Episode 7 Taking the Next Step

This is Taking The Next Step -

the show where talented young dancers compete

for an amazing prize -

to guest role on the hit TV dance show The Next Step.

Last time, at our national auditions...

..our remaining performers showcased their acting skills...

What are you doing?

I ain't doing it with IT!

Whoa, are you crazy?!

..we said goodbye to some familiar faces...

You guys will not be going through the next round.

..as 20...

became 12.

Now, our judges must choose their final six.

My heart is just beating out of my chest.

Mine is too.

Only six dancers will be crossing the Atlantic and coming face-to-face

with their Next Step heroes.

Pack your bags - you're coming to Canada.

Our national auditions are drawing to a close.

1,300 dancers applied, but only 12 remain.

Now, one dance solo will decide who get a ticket to Canada

and continue their Next Step journey.

You got one chance, one dance - let's see it.

Now I'm at this point, I feel like I should just be in it to win it.

I just want to get that ticket to Canada,

and I'm not going to stop until I get it.

I'm going to go in there and give everything I've got.

The pressure is on.

It got a lot harder.

-It did.

-It just got a lot harder.

-Yeah.

And there are no second chances.

-Are you OK?

-Yes, thank you. Just means so much.

First into battle, it's Macy.

I don't know what's going to happen, so whatever will be will be.

But to be honest with you, I'm feeling quite confident.

After her last solo,

it wasn't just Macy's footwork that got the judges talking.

I would have liked it a little bit more if we toned this down.

(OK.)

Street dancer Joe's facial expressions

also came under scrutiny.

I'm not a fan of the stank face thing, I don't get it.

I find it really distracting.

So who can face up to the challenge of claiming a ticket to Canada?

FAST-PACED INSTRUMENTAL PLAYS

JUDGES APPLAUD

To be in the final six to Canada, I'd think it was a dream.

But it's not.

Yeah.

The floor's yours. Give it all you got.

-This is it now, yeah?

-Yeah.

MUSIC: Do It Like This by Jimmy B

Well done, Joe. Thanks a lot, thanks a lot.

Thank you.

I think my performance went well.

I did all my steps right, I listened to the music, and at the end,

I saw the judges smiling and clapping.

We'll find out how both Macy and Joe get on later.

Next to dance, it's Lance.

Hey, it's Lance in the building. What's up, y'all?

I'm going to go in the room and, like, smash it,

and I'm going to make it impossible not to make them

proud of me dancing.

Swag! Every day, every night!

But can Lance back up the talk with action?

-Hey, Lance.

-Hey.

Show us what you got on the dance floor.

Here we go.

Thank you, Lance. Good performance. We'll speak to you soon.

Thank you.

Peace again.

I'm feeling, like, 50/50 about, like, getting through,

but, yeah, I think I can do it.

Next to perform, it's Erin.

It's been very mixed emotions on this journey.

Started off just having a callback and now I'm here, so...

can't ask for much more really.

I can see how much this means to you and I can see that you're

a little upset. Would this not be a question for a callback?

Give her a shot. Callbacks.

Erin wasn't the only one who needed a second chance.

12-year-old Jude also claimed a spot at Nationals

with his callback performance.

That, mate, is your ticket to Nationals!

Thank you.

So, can either of our regional callbacks

deliver a dance solo worthy of Canada?

This could guarantee your spot in the final six,

so just throw it all out onto the stage.

SONG: Hero by The Next Step

Thank you.

I think I done really well in there and I danced my heart out,

so I'm quite confident.

Jude's confident about his performance.

But will Erin feel the same?

-Hello.

-Hello.

-How are you feeling?

-Good, thank you.

-You got one chance, one dance - let's see it.

-Thank you.

MUSIC: Let's Go by Maya Killtron

-Thank you so much.

-Thank you.

-SIMEON:

-Thanks, Erin.

I know you had a stressful time

-at Regionals with the callbacks and everything.

-Yeah.

Do you feel like you took on the judges' comments

and brought them to Nationals?

Yeah, I think I really portrayed my personality and who I really am.

Winning a guest role on The Next Step

is the opportunity of a lifetime for any young dancer.

Over 200 attended our regional auditions.

What's this say?

But only the very best have fought their way through to

the final challenge of Nationals.

Get ready for your solo. Show us what you got, let's see it.

From our Cardiff auditions, it's Milan.

MUSIC: Empire Part Two by Andrew Austin

First seen in Manchester, it's Julia.

MUSIC: Fire by Jena Gogo

And from London, Khaled.

Thanks for performing for us today.

Everyone is hoping they've done enough to earn a seat

on the plane to Canada.

But for tap dancer Sophia,

making it into our final 12 from the 1,300 who applied

is already a cause for celebration.

I'm so excited that I got through because over the last two years,

I've had three hip operations and there's been a lot of

time when I've been on crutches.

I didn't know if I was ever going to walk again, so,

now being here and being able to dance

and being told that actually, out of all those people,

they think I'm good enough is cool,

because I was not expecting to dance, let alone be here.

That's really exciting.

I'm going to go in there and give everything

I've got, and hopefully the judges will enjoy it.

Sophia, the floor is yours. We are looking forward to it.

-Just try and enjoy it, OK?

-Thank you.

MUSIC: Tied To You by The Next Step

Good job. Congratulations.

Thanks a lot, Sophia.

Hello, Sophia. I can hear you coming ages away cos of your shoes.

How was that?

-I think it went quite well.

-Do you think you've done enough?

-I don't know, I hope so.

-I know, I hope so too.

Listen, you've done so, so well.

You should be really proud of yourself.

Go and have a well-earned break, OK?

-Thank you.

-Well done, Sophia, good job.

Sophia can now put her feet up.

But for our judges, the hard work continues.

Throughout this entire contest, they've seen over 200 dancers.

Let's have some fun.

I see you've got ballet shoes on today.

Is that what you're going to be doing for us today?

No, I'm going to be doing morris dancing. No, I'm joking!

I'm doing ballet!

There's been laughter...

-KIMBERLY:

-I like it!

..tears...

I'm actually getting emotional...

Oh, honey! I want to give you a hug!

..and some unforgettable moments.

I am pretty speechless right now.

KIMBERLY GIGGLES

Yeah!

Let's go, let's go!

-NO!

-Yes!

It's already been an emotional rollercoaster for our three judges,

and it shows no sign of stopping.

Ballerina Harriet made a big impression back at Regionals.

Technique is fantastic, the breadth of the movement is exquisite.

It was just beautiful.

Kyreese's style of dancing couldn't be more different from Harriet's,

but his technique was just as impressive.

I don't want generic street dancers. I want magicians.

With only six tickets to Canada up for grabs,

which dancer will work their magic today?

The floor is yours - take it away.

MUSIC: Do It Like This by Jimmy B

We'll see you soon, OK?

-Thank you.

-All right, take care.

-The floor is yours, take it away.

-Thank you.

CLASSICAL PIECE PLAYS

I didn't slip, which is good,

and the judges were smiling, which I guess is a good thing.

The whole thing went as well as I could hope, you know.

It is going to be tough for her, now.

-It really is going to be tough.

-It got a lot harder.

-It did.

-It just got a lot harder.

-Yeah.

Only one of our final 12 is yet to perform.

So our last dancer has gone in there, and after that,

it really is decision time for the judges.

Bringing down the curtain on our dance solos, it's Ellie.

What has been the highlight of this whole process?

-Everything.

-Everything?!

I didn't think I would get this far at all.

So, if you could...?

-Are you OK?

-Yes, thank you.

-Are you sure?

Yeah, it just means so much.

-Aw. You wanna go? Go on.

-A little hug.

Come here, lovely.

Come here, lovely.

My goodness, you are in the top 12, it's crazy, isn't it?

-Yeah.

-You get the chance to nail a dance for us

one last time, so I want you to shake those nerves away,

because I want to see that amazing dancer we truly believe in.

-Will you do that for me?

-Yeah.

MUSIC: Let's Go by Maya Killtron

Thank you so much, Ellie B.

-Beautiful dancer.

-See you soon.

Hello. I am seeing a grin.

Do you feel like you've given it everything?

I've given it everything I've got

and I'm just so proud I've got this far,

so anything is better than nothing, isn't it?

Exactly. You've come such a long way. Well done, you,

and we'll see what the judges think, all right?

We have seen all of them and now we have to...

I don't want to do this next bit!

This is when we all fall out, for real.

Our judges have some big decisions to make.

And for our final 12, it's a chance to reflect

on their time at Nationals.

It's just been so overwhelming that I've got this far,

because I didn't expect it.

To come down to this final stage where there are so few of us left

is really exciting.

I'm feeling quite proud of myself and, like, very excited.

It's helped me grow as a person and then as a dancer.

I'm just having a lot of fun, meeting lots of new people.

One of the best experiences of my life.

Wonderful, amazing, awesome, brilliant, great, fabulous.

I just don't want it to end.

But, for six of these 12 dancers, the journey must end today.

This is it.

Once the judges have made their decision, we have our final six.

This is going to be so tough.

This one is a strong yes for me.

I think this one has star quality and I can see him

on The Next Step tomorrow.

I have to totally disagree with you.

There is no way I could vouch for this guy and not vouch for this guy.

No way.

I'm not looking for a fight,

but I really feel it would be a travesty

to not to have him in the top six.

So what you are saying is,

you will not say yes to him unless he has gone through?

-Yeah.

-Bam!

-OK.

-Feels right.

Are we agreed that these are a no?

-I think we're going to have to.

-No.

I'm not agreed about this person.

-Are we agreed on this one?

-I'm agreed on that.

-I'm agreed on that.

-OK.

No. A firm no.

I don't think that his performance just now was his greatest.

We have to be ruthless now.

-It's a no, right?

-Yeah.

-Is this a yes from you?

-Yes.

So, theoretically, here...

My heart is just beating out of my chest.

-Mine is too.

-Theoretically...

-I am there with you.

-Theoretically, we have six.

All we have to do is tell them.

JOHN EXHALES

First to find out whether they'll be packing for Canada,

its Milan, Lance and Sophia.

I really feel that you've grown through this process.

It's been amazing to see you really come to life.

You've surprised us at one point or another.

You are talented.

I don't think any of us were disputing that ever.

In the dancing and in the acting.

We've come to a decision.

We won't be taking you to Canada.

I'm sorry, Lance, you're not going to Canada.

Unfortunately, this time round, it's not your time.

APPLAUSE

It's disappointing, but I've had a really nice experience

and I'm lucky to have got this far, so it's cool.

Next to learn their fates are Julia, Khaled and Erin.

We've gone from 1,300 down to 12.

You are a great dancer.

There's a lot of work that you still need to do.

You was one of our callbacks.

So it was, like, really touch and go for you, and it's amazing...

It was, and it's amazing out of the 1,300, you've got this far.

We have made a decision.

Congratulations, Julia, you are through to our final six.

Come get your ticket!

You are going to Canada!

Oh, my God!

You're coming to Canada!

KIMBERLY LAUGHS GLEEFULLY

I don't think I've ever been this happy in my life.

Every time I've come out and been happy for getting through,

but this? This is the happiest I've ever been.

Three dancers are now through and three are out.

Will it be tears of disappointment or joy for Macy and Jude?

You gave this audition and this whole process 120%.

You are a character, you're a great dancer.

But the question we have to ask ourselves -

are you ready to take the next step?

We have to decide who comes to Canada and who doesn't.

And our decision is...

It's a no today, Macy, you won't be coming with us to Canada,

but you are FANTASTIC.

Unfortunately this time round, you will not be coming with us.

OK.

I'm feeling really good about myself,

because obviously I got to the top 12

out of over 1,300 people,

and I mean, that's, like, over the moon for me.

Now, it's the moment of truth for Harriet...and Kyreese.

It's been a challenge for us to really nail down that top six.

The deliberation about you has been difficult.

Really difficult.

We've come to a decision.

Pack your bags - you're coming to Canada.

Kyreese, I want you to smile right now,

because you're going to Canada -

you're in our final six.

You're in our final six!

Harriet and Kyreese have done it,

becoming our fourth and fifth dancers going to Canada.

There were so much times I thought, "Nope, not getting through,

"not getting through," but, yep,

can't wait, and I'm just going to train and train for Canada.

So, two dancers still to go in there

and only one of them is going to come

out that door with a ticket to Canada.

This is so nerve-racking.

Who will take that final place?

Ellie...

We have loved watching your attitude and your confidence

just grow through every single challenge that you've done.

..or Joe?

I mean, we've seen you a few times now

and there were things we thought

that you probably could have done better.

We've come to a decision.

This time, it's just not your go.

Well, thank you so much for the opportunity, it's meant a lot.

You're going to Canada, mate!

-Congrats, man.

-Awesome.

OTHERS: Woo!

I'm just so excited, I finally got a ticket to Canada.

I'm so proud.

So, that's it, we have our final six.

I guess the next step is at The Next Step.

We'll see you...

-ALL:

-..in Canada!

Our final six are access all areas

on The Next Step's set.

Everyone get in the picture.

And they come face-to-face with the stars of the show.

Are you crying?

Oh, my God!

It's time to see YOUR moves.

Stand up!