Chicago dancer relishes backup role in 'The Bodyguard'

Chicago native Jaquez André Sims describes his experience in the national tour of "The Bodyguard" as "surreal."

That's because he's a huge fan of both Whitney Houston, who starred in the 1992 film, and Deborah Cox, tackling the same role as imperiled pop star Rachel Marron in the musical. The 2012 London stage adaptation makes its Chicago debut at the Oriental Theatre Tuesday, Jan. 31.

"I am and have been ever since I can remember, a die-hard Whitney Houston fan," Sims said. "'The Bodyguard' soundtrack, you know songs like 'I Will Always Love You' and 'Run to You,' these songs were the soundtrack to my life."

Growing up in the 1990s, Sims also came to love Cox's music. Now, he gets to share the stage with the Canadian R&B star.

"I still get chills every night when I'm backstage listening to these power ballads," Sims said. "(Cox) is the most giving and smart person I've worked with in musical theater, doing a role that is so taxing. She is the best person for it and just killing it with ease."

If Cox has to take special care of her vocal chords on tour doing eight shows a week, Sims said he and his fellow dancers have to take extra special care of their toned bodies. Sims said he's shirtless in the show about 75 percent of the time, so returning home might be a challenge since he is a "foodie" and fan of Chicago's dining scene.

"Touring life from my perspective and doing a show like this which is very athletic and 'scantily clad' for the gentlemen, we do have to be very regimented with our eating and our fitness and going to the gym," said Sims about maintaining that "commercial hunky dancer" look. "There's also a lot of physical therapy since we do a lot of lifts and jumping off platforms and acrobatic moves."

Though now based in the New York area, Sims is very much a product of Chicago's arts scene. From an early age, Sims sang with the Chicago Children's Choir and later performed in musicals at Lane Tech College Prep. At around age 15, Sims got over negative peer pressure about his desire to dance. He pursed training with studios and companies including Dance Gallery, Joel Hall Dance Center and Ballet Chicago.

"I had the gamut of all different styles and I think that's helped me become the dancer I am," said Sims about his training, which helped him get into New York University's Tisch School of the Arts. "I wanted to go to college for dance and I wanted to dance in a dance company like Hubbard Street Dance Chicago (which was one of my favorites), Bill T. Jones or Cedar Lake Contemporary Ballet."

Though a pure dance career hasn't panned out yet, Sims did find a place in the world of musical theater. Sims credits suburban director/choreographer Jim Corti for casting him in a 2011 Drury Lane Theatre production of Disney's "Aida." More theater work followed when Corti became artistic director of the Paramount Theatre in Aurora and cast Sims in both "A Chorus Line" and "Hair" for the inaugural 2011-12 season.

"(Corti) really influenced my career and put me on track on what to expect and how to go forth in musical theater," Sims said. "My time at the Paramount was amazing."

While he's back in Chicago, Sims is looking forward to being reunited with family and friends. He also wants to visit his old dance studios.

"I was thinking about maybe teaching a master class," Sims said. "I definitely want to go back and show my face and see who's still there and touch base."