A reader reached out this morning with a link to a YouTube video and a simple question: “Is all this true?” Initially, I braced myself for casting rumors for the upcoming season of Dancing with the Stars. Instead, I was met with a “tea spilling” video from Elliana Walmsley and Sage Rosen, two of the talented child pros from Dancing with the Stars: Juniors – a season that aired and concluded three whole years ago. Intrigued, I watched the video. While much of what they discussed wasn’t entirely new, and we’ve touched upon similar behind-the-scenes insights before, I felt compelled to react and share my thoughts. Frankly, with everything still relatively quiet on the DWTS front, revisiting this junior season feels like a welcome throwback to simpler times.
My first reaction? Wow, Elliana looks incredibly grown up! Perhaps teenagers just appear different now than when I was younger. Millennials like myself often navigated an awkward teenage phase, complete with questionable makeup choices. Elliana’s generation seems to have bypassed the white eyeliner, glitter face gel, and metallic lipstick era, likely thanks to the influence of YouTube and beauty influencers. Sage, on the other hand, seems quite similar, just with a slightly more mature look.
They mention being “scared” of potential repercussions from DWTS producers for making this video. Honestly, I doubt the Dancing with the Stars: Juniors producers are particularly concerned at this point. The show was a one-off season, and many of the production staff from that era have likely moved on to other projects or companies. However, their concern serves as a good reminder: it’s generally wise to avoid actions that could jeopardize future professional opportunities, regardless of the perceived risk.
Let’s dive into the “tea” they spilled:
“Tea” Point 1: Isolation Between Junior Stars
The first revelation was that the young stars “couldn’t talk to or see each other” and were largely prevented from interacting with other couples or pros outside of group dances and introductory segments. This was genuinely new information to me. While it might seem strict, especially for children who are naturally sociable, this kind of policy isn’t unheard of in reality television. Shows like Rupaul’s Drag Race are known for similar rules, where contestants are discouraged from interacting off-camera to ensure that all interactions are captured for potential storylines.
In the case of Dancing with the Stars: Juniors, I suspect this measure was primarily aimed at preventing leaks. Limiting interaction reduces the information kids have access to, and consequently, lessens the chance of spoilers reaching friends, the internet, or the media. Ultimately, this strategy proved somewhat ineffective. The junior stars frequently posted potentially revealing photos on social media, and spoilers were readily available from audience members at tapings. Non-disclosure agreements? Seemed like a distant concept.
“Tea” Point 2: “Crazy” Stage Parents
The second scoop of tea: some parents were described as “kinda crazy,” or as Sage more bluntly put it, “low-key psycho.” While the latter term might be considered ableist, the general sentiment wasn’t surprising. I had heard whispers of some parents being overly pushy “stage parents,” which isn’t uncommon in the competitive world of child performers. Many of these parents act as their children’s de facto managers, blurring the lines between parental support and professional ambition.
While Elliana and Sage didn’t name names regarding the mother who allegedly “blew up” on set and was “escorted out,” my immediate thoughts went to Bristol Palin (Tripp’s mom) or Mama June Shannon (Alana’s mom). It’s been reported that Bristol allegedly signed Tripp up for the show without his prior knowledge. He reportedly only found out on the day of his first rehearsal when Bristol dropped him off at the studio, leading to an understandably emotional and tantrum-filled initial meeting. Mama June, around that time, also seemed somewhat erratic, and I recall a vaguely threatening comment she made to Artem and Tristan during their initial meeting about “treating Alana appropriately.” June’s subsequent arrest and rehab for drug issues a year or so after Juniors could potentially shed light on any erratic behavior observed on set.
“Tea” Point 3: Sage’s Age Discrepancy
Tea point number three: Sage technically wasn’t supposed to be on the show due to his age. This aligns with what I knew. The age cutoff for the initial auditions in early 2018 was 13, and Sage was already 14 at that point. This likely explains why some were unfamiliar with Sage when the junior pro list initially leaked. He wasn’t among those seen at the pro auditions because his age initially disqualified him.
However, as casting progressed and the celebrity kids were selected, it became clear that an older pro might be necessary for Mackenzie Ziegler (“Kenzie”). Sage received the call, along with Jake Monreal, who had the advantage of partnering with Jenna Johnson on So You Think You Can Dance: The Next Generation a couple of summers prior. Elliana also suggested another reason: a potential lack of available skilled male dancers within the younger age range. If the other male dancers from the second audition round were assigned to the troupe, she might be referring to Cody Bingham and Sebastian Jozuka, who were both younger and perhaps less prepared for the responsibilities of being a pro partner.
“Tea” Point 4: Heavy Microphone Packs
Tea (or perhaps lukewarm water) point number four: the kids had to wear incredibly heavy microphone packs, strapped to them like a “waist trainer.” I don’t recall hearing about these bulky mics, likely because it’s a relatively mundane detail that wouldn’t typically interest readers. However, considering the production’s apparent focus on child labor regulations, it’s somewhat surprising they had the kids carrying around potentially uncomfortable and heavy mic packs. Sage also mentioned feeling restricted in what he could say, knowing he was always mic’d. This could explain why Sage seemed to have limited dialogue throughout the entire season.
“Tea” Point 5: Stage Fall Incident
Spot of tea number five: Someone fell off the stage. I vaguely remember hearing something about this, but my source likely downplayed it as a minor, humorous mishap where no one was seriously injured. Looking back, the star-shaped stage did seem like an accident waiting to happen. From an OSHA perspective, raised platforms without guardrails, especially in unusual shapes, are generally frowned upon. JT Church or Artyon Celestine falling off seems plausible, as they were often described as two of the more energetic and spirited junior pros.
“Tea” Point 6: Two Shows Per Week Taping Schedule
Tea point number six: They filmed two shows per week. Yes, this was previously known information. Except for the first week (which only involved one episode taping), the couples had Monday to Wednesday to learn and rehearse two dances. Camera blocking occurred on Thursday, with one episode taped on Friday and the following week’s episode on Saturday. Sunday was legally mandated as a day off for the child performers. There was reportedly one week where camera blocking and an episode taping both occurred on a Thursday, followed by another taping on Friday, due to Mackenzie Ziegler’s prior commitments on a Saturday. They essentially filmed a full nine-week season in a single month, driven by the need to wrap production before the kids returned to school in late August.
“Tea” Point 7: Junior Pro Partner Swaps
Tea point number seven: There were partner changes among the junior pros. Again, not entirely new. I recall initially hearing that Makeila Lawrence was slated to be a junior pro, only to be informed later that she was moved to the troupe. This was reportedly due to her height; she was deemed too tall not only for her assigned partner but also for most of the male junior celebrities. It’s a bit surprising the casting team didn’t fully grasp the typical growth spurt differences between adolescent boys and girls. Girls often experience their growth spurts a couple of years earlier than boys, making height disparities common at that age. I do feel like Miles Brown and Rylee Arnold were always intended to be partners, despite the height difference – or perhaps that’s wishful thinking, as I predicted their partnership a year before Juniors casting even began 😉.
“Tea” Point 8: Skybox Tears After Scores
Tea point number eight: Kids would cry in the skybox after receiving low scores. Well, duh. There were definitely tears. These were children who hadn’t yet developed the emotional regulation skills of adults. Hardly groundbreaking tea, guys 😉. However, to their credit, some of these junior stars handled defeat with more grace and maturity than certain adult contestants we’ve seen on DWTS. I particularly remember Akash Vukoti being remarkably gracious and mature after his elimination.
“Tea” Point 9: Faulty Voting Remotes
Final tea point: The voting remotes were unreliable. Again, this wasn’t entirely unexpected. I had heard accounts of the remotes malfunctioning entirely, leading to crew members scrambling to distribute paper and pencils for voting. Suspicions lingered that the remotes remained problematic throughout the season. Ultimately, it likely didn’t significantly impact the outcome. Audience members at the finale reported that Sky Brown and JT Church were clear frontrunners, and the absence of a cash prize meant “voting integrity” wasn’t as critical as on the adult DWTS version.
Final Thoughts on the Junior “Tea”
In conclusion, it seems Sage needed content for his YouTube channel, and revisiting Dancing with the Stars: Juniors, even three years after its conclusion, provided a readily available topic. While the “tea” wasn’t piping hot, it offered a nostalgic glimpse behind the scenes of the junior season. It’s slightly disappointing that they framed the experience in a somewhat negative light, as many of those kids appeared to be genuinely enjoying themselves and it likely represented a significant early career opportunity for many of them. However, hindsight is often clearer, and perhaps with time, they’ve gained a different perspective on the experience. Oh well, it was fun while it lasted!
