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Review of "Dancing with the Stars, Jr." 10/8/18 by Eva Diaz
airs Sundays 8/7c on ABC

MORE INFORMATION:

Tonight on ‘Dancing with the Stars,’ ABC Announces the Cast of Celebrity Kids for Upcoming ‘Dancing with the Stars: Juniors,’ Premiering Sunday, Oct. 7
Sept. 25, 2018
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“Dancing with the Stars: Juniors” welcomes 12 celebrity kids and professional junior ballroom dancers to the ballroom floor. The youngest cast ever is sparkling up their wardrobe, breaking in their dancing shoes and readying themselves for what will be an unforgettable journey. The competition begins with the two-hour season premiere, SUNDAY, OCT. 7 (8:00-10:00 p.m. EDT), on The ABC Television Network, streaming and on demand.
This season’s lineup of celebrity kid dancers includes a Screen Actors Guild Award-nominated actor, a professional skateboarder, an ABC comedy star, a runway model, two Disney Channel stars and the youngest boy to compete in the Scripps National Spelling Bee.
As announced this evening on ABC’s “Dancing with the Stars,” the celebrity kids with their professional dance partners heading to the ballroom (in alphabetical order) are as follows:

Addison Osta Smith with Lev Khmelev, mentored by Keo Motsepe
Alana “Honey Boo Boo” Thompson with Tristan Ianiero, mentored by Artem Chigvintsev
Akash Vukoti with Kamri Peterson, mentored by Witney Carson
Ariana Greenblatt with Artyon Celestine, mentored by Brandon Armstrong
Hudson West with Kameron Couch, mentored by Hayley Erbert
Jason Maybaum with Elliana Walmsley, mentored by Emma Slater
Mackenzie Ziegler with Sage Rosen, mentored by Gleb Savchenko
Mandla Morris with Brightyn Brems, mentored by Cheryl Burke
Miles Brown with Rylee Arnold, mentored by Lindsay Arnold
Sky Brown with JT Church, mentored by Alan Bersten
Sophia Pippen with Jake Monreal, mentored by Sasha Farber
Tripp Palin with Hailey Bills, mentored by Jenna Johnson


ADDISON OSTA SMITH (age 13) – Addison Osta Smith was the first girl and youngest contestant ever to win “MasterChef Junior” at the age of 10. Winning “MasterChef Junior” led to multiple television and media appearances, including cooking demonstrations and interviews on the “Late Late Show with James Corden,” “Hollywood Today Live,” “Good Day LA” and “The Steve Harvey Show.” In 2015, she was cast in the ABC pilot, “Dream Team,” which was filmed in spring 2016. She is currently working on her first cookbook and wants to inspire kids and adults to do what they love and to help others while doing it. Addison is partnered with Lev Khmelev and mentored by Keo Motsepe.
Follow Addison: @jrchefaddison
Follow Lev: @itsmelev
Follow Keo: @keodancer
ALANA “HONEY BOO BOO” THOMPSON (age 12) – Alana Thompson, or more famously known as Honey Boo Boo, started her career on “Toddlers & Tiaras” when she was 5 years old and quickly rose to fame. She then starred in her own show, “Here Comes Honey Boo Boo.” Now you can see her on “Mama June: From Not to Hot,” which is in its second season on WEtv. Alana loves being on social media, texting her friends, hanging out with family and doing her makeup. Alana is partnered with Tristan Ianiero and mentored by Artem Chigvintsev.
Follow Alana: @honeybooboo
Follow Tristan: @tristan_ianiero
Follow Artem: @artemchigvintse
AKASH VUKOTI (age 9) – Akash Vukoti is a SPELLEBRITY. He started reading and writing at a very early age and competed in his first spelling bee when he was just 2 years old. He became a member of Mensa at 3. When he was 6 years old, he became (and is currently) the youngest boy ever to compete in the history of Scripps National Spelling Bee. Akash is partnered with Kamri Peterson and mentored by Witney Carson.
Follow Akash: @akashvukoti
Follow Kamri: @kamripeterson
Follow Witney: @WitneyCarson
ARIANA GREENBLATT (age 10) – Ariana Greenblatt is a small-but-mighty star on the rise, who just wrapped filming Disney’s “The One and Only Ivan,” where she stars opposite Bryan Cranston, Sam Rockwell and Angelina Jolie. Ariana has always loved dancing and took her first class at age 2. Currently, she is playing Daphne Diaz on Disney’s “Stuck in The Middle” and has starred in “Bad Mom’s Christmas” and “Marvel’s Avengers: Infinity Wars,” where she played Young Gamora. Ariana is partnered with Artyon Celestine and mentored by Brandon Armstrong.
Follow Ariana: @ArianaG_07
Follow Artyon: @artyoncelestine
Follow Brandon: @brandonkstrong
HUDSON WEST (age 10) – Born in Dayton, Ohio, Hudson West booked his first commercial at the age of 6. Currently, he can be seen as Jake Spencer in ABC’s “General Hospital.” Shortly after relocating to Los Angeles, he was cast as Andy in “Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2” and also appeared in “True North,” directed by Tom Nittoli, as well as “Roads, Trees & Honey Bees.” His other television credits include the recurring role of Jesse on Showtime’s “I’m Dying Up Here” as well as the recurring role of Marcia Clark’s son Travis on Fox’s “American Crime Story: The People v. O.J.Simpson.” He can also be seen on Netflix’s “Grace and Frankie,” Nickelodeon’s “Nicky, Ricky, Dicky & Dawn,” Cartoon Network’s “Clarence,” TV Land’s “Teachers,” TNT’s “Major Crimes” and ABC’s “Modern Family” and “Grey’s Anatomy.” Hudson is partnered with Kameron Couch and mentored by Hayley Erbert.
Follow Hudson: @HudsonWest
Follow Kameron: @princesskami23
Follow Hayley: @Dance10Hayley
JASON MAYBAUM (age 10) – Jason Maybaum stars as Levi in Disney Channel’s live-action comedy “Raven’s Home,” a spinoff of the iconic comedy series “That’s So Raven,” now in its second season. In addition to his role on “Raven’s Home,” Maybaum starred in the critically acclaimed Hulu movie “Becoming Bond,” has guest starred in “Workaholics,” “Teachers,” “Blunt Talk” and “Superstore” episodes and has appeared in numerous commercials. He is also featured in the Disney Channel Original Movie “Freaky Friday,” a contemporary musical update of the classic comedic story. Jason is partnered with Elliana Walmsley and mentored by Emma Slater.
Follow Jason: @JasonMaybaum
Follow Elliana: @ellianawalmsley_
Follow Emma: @EmmaSlaterDance
MACKENZIE ZIEGLER (age 14) – Born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Mackenzie Ziegler has quickly become one of her generation’s most influential rising stars. The singer/songwriter and actress was most recently seen starring in the YouTube series “Total Eclipse,” for the digital network Brat, of which she also serves as an executive producer. Her first novel, “Kenzie’s Rules for Life,” was released on May 8. Mackenzie is partnered with Sage Rosen and mentored by Gleb Savchenko.
Follow Mackenzie: @kenzieziegler
Follow Sage: @sage_rosen
Follow Gleb: @Gleb_Savchenko
MANDLA MORRIS (age 13) – Mandla Morris, the son of iconic singer/songwriter superstar Stevie Wonder, is an aspiring fashion designer who loves to draw and sketch clothing. With his five brothers, four sisters, one dog Cairo, and one exotic cat King, he is also into music and enjoys playing the piano. His parents inspire Mandla every day to be the best person he can be. With a love of travel (he recently visited Milan and Paris), he also likes to hang out with his friends, going to the movies and playing video games. Mandla is partnered with Brightyn Brems and mentored by Cheryl Burke.
Follow Mandla: @mandlamorris
Follow Brightyn: @brightynb
Follow Cheryl: @CherylBurke
MILES BROWN (age 13) – Miles Brown stars in ABC’s Emmy®-nominated and critically acclaimed comedy series “black-ish,” from creator Kenya Barris. He recently wrapped production on the independent film “Emmett,” opposite Rita Wilson and Nora Dunn, a coming-of-age comedy directed by Bridge Stokes. In addition, Miles is a member of the Jr. NBA Leadership Council, which is a select group of NBA/WNBA players, legends, coaches and celebrities tasked with providing thought, leadership and insight as it pertains to growing the Jr. NBA brand. Miles’s past credits include “The Thundermans,” “Shameless” and “Raising Hope.” Miles is partnered with Rylee Arnold and mentored by Lindsay Arnold.
Follow Miles: @MilesBrown
Follow Rylee: @ryleearnold1
Follow Lindsay: @lindsayarnold
SKY BROWN (age 10) – Sky Brown is known as a skateboarding and surfing phenom, which has led her to become a viral video media sensation with over 50 million views. Sky, who learned to skateboard at the age of 3, is one of the youngest girls to compete and medal at a professional skateboarding competition and uses her platform in skateboarding to spread her message of positivity, empowering young girls around the world and to globally give back to children in underdeveloped areas. Sky is partnered with JT Church and mentored by Alan Bersten.
Follow Sky: @AwsmShred
Follow JT: @jt_church
Follow Alan: @Dance10Alan
SOPHIA PIPPEN (age 9) – Sophia Pippen is the daughter of six-time NBA champion and two-time Olympic gold medalist, Scottie Pippen and entrepreneur Larsa Pippen. At a young age, Sophia signed to Wilhelmina Kids and Teri B. Talent to begin pursuing a career in the world of fashion and beauty. In a short time, Sophia has catapulted herself to the top by becoming the face of Oscar De La Renta Kids and walking down the runway for childrenswear brands including Aliva Simone and KidPik during Kids Fashion Week in NYC. Sophia is partnered with Jake Monreal and mentored by Sasha Farber.
Follow Sophia: @sophia_pippen
Follow Jake: @jakemonreal33
Follow Sasha: @SashaFarber
TRIPP PALIN (age 9) – Tripp Palin loves traveling between Alaska and Texas, where he’s embraced by a large, active family, including his mother, former “Dancing with the Stars” contestant Bristol Palin, and grandmother Sarah Palin. He is an all-outdoors-all-the-time all-American boy. He loves fishing, four-wheeling, snow machines, dirt bikes, football, soccer … “his little sisters and God,” Tripp reports! Never having danced before, Tripp looks forward to the athleticism required in this competition, and mostly just wants to have fun. Tripp is partnered with Hailey Bills and mentored by Jenna Johnson.
Follow Tripp: @tripp.easton
Follow Hailey: @BillsHailey
Follow Jenna: @Dance10Jenna
Hosted by “Dancing with the Stars” Season 25’s Mirrorball trophy winner, Jordan Fisher, and finalist Frankie Muniz, “Dancing with the Stars: Juniors” is a fresh take on an established favorite in which 12 celebrity kids will be partnered with professional junior ballroom dancers to perform choreographed routines, which will be judged by Emmy Award-winning choreographer Mandy Moore, professional dancer Val Chmerkovskiy and “Dancing with the Stars: Athletes” champion, Adam Rippon.
“Dancing with the Stars: Juniors” is produced by BBC Studios. Andrew Llinares and Ashley Edens-Shaffer are executive producers. The show is broadcast in 720 Progressive (720P), ABC’s selected HDTV format, with 5.1 channel surround sound. This program carries a TV-PG parental guideline.
About BBC Studios – Americas
BBC Studios, a global content company with British creativity at its heart, is a commercial subsidiary of the BBC. Formed in April 2018 by the merger of BBC Worldwide and BBC Studios, it spans content financing, development, production, sales, branded services, and ancillaries. BBC Studios’ award-winning British programs are internationally recognized across a broad range of genres and specialties. It has offices in 22 markets globally, including six production bases in the UK, and a further seven wholly owned and production partnerships internationally. The company, which makes over 2,500 hours of content a year, is a champion for British creativity around the world and a committed partner for the UK’s independent sector.
In the Americas, BBC Studios’ production unit in Los Angeles is responsible for ratings juggernaut Dancing with the Stars, critically acclaimed The Night Of, and award-winning Life Below Zero, while local productions Dancing Brasil and Bake Off Brasil are breakout hits made in Brazil. The company manages joint venture relationships with AMC Networks for flagship channel BBC AMERICA (U.S.) – home of global brands Planet Earth II, Blue Planet II, Doctor Who, and Top Gear – and with ITV for SVoD service BritBox (U.S./Canada), as well as strategic partnerships in Canada with Blue Ant Media for BBC Earth Channel, Corus for BBC Canada, and Knowledge Network for BBC Kids.

Facebook: @DWTSJuniors
Twitter: @DWTSJuniors
Instagram: @DWTSJuniors
Hashtag: #DWTSJuniors

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