Conductor Ray Chew’s job because the music director of Dancing With the Stars is tough. It requires a excessive degree of musical talent, the power to orchestrate many items from week to week and to rapidly adapt to adjustments as the celebs and their professional dance companions fine-tune their choreography. Add in rehearsals and managing an 18-person band and one could be stunned to be taught that Chew even has time to breathe, not to mention be as coolly relaxed as once we spoke to him. Though his efforts are hardly ever seen on digital camera, they’re most definitely heard.
In any case, it’s fairly exhausting to bop with out music (although not unimaginable, particularly after seeing Season 22 champ Nyle DiMarco, who’s deaf, take the Mirrorball trophy dwelling in 2016). Chew says he was “recruited” for Dancing in 2014 after serving because the Emmy Awards music director and, for 4 seasons, engaged on competitors collection American Idol — whose manufacturing, says Chew, was “throughout the corridor” on the time. For the primary 17 seasons, the present’s music got here from Tony-winning bandleader Harold Wheeler and his 28-member orchestra, however in February 2014, ABC introduced his abrupt departure from the present, and Chew was thrust into the function for Season 18. “Ray is without doubt one of the most versatile and dynamic musicians working right this moment,” showrunner Conrad Inexperienced mentioned on the time.
In the course of the season, a typical week is hectic. There’s no time for any missteps. The record of assigned songs — “deliverables,” as Chew calls them — is shipped out on Tuesday, however since Chew is busy preparing for the night time’s stay present performances, they don’t are likely to get began in full till the next morning. Wednesdays and Thursdays, Chew digs into arranging the songs for his band. “We actually attempt to give the suitable method to every track,” he explains.
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Usually, they’re taking a preferred observe and including parts, following the professional dancer’s request. Typically they should mimic the music completely. To do both of these, Chew jokes, they need to “un-bake the cake” of the track. Nonetheless, “the dancers are particular all the way down to the millisecond,” says Chew of their directions. “After I’m in a position to make these guys smile, we’re good.”
After a 48-hour interval to arrange the musical preparations, they’ll have a small rehearsal on Friday, add in the entire band on Saturday and apply with the dance crew on Sunday. Monday is the present’s full costume rehearsal after which Tuesday is efficiency day. Typically rehearsals can take a tiring 12 to 16 hours. Then it begins once more the next week. “After I begin the season, there’s not a lot room for anything,” Chew admits. No kidding.
However selection is the spice of life, and what makes Dancing so scrumptious. “We’ll do a giant band and herald further horns after which do a Katy Perry track after which flip round and do Soul Prepare Evening,” the bandleader says. “It’s at all times splendidly difficult.”
What occurs when one of many celeb contestants is a pop star or different well-known musician? Do they ever get in the way in which of the method? “They’ve been splendidly respectful,” Chew assures us. “[Grammy winner] Jason Mraz [who was Season 32’s runner-up in 2023], he was nice. A few of them really come into the rehearsal and carry out with us.”
Whereas Chew maintains that he and his crew have “loads of enjoyable,” even within the high-stress atmosphere, there’s at all times strain to realize perfection, and with good purpose: “Every track has acquired to be a success over the fence, as a result of every track is that second for the contestants.” OK, hit it!
Dancing With the Stars, Season 34 Premiere, Tuesday, September 16, 8/7c, ABC
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