- - “A Very Jonas Christmas Movie ”Choreographer Reveals How “Camp Rock ”Easter Egg Ended Up in the Movie (Exclusive)

Kelsie GibsonDecember 16, 2025 at 6:45 AM

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Courtesy of Jamal Sims

Jamal Sims on set of A Very Jonas Christmas Movie -

Jamal Sims is the mastermind behind many iconic Disney channel performances

The opportunity to choreograph the Jonas Brothers in A Very Jonas Christmas Movie came through mutual friends

"It was up to me to really make it really concise and not too complex, because we just didn't have a lot of time," Sims tells PEOPLE

If you grew up watching Disney, you’re likely very familiar with Jamal Sims’ work.

The choreographer, 54, is the mastermind behind iconic performances featured on Descendants 3 and Hannah Montana: The Movie, notably creating the "Hoedown Throwdown" dance for the latter. And his latest project only ups the nostalgia as he choreographed the Jonas Brothers for their Disney+ holiday film A Very Jonas Christmas Movie.

Though Sims is no stranger to the Disney family, he tells PEOPLE this actually marked his very first time collaborating with the singers, who rose to fame on the Disney Channel with Camp Rock.

After the opportunity to choreograph the film came through mutual friends Adam Fishbach and Justin Tranter, who worked with Sims on Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies, he says he wasted no time getting to work.

Disney+

Jonas Brothers in A Very Jonas Christmas Movie

“They didn't have a lot of time,” he says of Kevin, Joe and Nick’s busy schedules while filming the holiday movie. “Because when we were shooting this movie, they had just got off the road. So they got there the day before we started shooting, maybe two days prior, and I got them in for a couple of hours, but I never really got a good chunk of rehearsal time with them. So I knew that it was up to me to really make it really concise and not too complex, because we just didn't have a lot of time."

Despite the quick turnaround, Sims admits that the brothers were pretty fast learners when it came to the choreography. “It's funny, because they say they can't dance, but each one of them have their own style of picking up choreography,” he says. “One's a little bit faster. One just takes his time to watch a video. So I think they all have their different styles of picking up."

Of course, the biggest show-stopper in the movie was “Coming Home This Christmas,” which was filmed in Toronto with hundreds of backup dancers.

When it came to putting together the iconic number, Sims notes that the biggest priority for him was making the performance feel fun but also adding “a little bit of fantasy” throughout.

“Because that's kind of what we were stepping into [with that number],” he continues. “Like, ‘How did we get here? We're in a full-blown musical.’ That was one of my favorite pieces to put together.”

Courtesy of Jamal Sims

Jamal Sims on set of A Very Jonas Christmas Movie

That fantasy element also lent itself to a fun Camp Rock Easter egg that breaks the fourth wall. At one point in the performance, as the brothers are singing, the backup dancers do choreography from Camp Rock 2, as Kevin, Joe and Nick give each other knowing looks. The moment quickly went viral online as eagle-eyed fans caught on.

Though Sims jokes he wishes he could take credit for the moment, he reveals to PEOPLE it was actually the Jonas Brothers' idea to include it!

“It was their idea,” he confirms. “We were talking, and they were like, ‘You know what? It might be cool to throw in a little Camp Rock.’ And I was like, ‘Absolutely.’ That also speaks to who they are as performers and how much they care about their fans. Because in my head, I was like, ‘Oh, we're moving on. We're moving forward.’ And they're like, ‘No, no. Let's give them a little something to remind them.’”

Disney+

Camp Rock 3

The fun bit actually ended up being a manifesting moment for Sims as he’s set to choreograph the anticipated Camp Rock 3, where the Jonas Brothers will reprise their roles and serve as executive producers alongside their former costar Demi Lovato, who played Mitchie Torres in the original films.

“It was months [after doing A Very Jonas Christmas Movie],” Sims says of how he signed onto Camp Rock 3. “I didn't start hearing about Camp Rock until maybe four months later. And then, here we are at the camp, and chilling with the brothers. It's so fantastic, because they are such good people. I feel like I thrive in good, positive energy, and they always bring that to the set and to rehearsals.”

Teasing what’s to come for Camp Rock 3, Sims notes that while it stays “true to the first two movies,” it also adapts to the times, most notably with technology.

“Dance in 2025 is not what it was back in the day,” he points out. “It was really important that it was true to what was, but also push forward where we are now, and just taking it to the next level. Especially with the age of TikTok and the audience being so well versed in dance, we just wanted to make sure that there's some things that they recognize, but also some surprises.”

With so many iconic projects under his belt, Sims says he’s still always “humbled” when people enjoy his work, noting that his most recognized for Hannah Montana’s “Hoedown Throwdown” dance.

John Medland/Disney

Jamal Sims on set of A Very Jonas Christmas Movie

“Even when I walked on the Camp Rock [set] some of [the actors] aren't familiar with me and then they'll go back and the one thing they come up like, ‘Oh my gosh, you choreographed the Hoedown Throwdown.’ I love to watch people now, even today, do on TikTok and they're still doing the dance. And it's such a compliment. And I'm always so humbled when people enjoy my work.”

A Very Jonas Christmas Movie is currently streaming on Disney+.

on People

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Source: “AOL Entertainment”