At just 21 years old, Victoria Caro is already a force to be reckoned with in Hollywood. She began dancing competitively at the age of seven and learned more about the world of acting through choreographers and peers she met at dance conventions, landing her first major gig in 2016 as a dancer in Sia’s music video for “The Greatest.”
Her career began to blossom after meeting esteemed choreographer Paul Becker back in 2017. They worked together on a Toyota commercial, where she was hired as a dancer and assisted with the choreography. The two quickly formed a partnership, with Becker calling Caro to assist on a number of his other projects.
When Kenny Ortega, the executive producer and director of the 2020 Netflix original “Julie and the Phantoms,” brought Becker on to choreograph, Becker immediately suggested hiring Caro as well. “Julie and the Phantoms,” a show about a high school girl who finds healing through the power of music, marked a professional milestone for Caro. The show centers Julie (Madison Reyes), who has a gift for piano and singing but quit performing after her mother died. With the help of new friends, and the discovery of creative ways to stay connected to her mom, Julie forms a band and rekindles her love of music.
Accompanying that music are some pretty theatrical dance numbers, which Caro was vital in choreographing. When she wasn’t teaching the cast new routines, Caro was able to lean into her talent as an actor by playing the role of Kayla, a singer and dancer in one of the show’s bands, Dirty Candy.
Despite airing just one season, “Julie and the Phantoms” gained a large fanbase who were able to stay connected with the show through behind-the-scenes videos posted to YouTube. Many of these videos showcase Caro walking the fans through popular dance numbers she helped choreograph, such as “Wow” and “The Other Side of Hollywood.” As a young choreographer and actor with a largely young and internet-savvy following, Caro is able to put a face to her dance numbers in a way previous choreographers have not. With dance moves that accompany lyrics such as “Come follow me, we gonna make history” and “Yeah, we’re going sky high and we never gonna settle” from “Wow,” Caro and the “Julie and the Phantoms” team are empowering the next generation of girls.
Another teen-focused show Caro was on from the start is “Riverdale.” In the first season episode “Chapter Ten: The Lost Weekend,” Veronica (Camila Mendes) finds herself in a cheer-off against team leader Cheryl (Madelaine Petsch). Caro assistant-choreographed this modern dance-off as well as a couple other dance numbers throughout Season 1. The cheer-off scene became so infamous, the featured outfits became some of the biggest Halloween costumes that year.
Caro’s success extends beyond television and into film with the hit Netflix franchise “The Kissing Booth.” Elle (Joey King) loves to dance and puts her talent to the test at a competition in “The Kissing Booth 2.” With footwork inspired by arcade dance games, Caro was able to weave in technical styles with contemporary references. This elaborate routine came to fruition in the movie’s most pivotal scene. Caro additionally choreographed the Halloween dance number between Elle and her best friend. She expertly made this sequence appear effortless and improvised, demonstrating the playful energy that comes when two friends and dancers step onto the floor together.
Additionally, Caro has an ongoing relationship with Netflix. Her dance skills are once again being put to use as she takes on the role of co-choreographer on the film adaptation of the children’s book series “Ivy + Bean,” which is set to drop September 2. “Ivy + Bean,” starring young actors Madison Skye Validum and Keslee Blalock, also features big names including Jane Lynch of “Glee,” Sasha Pieterse of “Pretty Little Liars,” and Nia Vardalos of “My Big Fat Greek Wedding.” The story of two girls who couldn’t be more different yet forge a strong friendship, “Ivy + Bean” is sure to have young viewers out of their seats and in front of the screen, mimicking the dances, once it premieres.
Despite her name being attached to well-known media, Caro’s road to success was far from simple — there is still a large disparity in who is awarded the chance to work on these highly esteemed projects. Caro gets real about representation in Hollywood and what the privilege of acting means to her in an interview with “About Insider.” She mentions that, even though she is newer to the realm of acting, she strives “to be as authentic as possible and live in the moment so all reactions are real.” This mindset is invaluable behind the camera as well. As Caro simply, astutely articulates, “It is important that more females and women of color diversify the stories that have largely been directed by males…The experiences and perspective of females can only add to the richness and diversity of films.”
When members of a certain community are afforded the opportunity to represent themselves, what could have been a cheap stereotype often transforms into a sincere thread of truth. Dancing can tell stories words cannot, and through choreography, Caro has been able to empower not only her characters but also the young girls watching her work.
“Julie and the Phantoms” and “The Kissing Booth” franchise are available on Netflix. “Ivy + Bean” will also be available on the streamer September 2. To see behind-the-scenes photos, check out Caro’s Instagram @toricaro.
