Acclaimed choreographer Jamal Sims is stepping behind the camera to direct his first narrative feature. The longtime dance creative has been tapped by 20th Century Studios to helm Major, a drama centered around an HBCU majorette team.
Written by Lauren Ashley Smith, the film follows a gifted ballet prodigy who begins to question the rigid expectations placed on her by both the classical dance world and her demanding parents. Looking for freedom and a new sense of identity, she defies their wishes and enrolls at a fictional Historically Black College in Atlanta.
There, she joins the school’s struggling majorette dance squad. After an initial culture shock, the classically trained dancer becomes determined to help the competitive team reclaim its former glory.
The project brings together a powerhouse producing team that includes Grammy- and Oscar-winning artist H.E.R. (Gabriella Wilson), Oprah Winfrey, Scott Sanders, Carla Gardini, and Mara Jacobs.
For Sims, the opportunity marks a long-awaited step into feature filmmaking after building a decades-long career in dance, choreography, and live entertainment. While widely known to many audiences as a guest judge on RuPaul’s Drag Race, Sims has been shaping some of the most recognizable choreography across film, television, and music.
His film credits include choreography for Encanto, Aladdin, 13: The Musical, Girls Trip, Footloose, Hairspray, 17 Again, and multiple installments of the Step Up franchise. Beyond film, he has collaborated with artists including Jennifer Lopez, Madonna, Usher, and OutKast.
Sims has also directed large-scale musical productions, including Disney’s The Lion King 30th Anniversary celebration at the Hollywood Bowl starring Jennifer Hudson and Billy Eichner, as well as the Disney+ special Encanto: Love at the Hollywood Bowl. On television, he directed and choreographed Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies for Paramount+.
The upcoming film also connects deeply to Sims’ earlier work. In 2018, he directed the documentary When the Beat Drops, which explored the majorette dance movement that emerged from Atlanta’s Black LGBTQ club scene and highlighted the legacy of choreographer and pioneer Anthony Davis.
The story behind Major itself began with H.E.R., who originally pitched the project after becoming fascinated with the cultural impact of majorette dance. Following her acting debut in The Color Purple, the Oscar-winning musician teamed back up with producers Oprah Winfrey and Scott Sanders to develop the film through Harpo Films and Scott Sanders Productions.
Majorette dance has long been a defining part of HBCU culture, evolving over more than five decades into a powerful performance style that blends jazz, hip-hop, ballet, kick lines, and elements of show dance. The choreography and aesthetics have since influenced everything from music videos to professional dance teams.
With Sims directing, Major represents a full-circle moment for the choreographer—bringing together his background in dance storytelling with a narrative rooted in Black cultural traditions and the vibrant legacy of HBCU performance culture.