Michelle Vivona and Jerome Vivona will be shimmying down south to perform in a show that is watched by over 7 million people.
Michelle and Jerome, co-owners of the American Theater Dance Workshop in Mineola for the past 11 years, have been cast in the upcoming season of the Paramount+ series “1923.” The Broadway veterans and dance duo will travel to Austin, Texas, on Sept. 9 for a week to rehearse and film the episode.
“The choreographer on the show is an old friend of ours and she was looking for a group of older, experienced dancers, and she reached out to us for this episode,” Jerome said. “Once she reached out to us, we gave our materials to casting and then the director made the final decision and they liked what they saw because we were able to get cast on the show.”
Jerome said he was ecstatic that the director gave them an opportunity to work together on this show. He said the job is a “big deal” because he doesn’t know if an opportunity like this will happen again, which is why he said he and Michelle immediately jumped at the offer.
“The fact that we’ve been recognized for our ability and our experience and our knowledge, and we received a direct offer to work on a Paramount+ TV show, it’s pretty exciting,” Jerome said.
The first two days in Texas will involve costume fittings and rehearsals. Then on Sept. 12, Michelle and Jerome will be shooting their part of the episode, which happens to coincide with their 30th wedding anniversary.
“We were able to work together for many years on Broadway and on tour, doing shows together, but we haven’t worked as dancers together professionally since 1997,” Michelle said.
Jerome said being able to work with Michelle again as performers on a hit television show is “pretty outstanding,” especially during their anniversary. He said he does not know how much they will be interacting in front of the camera, but he said they will be together on the set throughout the day.
“I understand that a few of our friends and colleagues from the past will also be on set that week so it’ll be like an old home week for us, too,” Jerome said.
Michelle got her start in dancing at a young age. Her parents were dancers on Broadway in the 1950s, and on television shows like “The Perry Como Show.” She said her parents rehearsed and danced with each other every week when they were on shows together.
“I studied dance with them growing up and then once I graduated high school, I moved to New York City and started working as a professional dancer,” Michelle said.
In the city, she was part of five Broadway shows and some national tours. She also danced as a Radio City Music Hall Rockette.
“My experience and pathway is a little different,” Jerome said. “I grew up on Long Island and was mainly an athlete.”
Jerome went to North Shore High School and he said he loved doing theater there. He originally went to college to play soccer, but then “made a u-turn” and decided to study dance. Jerome then became a ballet dancer and performed in some Broadway shows.
Broadway brought the couple together in Paris 32 years ago as they were both doing a production of “West Side Story.” They married in 1994 and were in several more shows together for a few years after that. Now, with two children in their 20s, Jerome and Michelle work with students at their studio to pass on the lessons and skills they’ve learned over the years.
“We have so many students now working professionally, locally, regionally, nationally, internationally, on Broadway, on television, on film,” Jerome said. “We’re excited to see their success.”
To ensure they can fully commit to their filming schedule, the couple has decided to delay the start of their new dance season by one week. Classes will now begin on Monday, Sept. 16, and the season will be extended through June 16 to make up for the missed time.
For more information about the American Theater Dance Workshop and their upcoming season, visit AmericanTheaterDance.com or call (516) 248-6420.
