Netflix Orders Ballet School Drama ‘Tiny Pretty Things’

Will Thorne

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Netflix has issued a 10-episode order for “Tiny Pretty Things,” a drama series based on the book by Sona Charaipotra and Dhonielle Clayton.

“Tiny Pretty Things” is set in the world of an elite ballet academy and charts the rise and fall of young adults who live far from their homes, each standing on the verge of greatness or ruin. The show is slated to launch on the streamer in 2020.

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The ballet academy in question is the Archer School of Ballet, which serves as the company school for the city of Chicago’s renowned professional company and is populated by an array of dancers from all types of backgrounds.

As Variety previously reported, Netflix has confirmed that Jess Salgueiro, who currently recurs on Amazon’s “The Boys,” will join the series in the role of Isabel, a cop with a dancer’s rigidity and discipline born out of two tours of duty in Afghanistan who decided to trade in one uniform for another. With her ambition and keen moral compass, Isabel is uniquely qualified to search for the truth of what happened during a mysterious accident at the academy.

Meanwhile Lauren Holly, whose previous credits include “Designated Survivor” and “Dumb and Dumber,” joins the cast in the role of Monique, a former dancer turned The Archer School director. Driven by ambition and a true belief in the school’s values, Monique uses her “dark capacities” to defend her institution and bring about the best in her students, regardless of her means.

Also joining the series are Kylie Jefferson, Casimere Jollette, Daniela Norman, Brennan Clost, Michael Hsu Rosen, Bayardo De Murguia, Barton Cowperthwaite, Tony Trowbridge.

Jefferson plays Neveah, the rebel with raw talent and fierce determination who looks to rise above her roots and find a future in the world of ballet laurent without losing her unique and fiery approach to dance.

Jollette plays Bette, a ruthlessly perfect, supremely confident, ambitious “music box ballerina.”

Norman plays June, a sweet and petite dancer raised by a strict businesswoman mother.

Clost plays Shane, who grew up tormented for loving dance, and has become a hot-headed scrapper and his family’s greatest hope.

Hsu Rosen plays Nabil, a man with the swagger of Baryshnikov and the cold eyes of a potential killer.

Gillespie plays Caleb, a lean and handsome dancer who uses his ready humor and undeniable talent, in order to mask his struggles with a profound loss.

De Murguia plays Ramon, a lean god with a deep baritone, Ramon is a former bad-boy dancer turned visionary choreographer.

Cowperthwaite plays Oren, a strapping prince of a man, wealth and good looks gave him great roles, Bette as a girlfriend, and primed him for success.

Trowbridge plays Delia, Bette’s older sister, and dancer of supreme caliber and beauty, Delia is the Whitlaw Family’s first prodigy, returning to Chicago after two years dancing abroad.

“Tiny Pretty Things” was developed and produced by Insurrection Media, with “Queer As Folk” producer Michael MacLennan on board to write, showrun and executive produce. Kiliaen Van Rensselaer, Jordanna Fraiberg, and Deborah Henderson are exec producing for Insurrection Media. Other executive producers on the project include Gary Fleder and Gabrielle Neimand of Mojo Films, and Carrie Mudd of Peacock Alley.

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