Asia Monet Ray and Kristie Ray: “That’s how we became Raising Asia”

It’s no secret that Lifetime has become infamous for their reality television shows dealing with dancing. Shows such as Dance Moms, Bring It! and Abby’s Ultimate Dance Competition have attracted huge numbers of fans around the world over the years. The network’s newest dance-related show Raising Asia follows former Dance Moms star Asia Monet Ray and her family as Asia continues to build her career.

I recently had the pleasure of speaking with Asia herself along with her mother Kristie to talk about Raising Asia and we can expect next from its pint-sized star.

A little background on Asia, first. Some may think that she simply got her own show thanks to her time on Abby Lee Miller’s shows; however, this is not the case. She actually a similar story to Justin Bieber’s, becoming a YouTube favorite at around 5 years old. And it was show executives that came knocking on the Ray’s door asking for Asia to compete on Abby’s Ultimate Dance Competition after they saw those videos online.

The problem was that Asia,was only 6 years old at the time and the show was intended for contestants aged 10-13. The show’s brass thought Asia was at least 9 years old and were hoping to squeeze her in. Eventually, they let Kristie and her husband Shawn make the hard decision on whether or not to let Asia compete with other dancer up to  7 years her senior.

At first, the Rays decided it would be best to keep their daughter off the show, but Asia and Lifetime continued to express interest. Eventually Asia did compete, earning a huge fan base and making it into the Top 3 — against two 13-year-old girls.

After Asia made such a splash on Abby’s Ultimate Dance Competition, Lifetime spoke to the family about possibly having their own show, but they wanted to make sure they really knew who Asia was and allow her to grow up a bit more first. Instead, Asia and Kristie appeared on Season 3 of Dance Moms. After earning first place with nine solos on the show, Asia had more opportunities emerge in Los Angeles. and she and her parents decided to pursue those options versus doing another season of Dance Moms.

“She didn’t want to be held back as a dancer,” Kristie explains. “Sometimes when you’re with a cast of other dancers and you’re the youngest, you don’t advance.”

After Asia got some interest from other networks, Lifetime came back to the Ray family to see if they were ready for a show of their own. “Being in reality television for two years I’m like, ‘God, do I want a third year of reality for her when she’s starting her music and she’s starting to act? Is that the direction we want her to go?’” Kristie explains of the decision process.

Luckily the network saw eye to eye with the family about sharing Asia’s new career adventures in the show and showcasing the struggles each family member goes through while on this ride.

“I think I actually locked myself in the bathroom and screamed so loud. I was so excited!” says Asia of getting the go-ahead for Raising Asia. She also loves having her family on the show with her, and says her dad can no longer complain about not having enough family time, joking that it may actually be a bit too much family time.

The home-schooled nine-year-old says she also really appreciates her fans and gives them credit for getting her where she is today. She loves meeting her fans — even if she may have just rolled out of  bed — and is appreciative of everyone’s input on her music. “There’s been a lot of people that have recognized me off the streets or in shoe stores or in shops,” Asia says. “Places you’d never think people would recognize me!”

Asia was also an ice skater and gymnast when she was younger., so I asked her how she knew dancing was going to be the best way to start her career. She said that it was really thanks to her mom suggesting that with Asia’s tight schedule, it might be best for her to pick just one activity to focus on. Kristie was surprised when Asia chose dance.

“Every time I went on that stage, I gave 150-percent — every time,” says Asia of her dedication to dance, adding that skating sometimes made her uncomfortable. “That’s when I felt, ‘This is what I want to do for my future, no matter what. This is going to be the thing that everybody’s going to know me from is dancing.’”

Though critics like to point out is that Asia is constantly working and practicing for her performances and never has any downtime to rest or be a kid,  Kristie assures everyone that Asia does have all the downtime she needs and that it is Asia who would rather be spending her free time in the studio recording vocals or practicing choreography. “Those are things that, while she’s getting ready for a performance, let her interact with the people she loves to be around,” Kristie explains, adding that Asia is very self-motivated and does better on a schedule, since she’s been on one since she was a toddler

As for those people she loves to be around, Asia couldn’t stop talking about how much fun she has with her manager Billy Hufsey and choreographer Anthony Burrell. She doesn’t care if they have a an entire day’s worth of work, since — despite what it can look like on the show — both make everything calming and entertaining for her. “When we have to work and stop playing around, we pretend like we’re all really serious and then we start laughing,” Asia explains. “It’s so fun! They make hard work easy.”

Asia may be well-known for her dancing, singing and acting talents — but I wanted to know if she had any hidden talents, too. She told me that she is an amazing drawer and was once the best in her kindergarten class. In fact, she says, she could draw for 3 hours straight and never get bored. “I could even draw for the rest of my life,” Asia explains. “If something happened to me and I couldn’t do what I love to do anymore, I’d draw.”

Plus, Asia may be small, but she is mighty and can swim comfortably in “12-foot-deep water.” She can also walk on her hands for a really long time. But the hidden talent she is most proud of could land her a show on Animal Planet: Asia says she’s also a dog whisperer. “I actually taught my friend’s dog how to bark,” she says proudly. “I wrestled with him — and he hasn’t barked in 3 years.”

As for Kristie’s secret gifts. she laughs and exclaims, “I don’t have time for hidden talents, are you kidding me?” — although she does acknowledge that being a “momager” is a major talent. Asia says her mom’s hidden talent is that she  can do a dance bun in under a minute — and if you’re a girl, you know what a handy talent that is. I’m officially jealous.

Asia says that while she hasn’t been able to get the attention of her idol Beyoncé just yet, “I’m trying to have her choreographer get me closer and closer to meeting her. But hey, as long as I can get front-row tickets to her concert, that’s the best I can get — and that’s awesome!” In the meantime, she has caught the attention of thousands of new fans and is hoping to someday also meet her favorite dancer Janet Jackson, too.

So while Raising Asia‘s Season 1 finale airs Tuesday at 10/9CT on Lifetime, Asia fans still have plenty to look forward to, including upcoming new music in addition to her current 5-song self-titled EP, now available on iTunes, Spotify, Amazon, and Google Play and her first feature-film appearance, alongside Whiz Khalifa’s wife Amber Rose, in Sista Code, slated to debut sometime in 2015.

You can also keep updated on her daily life on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram and check out her website, iamasiamonetray.com for more even information and updates.

The  Raising Asia Season 1 finale premieres this Tuesday, Sept. 9 at 10/9 CT on Lifetime.

Raising Asia key art: Adam Taylor.