pose' are among GLAAD Media Awards nominees". Archived from the original on May 3, 2021. Retrieved July 30, 2025.