Shake It Up with Bella Thorne and Zendaya

Disney's new show, Shake it Up, starring Bella Thorne and Zendaya, is about two best friends (CeCe and Rocky) who land roles as background dancers on a teen dance show "Shake it Up, Chicago." It's got a lot of buzz, and premieres on the Disney Channel Sunday, November 7th at 8:30 p.m. ET/PT.

We sat down with the two new stars to get you the inside scoop! First we spoke to Bella Thorne, who plays Cece:

Q: Tell me about CeCe.
Bella: Well CeCe is very outgoing. She has a heart for dance. She will stop at nothing to reach any of her goals. She also has dyslexia. I'm exactly like her, except my mom is not a cop. Her mom is a cop.

Q: You have dyslexia in real life. You have great grades, so you obviously learned how to overcome this. How do you do it?

Bella: I read a lot of books every single night. Even when I didn't have a book in my hand, I was reading either the cereal box, or driving by in a car, I was reading the posters – all of the stuff on the walls and everything you passed by. It really helps to be able to read every second. I wanted to be an actress so bad, so I started reading scripts. That's what really helped me push myself to learn. As an actress, you have to be able to read because sometimes we have cold reads and they just give you a script on the spot.

Q: What's the best part of being in Shake It Up?
Bella: Being able to dance with great friends and being able to be so close to everyone on the set.

Q: Did you know any of your co-stars before you got the show?
Bella: Yes, I knew Kenton Duty. He plays Gunther. He plays my arch-rival, and we're just so close. We're such good friends.
Ratha: Good to know! So when they look like they can't stand each other, they're really just utilizing their acting skills.

Q: What's your dressing room like? Did you decorate it yourself?
Bella: Yes, I did. I was the first one to decorate my room. And it's pink and black – the walls are pink and black. I've got a bean bag that says Bella on it, which is so cool! And a lot of pictures of my family and friends. I have a frog in my room.

Q: A real frog?
Bella: Yes, a real frog. Her name is Señorita. And she had a Señor, but he didn't make it.
Ratha: I guess he couldn't handle the fame.

Q: What book would you recommend to a friend?
Bella: The Ghost Girl series (for ages 12 and up). Oh, and The 39 Clues!
Ratha: Awesome picks!

Q: When you were younger did you want to be anything other than an actress?
Bella: I wanted to be a news telecaster. Other than acting, it was the news for me. I don't know why.

Q: What's your favorite thing to do when you have time off, when you're not working or in school? Bella: Reading. Still reading, I'm telling you. Reading and dance!
Ratha: Great combo!

Then we spoke to Zendaya, the TV newcomer who plays Rocky:

Q: Did you take dance classes when you were young?
Zendaya: When I was eight, I was in a hip hop dance troupe called Future Shock Oakland (California). It really helped me understand choreography and how to move my body. Then I also did Hula, which is kind of the opposite of hip hop, but it was really fun, and it helped me with my body's fluidity.
Ratha: That will come in handy if you take a vacation to Hawaii!

Q: Is there any style of dance that you prefer?
Zendaya: A mixture of hip hop pop - which is actually kind of what we do on the show. It's really fun and upbeat. Like if you're in the living room watching it on TV, you're gonna want to get up and start dancing with us.

Q: What's the schedule like for the show's dance choreography?
Zendaya: Well, some episodes we don't have any dancing and some episodes we have a lot of dancing. It varies on the episode. But when we do have a lot of dancing we have dance rehearsals with our choreographer, Rosero McCoy, who's actually from Camp Rock the Final Jam, which is really cool.
Ratha: Not a bad job to have!
Zendaya: Sometimes we don't have very much time to learn the choreography but when we have little time we just keep going over and over and over again and just work it into our bodies, kind of like muscle memory!

Q: You have a huge background in theatre. Was it hard to adapt to television?
Zendaya: It wasn't too bad but it's definitely a complete difference from theatre and television! With our show, we have live tapings, and it kind of resembles being onstage at a theatre.

Q: Describe Rocky.
Zendaya: She's shy, but I just love how warm and kind and generous she is. Her goals in life are to help people, and to dance. She's a really wonderful girl. I would love to be friends with her.

Q: Do you have an all time favorite book that you would recommend?
Zendaya: Actually there is a book that I read in fifth grade called So B. It. It's such a good book. I'm not gonna give it away too much but it's just about this girl and she has a pretty tough life. Her mom has a mental disability and so it's kind of about her growing up and trying to find out who she is. It's a really great book and I love it so much.

Q: If you could play a character in a novel, who would it be?
Zendaya: That's a tough choice. I think the character of the girl in So B. It because it has these funny moments and she's a really funny quirky girl, but sometimes it has drama moments. So it kind of has comedy and drama at the same time - my two favorite aspects of acting.

And there you have it! Will you be watching the show when it premieres on Sunday? Let us know in the Comments!

—Ratha, Stacks Writer

Comments

[Comment #1]

Zandaya's favorite aspects of acting drama comedy and so are mine. I'd love to be an actress when I grow up infact I'd like to be one now. I just haven't been discovered...yet.

[Comment #2]

well i think shake it up is going to be awsome

[Comment #3]

Hey! How is your new show "Shake It Up" coming along?!

[Comment #4]

hey send me a comment back". hi.

[Comment #5]

I can't wait for Shake It Up! Love the music and dances!

[Comment #6]

I HOPE YOUR MOVIE IS WONDERFUL!!!!

[Comment #7]

when is your movie coming out ? I wonder ????

[Comment #8]

Hi.My name's Alexis. I am 1 of your fans!I just wanted to tell Bella and Zendaya that I'm looking forward too watching shake it up! Bye Bella,bye Zendaya. Alexis

[Comment #9]

WHAT I THINK U ARE IS A WONDERFUL AND BEAUTIFUL TEENAGER !!!!!!!!!

[Comment #10]

Hi! It is soooo awesome how Zendaya got a MAIN ROLE for her first TV/movie audition (kinda like Gregg Sulkin [he plays Mason on WOWP, and now Will Wagner in the DCOM Avalon High], who got a main role in the British movie Sixty Six for his first audition!). Bella was on Wizards of Waverly Place as Nancy in the episode, "Max's Secret Girlfriend". I think it's SO awesome that she got to meet that Emmy Award Winning cast and be on the show.

Ink Splot 26 Staffers, do you think you could try to get an interview with Gregg Sulkin sometime?

[Comment #11]

YEAH MAN
I'M Like soooooooooooooooooo excited I can not wait It's like soooooo HARDCORE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Comment #12]

I've never watched the show and don't plan to, no offense! Just expressing my opinion and I'm entitled to it. It seems sort of boring and pointless.

[Comment #13]

I agree with Zendaya. I've read So B. It. It is such a great book. It's like a mystery and well, a sad story combined into one great book. You should read it! I am going to watch the premier on Sunday too!

[Comment #14]

Lol, I've read So B. It too! It's a really great book. I read it back in third grade and did a book report on it. I can't wait for the show!!!

[Comment #15]

too long and boring

[Comment #16]

cant wait to see it and i saw the previews so far love you dancing

[Comment #17]

I will love shake it up

[Comment #18]

i think ur show will turn out awsom and i can't wait to c it :)

[Comment #19]

I hope the show is awesome! i can't wait for it to come out!

[Comment #20]

OMG!!!!! I HVE GT TO SEE THIS SHOW REALLY OMG!!!!!!!!!

[Comment #21]

i am so looking forward to this show. i can't wait.

[Comment #22]

I think they're pretty good dancers in the show and i like the moves that they did do in the show. I wonder how they did those moves in such a short period of time. I really wish that they were my sisters.

[Comment #23]

Just watched the show yesterday/. it was kinda cool. i think it needed more dance in it tho.

[Comment #24]

that is SO cool! I cant WAIT for the show! :)

[Comment #25]

Hi! This is great, I can't wait for the premier. : )