You鈥檇 think that, by this point in his career, Paul Becker would be able to stage an elaborate production number for Dancing with the Stars without breaking a sweat.
The Victoria-born director and choreographer dances with the stars for a living, after all.
His many creative partners to date include Miley Cyrus, Ariane Grande, the Muppets, Neil Patrick Harris and Kristin Chenoweth.
What makes Becker鈥檚 contribution to Monday鈥檚 edition of the hit ABC-TV show more sweat-inducing than usual is that it will air live.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a one-shot thing, so it is stressful,鈥� Becker said from a Los Angeles studio where he was rehearsing Descendants stars Dove Cameron, Cameron Boyce, Booboo Stewart, Sofia Carson and 22 other dancers.
It was for a big group number to celebrate the Disney megahit鈥檚 hotly-anticipated sequel that premi猫res on July 21. Like the original, pivotal sequences were filmed at Hatley Castle.
鈥淵ou really have to push the dancers to be absolutely full-out. It鈥檚 a lot of pressure, and you have to have your shots planned ahead of time,鈥� said Becker, reflecting on what it takes to pull off the potential showstopper he was asked to stage by his mentor, legendary Hollywood director-choreographer Kenny Ortega (High School Musical).
Becker鈥檚 Dancing with the Stars spectacle is a remix of the first movie鈥檚 rouser Rotten to the Core and Ways to be Wicked, to be featured in Descendants 2.
鈥淚t鈥檚 really high-energy choreography. It鈥檚 pretty deadly. I鈥檓 hoping to blow everyone away,鈥� said Becker, who choreographed the original Descendants with director Ortega.
Descendants was 2015鈥檚 top-rated TV movie, drawing 100 million viewers worldwide. Disney plans to premi猫re on several networks, including Lifetime and ABC.
Becker couldn鈥檛 take part in Descendants 2 because of other commitments last year, including working with Harris on Netflix鈥檚 A Series of Unfortunate Events.
鈥淚t was crazy,鈥� the former Spectrum Community School student recalled.
Other projects that have kept Becker busier than ever include Riverdale, CW鈥檚 Archie Comics-inspired teen drama series; DC鈥檚 Legends of Tomorrow; and The Magicians, the Syfy network鈥檚 fantasy series that found him focusing on 鈥渇inger-tutting,鈥� a dance using intricate finger movements that characters use to conjure up spells.
Becker鈥檚 other big project was choreographing dance moves for an hour-long musical episode of ABC鈥檚 Once Upon a Time that airs May 7 at 8 p.m.
鈥淚 had the pleasure of getting to hire dancers from all across sa国际传媒 for that,鈥� Becker said. 鈥淚鈥檓 always so excited about getting to give people opportunities.鈥�
The Stages Dance School alumnus will do that again on May 28, when he comes home to teach another of his inspirational pop-up master classes at which dancers can learn, strut their stuff and audition. 鈥淚鈥檒l be seeing more talent hopefully for possible future jobs,鈥� Becker said. 鈥淚 always hire people from classes. It鈥檚 just a good opportunity and a fun day of dance for everybody.鈥�
Becker brings some of the industry鈥檚 busiest choreographers to his cross-sa国际传媒 events, and will do so for his hometown edition at Mount Douglas Secondary School (visit for more information).
This year鈥檚 guest faculty includes Luther Brown, best known for his choreography for Jennifer Lopez and Janet Jackson; and Hamilton Evans, the British-born YouTube phenomenon.
There鈥檚 an art to choreographing compelling dance sequences for the screen, said Becker, whose chief influences also include Gene Kelly and Rob Marshall (Chicago).
When he designs movement for films or TV shows, he said, he ensures his choreography for the dancers can be complemented by the camerawork.
鈥淚t鈥檚 all one to me,鈥� Becker said. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 look at the dance moves separately [from] the camera that is shooting it. It鈥檚 just as important filling the frame with movement and beauty.鈥�
It helps that 鈥淚 just love movies,鈥� said Becker, who credits Ortega with teaching him about the language of camera-friendly choreography.
Although he admitted he could use a vacation, there will be no sleeping in for Becker the morning after Dancing with the Stars airs. He鈥檚 scheduled to fly to Vancouver to work on a Hallmark movie before jumping back into A Series of Unfortunate Events.
鈥淭he only time I really get a vacation is Christmas because that鈥檚 when the industry shuts down,鈥� he said.
Good timing, since that鈥檚 when his dance drama Breaking Brooklyn, starring Louis Gossett Jr., will likely hit theatres.