Playground Co-Founder Robin Antin Talks Dance Drama and Becoming Work Besties With Megan Thee Stallion In New Hulu Reality Show
Robin Antin and Kenny Wormald open the doors to their prestigious dance company Playground in the new Hulu reality series Playground. Pop Culture Planet’s Ally Bonsall spoke to Robin Antin, the creator of The Pussycat Dolls, world-class choreographer, and co-founder of Playground, about running a successful dance empire and welcoming the reality television world into her studio.
Megan The Stallion, appropriately named the Executive Producer of Playground, teams up with Antin and Wormald to find the best dancers in the country. Both Megan and Tinashe are among the superstars who flock to Playground to discover new talent for their tours and music videos. Antin champions Megan for her humility, generosity, and incredible coaching to auditioning dancers. She describes Megan as “a nice girl,” saying “[she] really cares about people. She was so good in the audition, so honest, but pure. She didn’t take anyone down.” Megan’s production company Hot Girl Production, is the perfect company to bring Playground into living rooms and it’s incredible to see the trust Antin gave Megan to peel back the curtain on the competitive world of professional dancing.
A mixture of blood, sweat, and tears goes into becoming the best of the best in the dance industry and Playground does not shy away from the tumultuous relationships that fester from continuous competition. When asked about balancing professionalism in the studio with the drama among her dancers, Antin admits it’s no easy feat to manage the diverse personalities of her dancers, but her passion for the industry is what drives her. Antin spoke about her mission to create a community where dancers feel free and respected, but she admitted that not all her dancers are friends. She candidly said, “Not everyone is best friends,” but that doesn’t stop Playground from giving all their dancers the best opportunities they can provide. While dancers Alexis Beauregard and Deanna Leggett aren’t compatible as seen in scenes this season, Antin says she has an open heart to support her dancers and offer personal advice because she cares for her team.
A little drama doesn’t stop the dancers from dominating the dance floor. The episodes showcase the incredible talent at Playground and Antin can’t resist gushing about all of her dancers. Antin is famous for creating the world-renowned pop music group The Pussycat Dolls, for choreographing infamous dances such as “The Routine” from Friends, and for her impeccable eye for discovering talent. With such a successful career in the entertainment industry, Antin stands firm in her belief that the future of the dance industry is bright. “I’ve never, ever, ever seen dancers this good at Playground. Ever. In my whole life,” she told me.
Despite workplace drama and the competitive nature of the dance industry, Antin champions herself and Wormald for their shared passion for dance. “We’re so focused, and we love it so much,” she shared. “It’s our passion and we opened Playground because of passion.”
Playground is now streaming on Hulu and it’s a must-watch for anyone who wants an invitation into the competitive world of dance.
