The Making Of SWAY 2.0 Episode 4: "The Announcement"

October 24, 2014

THE MAKING OF SWAY 2.0 EPISODE 4: “The Announcement″

MERYL DAVIS AND ZENDAYA JOIN THE CAST OF SWAY 2.0!

We didn’t think it would happen, it wasn’t part of the original plan, but with some creative scheduling we were able to get Meryl Davis and Zendaya to join the cast of SWAY 2.0 in December!

When we decided to bring back SWAY in December our plan was to add more professional dancers and make improvements to the choreography. We knew Meryl and Zendaya had crazy schedules and it was a stretch to get them to commit to learning choreography and traveling to New York during the busy holiday season. We had originally reserved four days of theater space in…uhh… The Space, which were December 18-20, and none of those days worked for either one of them. Bummer, right?

So we were thinking of getting some other stars to join SWAY, but the #DWMFAM pleaded relentlessly via Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and email that we somehow get Meryl and/or Zendaya. Well with a little bit [read: lot] of effort we got both!

So, how was all this possible? Well technically it wasn’t. We had to add more shows to accommodate their schedule, and even so, making the rehearsal scheduling was NOT easy. As you know, both of these multitalented women have a ridiculously busy schedule that includes figure skating, dancing, singing, acting, live concerts, appearances, charity work, practicing their own skills, and perhaps even…umm maybe… please… having some personal time….? We are very grateful that they are making accommodations, however, Meryl will only perform two shows on Wednesday, December 17th and Zendaya only two shows on Sunday, December 21st.

So if four more shows is the only option, then four more shows it is! Eight shows in five days! We better start eating our Wheaties. (Wheaties did not sponsor this message).

Maks and Meryl provided what was arguably the most memorable Dancing With the Stars season ever, and now they reunite for the first time ever on stage in SWAY! It’s definitely going to be an emotional night… but then again so is every SWAY night. Maks personally told me how ecstatic Meryl was that she gets to dance with him again, especially in a show like SWAY.

Now, let’s not forget about Zendaya who wowed the audience last SWAY run together with Val! She is one of the most naturally talents I have every met. Everything comes so easy to her and she just makes it look so smooth while stealing the spotlight with her shining personality. It’s hard to keep your eyes off Val and Zendaya!

Speaking of magical partnerships…that’s one of the underlying themes of this episode. SWAY has added some couples with lots of experiences together. The four new cast members, and professional dance partners, you will meet in this episode are So You Think You Can Dance; Sergey Onik & Alla Kocherga and internationally acclaimed ballroom dancers Kiki Nyemchek & Magda Fialek, also former troupe members of Dancing With the Stars.

As a bonus, we actually get to see Joao “Tiago” Fernandes smiling and stress-free during rehearsals. Just look at that beautiful Portuguese smile!

Check out the rehearsal footage, meet the new cast members, go gaga of Tiago and Maks below…

Actually, wait! Before you do that… let’s just take a moment to summarize the star filled cast for SWAY 2.0 Already announced cast members includes Dancing With the Stars and So You Think You Can Dance professionals, Peta Murgatroyd, Henry Byalikov, Jenna Johnson, Serge Onik, Artem Chigvintsev, Sharna Burgess and of course your favorite boys Maks & Val Chmerkovksiy, Tony Dovolani! and announced yesterday Meryl Davis and Zendaya!