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 +YearTitleRoleNotes2001Vanilla SkyHimselfChoreographer2004After the SunsetHimselfGarfield: The MovieHimselfDance choreographer2005Beauty ShopHimselfChoreographer2006Step UpHimself2007HairsprayHimselfAssociate choreographerWalk Hard: The Dewey Cox StoryHimselfAssistant choreographer2008Get SmartHimselfChoreographerStep Up 2: The StreetsHimselfSoul MenHimself200917 AgainHimselfHannah Montana: The MovieHimselfYear OneHimself2010Madonna: Sticky & Sweet TourHimselfChoreographer; Concert filmMiley Cyrus: Live at the O2HimselfStep Up 3DHimselfSupervising choreographer2011Big Mommas: Like Father, Like SonHimselfChoreographerFootlooseHimselfJack and JillHimself2012Step Up RevolutionHimselfVeggieTales: The Princess and the PopstarHimself2013The Best Man HolidayHimselfShoshana Bean: Cold TurkeyHimselfDirector; Short film2014Step Up All InHimselfChoreographer; associate producer2018When the Beat DropsHimselfDirector2019AladdinHimselfChoreographer; dance doubleDescendants 3Dr. FacilierAlso choreographer2021EncantoHimselfChoreographyHe's All That202213: The Musical
Television +YearTitleRoleNotes2005Six Feet UnderHimselfChoreographer; "The Rainbow of Her Reasons"2009Teen Choice Awards 2009HimselfChoreographer201082nd Annual Academy AwardsHimselfNickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards 2010HimselfTeen Choice Awards 2010Himself2011RuPaul's Drag U (season 2)HimselfChoreographer; "Nominated by Loved Ones" and "Mama Mia, I Need Help!"2012S2udio CityHimselfConsulting producer - 10 episodes Director - 5 episodes2014RuPaul's Drag Race (season 6)HimselfGuest Judge/Choreographer; "Sissy That Walk"2015RuPaul's Drag Race (season 7)HimselfChoreographer; "Glamazonian Airways"2016RuPaul's Drag Race (season 8)HimselfGuest Judge/Choreographer; "Bitch Perfect"So You Think You Can Dance: The Next GenerationHimselfGuest choreographer2019RuPaul's Drag Race (season 11)HimselfChoreographer: "Grand Finale"2020RuPaul's Drag Race (season 12)HimselfChoreographer; "Madonna: The Unauthorized Rusical" and "Grand Finale" Guest Judge/Choreographer; "Viva Drag Vegas"RuPaul's Drag Race: Vegas RevueHimselfChoreographer2021Barbie: Big City, Big DreamsHimselfChoreographer; TV MovieRuPaul's Drag Race (season 13)HimselfGuest Judge; "Condragulations" and "Social Media: The Unverified Rusical" Choreographer; "Gettin' Lucky"RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars (season 6)HimselfGuest Judge; "Halftime Headliners" Choreographer; "This Is Our Country"2022Beauty and the Beast: A 30th CelebrationHimselfChoreographer and co-executive producer; TV specialEncanto at the Hollywood BowlHimselfDirector; TV specialRuPaul's Secret Celebrity Drag Race (season 2)HimselfChoreographer2023Grease: Rise of the Pink LadiesHimselfChoreographerDancing with the Stars (season 32)HimselfChoreographer; "Motown Night"2024RuPaul's Drag Race (season 16)HimselfGuest Judge/Choreographer; "Werq the World"RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars (season 9)HimselfGuest appearance; "Grand Finale Variety Extravaganza: Part 2"RuPaul's Drag Race Global All StarsHimselfMain judgeDancing with the Stars (season 33)HimselfChoreographer; "Premiere"2025RuPaul's Drag Race (season 17)HimselfGuest Judge/Choreographer; "The Wicked Wiz of Oz: The Rusical!" Guest Judge; "Grand Finale"RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars (season 10)HimselfChoreographer; "Winner Winner, Chicken Dinner" Guest Judge/Choreographer; "Stagecooch"2026RuPaul's Drag Race (season 18)HimselfGuest appearance; "You Can't Keep a Good Drag Queen Down!" Guest Judge; "Drag Queens for Change", "All RuPaul-A-Paruza Smackdown" and "Grand Finale"
Guest Judge/Choreographer; "Fannie: The Hard Knock Ball Rusical"RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars (season 11)HimselfGuest Judge; "Duets: It Takes Two", "Rappin' Roast Redux", "Disco Smackdown for the Crown"
Awards and nominations Emmy Awards Year Category Work Result Ref. 2023 Outstanding Choreography for Scripted Programming Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies Outstanding Choreography for Variety or Reality Programming Encanto at the Hollywood Bowl Beauty and the Beast: A 30th Celebration 2024 RuPaul's Drag Race 2025 The Lion King at the Hollywood Bowl
GLAAD Media Awards Year Category Work Result Ref. 2018 Outstanding Documentary When the Beat Drops
References
External links Jamal Sims at IMDb Article about Sims in Queerty Article about Sims in The Root