0:00:03 > 0:00:04Previously on The Next Step...
0:00:04 > 0:00:07Unless I can have the solo at Nationals, I have to leave.
0:00:07 > 0:00:08And where are you going to go?
0:00:08 > 0:00:12Chris has offered me the National solo at Superstar.
0:00:12 > 0:00:13Really?
0:00:13 > 0:00:16I don't think that Elite is the team that we need to be worrying about.
0:00:16 > 0:00:19It's LOD. They won Nationals last year.
0:00:19 > 0:00:21They only have one male dancer and it's just
0:00:21 > 0:00:24so that they can get through the Male Solo round.
0:00:24 > 0:00:28All right now, let's kick it off with our male soloist.
0:00:28 > 0:00:32Nationals is just so much bigger than we could have ever imagined.
0:00:32 > 0:00:34Yo, Eldon is amazing, and I feel bad
0:00:34 > 0:00:37for anybody that has to go up against him.
0:00:37 > 0:00:40Tomorrow, Nationals is going to see what The Next Step can do.
0:00:44 > 0:00:46Welcome to the 17th Annual
0:00:46 > 0:00:49Absolute Dance National Championships.
0:00:49 > 0:00:52I'm your host, Chuck Anderson. Alongside, my esteemed colleague
0:00:52 > 0:00:54Tre Armstrong. How are you doing, Tre?
0:00:54 > 0:00:56Oh, I'm so good, Chuck. How are you?
0:00:56 > 0:00:58I'm doing really well. It's exciting.
0:00:58 > 0:01:00We saw the first 32 male solos yesterday,
0:01:00 > 0:01:03and half of those teams have already been eliminated.
0:01:03 > 0:01:04That's right, Chuck.
0:01:04 > 0:01:06We have the remaining 32 male solos today,
0:01:06 > 0:01:09and 16 of those teams won't make it to the next round.
0:01:11 > 0:01:12APPLAUSE
0:01:12 > 0:01:14And now we have our first male solo of the day,
0:01:14 > 0:01:16Lacota from Lisa Maze Dance company.
0:01:16 > 0:01:19Let's see how he does, Chuck.
0:01:20 > 0:01:22MUSIC
0:01:23 > 0:01:24APPLAUSE
0:01:25 > 0:01:28We're watching the male soloist round at Nationals.
0:01:28 > 0:01:31Each round is an elimination round.
0:01:31 > 0:01:35If the male soloist loses, the whole team is eliminated.
0:01:35 > 0:01:37Man, are you nervous at all?
0:01:37 > 0:01:38Eh, no.
0:01:38 > 0:01:40The thing is, Eldon should be nervous, because if
0:01:40 > 0:01:44he doesn't get through this round, none of us get to dance.
0:01:44 > 0:01:47Yeah, I'm not really that nervous. It's just dance.
0:01:47 > 0:01:50I'd be more nervous, like, asking out a girl.
0:01:50 > 0:01:52True. True that.
0:01:52 > 0:01:54I can't wait to get out on stage.
0:01:54 > 0:01:57I can't wait for Nationals to see what The Next Step can bring.
0:02:09 > 0:02:10Daniel!
0:02:10 > 0:02:13Hey! It's so nice to see you!
0:02:13 > 0:02:14What's up?
0:02:14 > 0:02:15I am so excited to see Daniel.
0:02:15 > 0:02:18I haven't seen him in, it feels like, forever.
0:02:18 > 0:02:20Not much.
0:02:20 > 0:02:22So, how's Superstar? How's Chris?
0:02:24 > 0:02:25Good.
0:02:25 > 0:02:27Eldon and I both auditioned for
0:02:27 > 0:02:32the male National Solo and he was the chosen one.
0:02:32 > 0:02:35Daniel wanted to be the male soloist more than anything for Nationals.
0:02:35 > 0:02:39So, I'm glad that Superstar Academy gave him the chance.
0:02:39 > 0:02:41OK, what's new?
0:02:41 > 0:02:42You know what? I should find my team.
0:02:42 > 0:02:45I don't have time for this.
0:02:45 > 0:02:46What? Daniel?
0:02:48 > 0:02:50Daniel's kind of being weird.
0:02:50 > 0:02:53He's never been like this with me before.
0:02:53 > 0:02:55I'm so cold to Giselle because, right now,
0:02:55 > 0:02:57I've got my game face on, and I'm with Superstar now.
0:02:57 > 0:02:58I'm not with The Next Step.
0:02:58 > 0:03:02So, why would I want to be friends with anyone from The Next Step?
0:03:02 > 0:03:05Don't worry about him, Giselle. He's just trying to psych us out.
0:03:05 > 0:03:06Let's go.
0:03:10 > 0:03:16# We, we're going to show the world
0:03:16 > 0:03:20# Everything we're made of
0:03:20 > 0:03:28# We're going to tear The roof off this place! #
0:03:33 > 0:03:34Stand up!
0:04:07 > 0:04:09These dancers are killer.
0:04:09 > 0:04:12I just hope that Eldon can take them down.
0:04:18 > 0:04:21A good showing from Vlad's Dance Academy,
0:04:21 > 0:04:23but how will it stack up against LOD?
0:04:24 > 0:04:26LOD, of course, Life of Dance.
0:04:26 > 0:04:29But it's also Ladies of Destruction,
0:04:29 > 0:04:32but they do have some male representation.
0:04:32 > 0:04:34Do you know they only have him on their team
0:04:34 > 0:04:37so that they have a male soloist so that they can do Nationals?
0:04:37 > 0:04:39Are you serious? Yeah. That's the only reason he's
0:04:39 > 0:04:43on their team. That's how intense Life of Dance is.
0:04:43 > 0:04:46LOD, Rocko is going to step up here,
0:04:46 > 0:04:48at the Absolute Dance National Championships.
0:04:52 > 0:04:53MUSIC
0:05:11 > 0:05:13Fantastic!
0:05:13 > 0:05:14CHEERING
0:05:14 > 0:05:17What extension! I mean, he's so lean.
0:05:21 > 0:05:22CHEERING
0:05:22 > 0:05:24That guy is actually amazing. Yeah.
0:05:24 > 0:05:29Technically, he's really good, and he's like 700,000 feet tall,
0:05:29 > 0:05:31so when he does stuff,
0:05:31 > 0:05:34it actually looks a lot more impressive.
0:05:36 > 0:05:39Wow. What a great switch split. Wow.
0:05:39 > 0:05:40So much air!
0:05:40 > 0:05:44He's already so tall, so seeing him actually get higher and then seeing
0:05:44 > 0:05:49his legs be, like, so long it's really impressive.
0:06:06 > 0:06:07CHEERING
0:06:36 > 0:06:39I cannot believe how incredible Rocko is.
0:06:39 > 0:06:41It's only the first round, it already feels like LOD
0:06:41 > 0:06:43is miles ahead of everyone else.
0:06:54 > 0:06:55CHEERING
0:06:57 > 0:06:59And there you have it from Rocko,
0:06:59 > 0:07:01getting Life of Dance off to a fantastic start.
0:07:01 > 0:07:04The guy's got so much length, and you got to think
0:07:04 > 0:07:07that LOD is going to have a long ride in this
0:07:07 > 0:07:10Absolute Dance National Championship.
0:07:10 > 0:07:12The judges have come to a decision.
0:07:12 > 0:07:16And the studio moving on to the small group round is...
0:07:16 > 0:07:17Life of Dance!
0:07:17 > 0:07:19CHEERING AND APPLAUSE
0:07:20 > 0:07:24I'm not surprised that Rocko wins. I mean, he's from LOD,
0:07:24 > 0:07:27so, uh, yeah. It doesn't really surprise me.
0:07:27 > 0:07:30Man, do you know who you're up against yet?
0:07:30 > 0:07:31Not yet, actually.
0:07:31 > 0:07:34I cannot believe that Eldon didn't check who he was up against.
0:07:34 > 0:07:36With all this excitement, I forgot to go and check.
0:07:36 > 0:07:39I think I'm up in, like, an hour? So, we should probably go check.
0:07:39 > 0:07:40Yeah, let's go check.
0:07:41 > 0:07:44That's, like, one of the most important things.
0:07:44 > 0:07:45Only Eldon.
0:07:47 > 0:07:50What up, dawg?
0:07:50 > 0:07:54OK, Body Bump Dance. Superstar Dance. Superstar Dance.
0:07:54 > 0:07:55Who is Superstar dance?
0:07:55 > 0:07:57I don't know. Kind of sounds familiar, though.
0:07:57 > 0:08:02Do you know who the male soloist is for Superstar Dance? It's me.
0:08:02 > 0:08:04Looks like it's me and you again, Eldon.
0:08:04 > 0:08:06Knowing I'm going to be competing against Eldon
0:08:06 > 0:08:07is very satisfying for me.
0:08:07 > 0:08:10It's kind of my one little take at revenge.
0:08:10 > 0:08:14All right. Good luck. You're going to need it. My solo is killer.
0:08:14 > 0:08:16He's got a bit of an attitude problem.
0:08:16 > 0:08:17Pfft. Whatever, man.
0:08:17 > 0:08:19You're going to be so mad that you left The Next Step
0:08:19 > 0:08:21when Eldon's through with you.
0:08:21 > 0:08:24He left the studio just because I got the solo part.
0:08:24 > 0:08:27So, I'm ready to show him that I deserved that
0:08:27 > 0:08:30and there's nothing he could have done about it.
0:08:30 > 0:08:31We'll see.
0:08:32 > 0:08:34Woooo. That's some competition.
0:08:34 > 0:08:37I honestly think that that's going to make Eldon go so much harder.
0:08:37 > 0:08:40I'm ready to kill it, like, twice as much now. Like, twice as much?
0:08:40 > 0:08:43I think it's funny that Eldon and I are paired up against each other.
0:08:43 > 0:08:46There is tonnes of other soloists, and it's kind of fate that we're
0:08:46 > 0:08:49paired together for this first competition.
0:08:57 > 0:08:58MUFFLED MUSIC
0:09:02 > 0:09:04I've beaten Daniel before,
0:09:04 > 0:09:07but he's really good and he's really motivated.
0:09:07 > 0:09:11And I know if I don't dance my best, he could send The Next Step home.
0:09:15 > 0:09:16It's time.
0:09:18 > 0:09:20I get this feeling in the pit of my stomach
0:09:20 > 0:09:23and I just want to get out there and tear it apart.
0:09:30 > 0:09:32Hey. Are you ready?
0:09:32 > 0:09:34Yo, he is so ready. Just watch, just watch.
0:09:37 > 0:09:41Eldon looks so unbelievably focused right now.
0:09:41 > 0:09:45If anything, it's a good sign, because it means he's ready.
0:09:45 > 0:09:49Once again, Male Solo is the first part of this six-part play...
0:09:49 > 0:09:52Eye on the prize. ..at the Absolute Dance National Championships.
0:09:52 > 0:09:54Good luck, Daniel.
0:09:56 > 0:09:59She's trying to psych me out. She obviously wants Eldon to win.
0:09:59 > 0:10:02She favours him over me.
0:10:02 > 0:10:04How are you? Good. How are you? I'm good. I miss you.
0:10:04 > 0:10:07Good. I miss you, too. Did you choreograph this? Of course.
0:10:07 > 0:10:10I had to pull a lot of tricks out of the bag.
0:10:10 > 0:10:14Oh, I'm excited to see it. Me, too. Good luck. Same to you.
0:10:14 > 0:10:17Word on the street is that Daniel used to dance for The Next Step.
0:10:17 > 0:10:19Until, apparently, the head choreographer
0:10:19 > 0:10:23from The Next Step took a little leave of absence, permanently,
0:10:23 > 0:10:27to another studio and guess who followed? Daniel.
0:10:27 > 0:10:28SDA's third trip to these
0:10:28 > 0:10:31Absolute Dance National Championships, but they've got a
0:10:31 > 0:10:35new fresh face in the line-up, who's about to take the stage right now.
0:10:35 > 0:10:37Whoo! Let's go!
0:10:40 > 0:10:42I put so much at stake quitting The Next Step
0:10:42 > 0:10:45and moving to Superstar and they're all here watching
0:10:45 > 0:10:49and judging me, along with thousands of people watching.
0:10:49 > 0:10:53So, I'm definitely feeling the pressure at this point.
0:10:53 > 0:10:54MUSIC
0:11:11 > 0:11:13I've got a lot to prove with this solo,
0:11:13 > 0:11:17so Chris and I worked really hard to bring something new to my dancing.
0:11:17 > 0:11:18CHEERING
0:11:20 > 0:11:23The Next Step is going to be expecting my softer,
0:11:23 > 0:11:25balletic, contemporary style,
0:11:25 > 0:11:27but we're bringing something totally new.
0:11:59 > 0:12:03It's like a whole new style for him. It's harder. It's more intense.
0:12:07 > 0:12:10Daniel is probably one of the most amazing male dancers I've ever
0:12:10 > 0:12:12seen in my life.
0:12:12 > 0:12:14And he really stepped his game up.
0:12:17 > 0:12:20This is just the first round at these Absolute Dance National
0:12:20 > 0:12:25Championships in male solos and this is one for the ages.
0:13:02 > 0:13:06Wow, so Superstar Dance Academy's third trip to these Nationals,
0:13:06 > 0:13:10but for one, Daniel, it was his first time under the hot, hot spotlight
0:13:10 > 0:13:14and I think he came and did a great job with his performance.
0:13:14 > 0:13:15What do you think? Absolutely.
0:13:15 > 0:13:19I mean, you cannot even deny the high water benchmarks that he
0:13:19 > 0:13:22just put down on the floor.
0:13:24 > 0:13:25Come here, man!
0:13:26 > 0:13:30Daniel's dance is amazing. He's really grown since leaving
0:13:30 > 0:13:31The Next Step.
0:13:31 > 0:13:34I hate to admit it, but maybe it was a good move for him.
0:13:34 > 0:13:35That's what we do.
0:13:35 > 0:13:38Going to Superstar really has changed the way that
0:13:38 > 0:13:40I move as a dancer, and I think
0:13:40 > 0:13:42that was the best thing for me to do at that point.
0:13:42 > 0:13:44I'd outgrown The Next Step.
0:13:48 > 0:13:52He has improved a lot, but it just builds my adrenaline.
0:13:52 > 0:13:54I know once I get out there,
0:13:54 > 0:13:58nothing's going to stop me from doing the best I could possibly do.
0:14:06 > 0:14:07Well, Tre Armstrong,
0:14:07 > 0:14:11you know that win at Regionals, that has no play here.
0:14:11 > 0:14:13The Next Step starts a new adventure
0:14:17 > 0:14:21Eldon, from The Next Step is up, a former team-mate of Daniel's.
0:14:40 > 0:14:45Technique, passion. Another word I'd like to use for this performance?
0:14:45 > 0:14:47Power. He just seems so strong.
0:14:53 > 0:14:56Without realising it, the storyline of my solo is
0:14:56 > 0:14:59kind of like the storyline I had at The Next Step.
0:15:04 > 0:15:06Everything was good at the beginning.
0:15:06 > 0:15:10It was nice and smooth and then things just started happening.
0:15:23 > 0:15:25I lost all of my confidence.
0:15:25 > 0:15:29I lost Michelle, I lost my solo, but I still kept with it.
0:15:36 > 0:15:38I built a relationship with Michelle.
0:15:38 > 0:15:41I'm finally good friends with Hunter.
0:15:41 > 0:15:43I'm finally feeling like I'm meant to be at The Next Step.
0:16:01 > 0:16:05Eldon is pulling off all of his best tricks. He's doing great.
0:16:05 > 0:16:08He's an amazing dancer. And you know what? I'm glad I can
0:16:08 > 0:16:10watch a friend dance now, too.
0:16:48 > 0:16:51Watching Eldon dance is actually a bit of a reality check.
0:16:51 > 0:16:55I was probably a little overly confident, um, during my solo
0:16:55 > 0:16:58and I'm hoping that that's not going be my downfall.
0:17:05 > 0:17:08Well, it's a standing O from the audience.
0:17:08 > 0:17:10Chuck, I guess they love it.
0:17:10 > 0:17:13No doubt about that, Tre.
0:17:13 > 0:17:16This, my friend, is going to be very interesting,
0:17:16 > 0:17:18because Daniel laid it all out on the floor.
0:17:18 > 0:17:21Eldon, I would say, at least equalled that.
0:17:21 > 0:17:22What do you think?
0:17:22 > 0:17:25I think the judges have a really tough time ahead of them.
0:17:25 > 0:17:27I do not envy you guys right now.
0:17:32 > 0:17:35Good luck. Yep.
0:17:35 > 0:17:38I danced the best I've ever danced in my life.
0:17:38 > 0:17:41So, whatever happens, I'm happy.
0:17:46 > 0:17:48Whoever wins this first matchup will be
0:17:48 > 0:17:52moving on with their team to the small group round.
0:17:52 > 0:17:58Waiting to hear if I've won is the most stressful thing.
0:17:58 > 0:18:01Everything's been banking on this moment and I'm really anxious
0:18:01 > 0:18:03to hear the judgment.
0:18:03 > 0:18:06The judges have tabulated the scores
0:18:06 > 0:18:10and the team moving on to the second round is...
0:18:10 > 0:18:12I want this not only for us, but also for him.
0:18:12 > 0:18:16He deserves it.
0:18:16 > 0:18:18..The Next Step!
0:18:26 > 0:18:28I worked so hard to be perfect.
0:18:28 > 0:18:29And I'm not.
0:18:30 > 0:18:32And I just don't know how to deal with that.
0:18:37 > 0:18:40It's so incredible to know that we're one step closer
0:18:40 > 0:18:43to getting that Nationals title.
0:18:43 > 0:18:44It's the momentum of the win.
0:18:44 > 0:18:46The other dancers get excited and
0:18:46 > 0:18:48they get inspired, and next thing you know
0:18:48 > 0:18:50they're going to take all the rounds.
0:18:50 > 0:18:52I can't wait to see
0:18:52 > 0:18:53the boy's small group. It's going to be good.
0:18:53 > 0:18:56Luther Brown's choreography. We got to do this.
0:19:04 > 0:19:05It's been a hard day for me with
0:19:05 > 0:19:07everything that's happened with Daniel.
0:19:07 > 0:19:09So, I'm just trying to relax and have some fun.
0:19:16 > 0:19:20Hi. Hey, Daniel. Um, I...
0:19:20 > 0:19:24You know what? I'm actually kind of glad you're here.
0:19:24 > 0:19:28I wanted to tell you that your solo is amazing. Really?
0:19:28 > 0:19:31Yes, it was so good, Daniel. Thank you.
0:19:31 > 0:19:35I... I came over because I need to apologise.
0:19:35 > 0:19:38I'm really happy that Daniel apologised,
0:19:38 > 0:19:41because I don't know how much longer
0:19:41 > 0:19:44I could last without talking to my best friend.
0:19:44 > 0:19:47I think apologising to Giselle has been long overdue.
0:19:47 > 0:19:49Um, she was always my best friend at The Next Step
0:19:49 > 0:19:52and I really want to save my friendship with her.
0:19:52 > 0:19:54I understand why you left The Next Step.
0:19:54 > 0:19:56You wanted your moment. Excuse me for a minute.
0:19:58 > 0:20:00Hi, friend, my name is Sergei
0:20:00 > 0:20:03and I'm head of the dance department at Julliard.
0:20:03 > 0:20:06Julliard is the best dance school in the world.
0:20:06 > 0:20:08When you graduate from Julliard,
0:20:08 > 0:20:10you're basically guaranteed a career in dance,
0:20:10 > 0:20:15because it's a really, really, REALLY hard programme to get into.
0:20:15 > 0:20:18You have something really special, my young friend,
0:20:18 > 0:20:20and I want you to audition for Julliard.
0:20:20 > 0:20:23Give me a call and we'll arrange the audition next week.
0:20:23 > 0:20:25I haven't seen so much fun and fire
0:20:25 > 0:20:29since young Mischa danced in Moscow 40 years ago.
0:20:29 > 0:20:31It's been Daniel's dream since we were little kids.
0:20:31 > 0:20:34That's so amazing. I'm just...
0:20:34 > 0:20:37I'm so proud of him. I really am.
0:20:37 > 0:20:38Daniel!
0:20:40 > 0:20:41That's amazing.
0:20:43 > 0:20:45What just happened?
0:20:45 > 0:20:48It just goes to show you that you don't have to win to be great.
0:20:48 > 0:20:51Oh, my goodness. I have goose bumps.
0:20:51 > 0:20:54Just remember, I taught you. You taught me.
0:20:55 > 0:20:57We're moving on to the Small Group round
0:20:57 > 0:20:59and I have my best friend back.
0:20:59 > 0:21:03Nationals is turning out to be even better than I thought.
0:21:06 > 0:21:13# We, we're going to show the world
0:21:13 > 0:21:16# Everything we're made of
0:21:16 > 0:21:21# We're going to tear the roof off this place
0:21:21 > 0:21:27# No, you can never fade us out
0:21:27 > 0:21:30# Don't even ask the DJ
0:21:30 > 0:21:33# Everybody knows We own this house. #