For those of you who have been watching Dancing With the Stars for 27 seasons, the lineup of exceptional professional dancers is seemingly irreplaceable. Enter Season 1 of Dancing With the Stars: Juniors, with a cast of 12 talented junior pros that represent next generation of dance—including Sage Rosen. Rosen is a three-time National Dance Champion who has been featured in several television shows and commercials. He has performed with iconic artists such as ‪Justin Bieber‬, ‪Chris Brown‬, ‪Usher‬, Sia, and ‪Mariah Carey‬. Rosen recently appeared alongside pop star and former Dance Moms star Mackenzie Ziegler as a pro dancer on Dancing With The Stars: Juniors. With the help of mentor Gleb Savchenko, the pair made it all the way to the finale of the series, receiving a perfect score on the iconic “freestyle” routine. Below, Rosen gives a behind the scenes look at his experience DWTS and explains what lead him to success.

When did you first discover you had a passion for dancing?

Being the youngest of six kids, I watched my older siblings dance and it inspired me to become a dancer. We grew up dancing together and it was so much fun!

How did you perfect your craft as a child?

My older brother owns a dance studio so I would always be there training and getting better. It's really convenient that he owns a studio because I'm able to practice whenever I want and dance all day, every day!

What’s your favorite style of dance and why?

Ballroom and Contemporary! I love being able to tell a story and be emotional while doing Contemporary. Ballroom is a lot of fun because I get to work with a partner and it’s really high energy!

What was it like working with Sia and Maddie Ziegler on “The Greatest” music video?

It was so cool getting to work with such talented people! I was so inspired by them and loved every minute of the experience.

How did it differ from other videos you’ve done?

There was a different energy on set. Both Sia and Maddie were so cool and spent so much time with all of us. They were so hands-on with the entire thing.

How did you come to be a pro on Dancing With the Stars: Juniors? What was the audition process like?

It had been a dream of mine since I can remember to be on Dancing With the Stars. I had a private audition with three other people because I was too old. Luckily, after a full year of auditioning, I got picked and it was the best experience in the world that I wouldn’t trade for anything!

When did you find out that Mackenzie would be your partner? Did you know her personally prior to the show?

I didn’t know Kenzie prior to the show. We had competed against each other before, but I never met her or got to know her. I found out on camera and I was so excited! She is such a good dancer and such a great friend and cool person. I feel really lucky to have had her as a partner!

What was your favorite part about being on DWTS? What was the most challenging part?

Performing! Just being on that stage with all the lights was a complete dream. Every week that went by, I couldn’t believe it. Performing is such a thrill and I absolutely love it. The most challenging part was the stress of only having four days and needing to learn two dances!

What’s next up in your dance career?

Hopefully, I’ll get to be apart another season of Dancing With The Stars: Juniors because it's been my favorite thing I've done so far in my career! I'll also be going on tour with Maddie and Kenzie in January to the UK!

Where do you see yourself in ten years?

In a movie! I want to start acting more and my ultimate goal would be to have a role in a movie where I get to act and dance.

Follow Sage on Social Media:

Instagram: @sagerosen
YouTube: Sage Rosen