0:00:03 > 0:00:04Previously on The Next Step...
0:00:04 > 0:00:06So, since you guys are back together,
0:00:06 > 0:00:08we want to give you your duet back.
0:00:08 > 0:00:09This was always their duet.
0:00:11 > 0:00:14I guess we're just not as in sync as we used to be.
0:00:14 > 0:00:15Choreo is amazing.
0:00:15 > 0:00:17I think we're going to do really good in Nationals.
0:00:17 > 0:00:20Oh, I've been working on this move, the B-Twist.
0:00:20 > 0:00:22Can you hear it talking to you? No, no.
0:00:22 > 0:00:25Exactly! You're not ready. Oh...
0:00:25 > 0:00:27It's as simple as this, folks. It's one off.
0:00:27 > 0:00:30They go up against each other. The winner moves on.
0:00:30 > 0:00:32The loser? They go home.
0:00:32 > 0:00:35The Next Step! CHEERING AND APPLAUSE
0:00:35 > 0:00:37It's the momentum of the win -
0:00:37 > 0:00:39and next thing you know, we're going to be taking all the rounds.
0:00:39 > 0:00:41I can't wait to see the boys' Small Group.
0:00:41 > 0:00:43It's going to be good!
0:00:48 > 0:00:50CHEERING AND APPLAUSE
0:00:59 > 0:01:02They go by "Life Of Dance",
0:01:02 > 0:01:04but "LOD" also stands for something else.
0:01:04 > 0:01:06"Ladies Of Destruction".
0:01:06 > 0:01:07Why's that?
0:01:07 > 0:01:10I think you're about to see why that really is.
0:01:16 > 0:01:19The Small Group competition is incredible -
0:01:19 > 0:01:22and it's actually pretty intimidating.
0:01:25 > 0:01:27This is round two.
0:01:27 > 0:01:30We're starting with 32 teams and after this round,
0:01:30 > 0:01:32there'll only be 16 teams left.
0:01:56 > 0:01:58Wow. They're really good. Yup.
0:02:01 > 0:02:03Huh. They're so in sync. Yup.
0:02:03 > 0:02:05They're doing a very, very good job.
0:02:05 > 0:02:08It's just making me nervous. It's making me very nervous.
0:02:16 > 0:02:19LOD'S dance is crazy good.
0:02:19 > 0:02:21It's a little scary, obviously,
0:02:21 > 0:02:24but at the same time, it's kind of motivating.
0:02:27 > 0:02:29CHEERING
0:02:35 > 0:02:37I feel like no-one wants to go up against LOD,
0:02:37 > 0:02:41because as soon as you face them, you know you're going home.
0:02:41 > 0:02:45'And the team moving on to the duet round is...
0:02:45 > 0:02:47'Life Of Dance!'
0:02:47 > 0:02:51There you have it. CHEERING AND APPLAUSE
0:02:51 > 0:02:53Well, Tre, this is not a surprise,
0:02:53 > 0:02:57but LOD did not come here to win Small Group.
0:02:57 > 0:03:00'I have a feeling we're going to be talking about this group...
0:03:00 > 0:03:04Are you OK? Hmm? You seem kind of...unclear.
0:03:04 > 0:03:05No, I'm good, I'm good.
0:03:05 > 0:03:08I'm feeling a little bit distracted, just because I'm contemplating
0:03:08 > 0:03:11whether or not to do the B-Twist in the Small Group.
0:03:11 > 0:03:14You sure? Just a lot on my mind right now.
0:03:14 > 0:03:16OK... 'It would be so dope if I hit it,
0:03:16 > 0:03:18'and it would make the dance that much better.'
0:03:18 > 0:03:22The only thing is, I've never really landed it,
0:03:22 > 0:03:24so it's kind of a risk, if I want to hit it.
0:03:25 > 0:03:28MUSIC: Stand Up by Jessica Lee and Kit Knows
0:04:13 > 0:04:15Right now, we are in the second round of Nationals,
0:04:15 > 0:04:17which is Small Groups.
0:04:20 > 0:04:22When The Next Step made it to Nationals ten years ago,
0:04:22 > 0:04:26I competed in the Small Group competition and we lost.
0:04:26 > 0:04:28That's why I brought Luther in to work with the boys,
0:04:28 > 0:04:31because I know how tough the Small Group competition really is.
0:04:36 > 0:04:39If we win the Small Group round,
0:04:39 > 0:04:41then The Next Step will have gone further
0:04:41 > 0:04:44than we ever have at Nationals before.
0:04:47 > 0:04:49I mean, a hip-hop routine at such a high level...
0:04:49 > 0:04:51It's really hard to execute.
0:04:51 > 0:04:53So, no-one really does it.
0:04:53 > 0:04:55I mean, these dancers are good,
0:04:55 > 0:04:59but we're definitely going to stand out with our Luther Brown choreo.
0:05:00 > 0:05:03CHEERING AND APPLAUSE
0:05:06 > 0:05:08They look stellar!
0:05:08 > 0:05:11West is waiting for you guys in the lobby. Oh, OK.
0:05:11 > 0:05:12The boys' Small Group is coming up
0:05:12 > 0:05:14and they need to start getting ready.
0:05:14 > 0:05:16Good luck! 'Next up,
0:05:16 > 0:05:18'we have the Small Group routine
0:05:18 > 0:05:20'from Joanne Chapman's School of Dance.'
0:05:20 > 0:05:22CHEERING AND APPLAUSE
0:05:37 > 0:05:39Joanne Chapman's is a very established studio.
0:05:39 > 0:05:41They always go to Nationals.
0:05:41 > 0:05:44They've never beaten Life Of Dance, but they always do pretty well -
0:05:44 > 0:05:46and that makes them a bit of a threat.
0:05:55 > 0:05:56They have this prop,
0:05:56 > 0:05:59which is incorporating the theme of their routine, which is struggling,
0:05:59 > 0:06:02and it's all about getting to the top of this hill.
0:06:02 > 0:06:04It's just a really good dance.
0:06:09 > 0:06:12Joanne Chapman's was in the finals last year
0:06:12 > 0:06:13with the Ladies Of Destruction
0:06:13 > 0:06:16and I can tell by the way they are dancing right now
0:06:16 > 0:06:19that they want that rematch.
0:06:19 > 0:06:21CHEERING AND APPLAUSE
0:06:23 > 0:06:25How nervous do you guys think the boys are?
0:06:25 > 0:06:27Pretty nervous. So nervous!
0:06:27 > 0:06:29And that's why I put on my socks backwards.
0:06:29 > 0:06:32Makes sense. What?! It actually makes sense? What? Why would you ever...?
0:06:32 > 0:06:34OK, yo, yo. I really want to put a B-Twist in this dance.
0:06:34 > 0:06:36Dude, we need 100%.
0:06:36 > 0:06:39Cos man, if you mess this up, we're going home.
0:06:39 > 0:06:41I know, but I feel like with adrenaline he'll get it,
0:06:41 > 0:06:43and if he does, it's like gravy.
0:06:46 > 0:06:47'I know James.
0:06:47 > 0:06:50'I know once he gets out on stage, he sees that audience...'
0:06:50 > 0:06:53I know he's going to pull it. I know he can do it.'
0:06:53 > 0:06:55Guys, what are you doing?
0:06:55 > 0:06:57James wants to put the B-Twist in our group.
0:06:57 > 0:07:00OK, no. You're on in 30 minutes, you need to get ready.
0:07:00 > 0:07:01All right, all right...
0:07:01 > 0:07:04Luther Brown thinks I shouldn't do the B-Twist,
0:07:04 > 0:07:07because he said I have to wait for it to talk to me,
0:07:07 > 0:07:10but that makes no sense, because dance moves don't talk.
0:07:10 > 0:07:13So, how am I supposed to know when I can do the B-Twist?
0:07:24 > 0:07:27Up now is the Small Group routine from Elite Dance Academy.
0:07:27 > 0:07:30There are big expectations for this troop, Tre.
0:07:45 > 0:07:47Elite isn't even supposed to be here.
0:07:47 > 0:07:50I mean, we won Regionals.
0:07:50 > 0:07:51But they somehow found a loophole,
0:07:51 > 0:07:55where they ended up competing at another Regionals and won.
0:07:55 > 0:07:57But I consider that cheating.
0:07:57 > 0:07:59That's not fair.
0:08:10 > 0:08:12Yo, right now, guys, we got to kill this for Luther, OK?
0:08:12 > 0:08:15We got to get out there and just got to get buck with it.
0:08:15 > 0:08:17Honestly, I'm so torn about between doing the B-Twist or not,
0:08:17 > 0:08:20because it's such a risk.
0:08:20 > 0:08:21We're cutting it kind of short.
0:08:21 > 0:08:23I mean, we're about to get on stage right now.
0:08:23 > 0:08:24OK, how about this?
0:08:24 > 0:08:27Let's come up with like... some sort of signal on stage.
0:08:27 > 0:08:28Why don't you come up with like a sound, like
0:08:28 > 0:08:31"Chi-chi-chi-chi-chi-chi-chi-chi", you know what I'm saying?
0:08:31 > 0:08:33Like, so we will all... Bro, I'm not...
0:08:33 > 0:08:35I'm not saying "Chi-chi-chi". I'm not going to say that.
0:08:35 > 0:08:37Listen, I'm going to nod, all right?
0:08:37 > 0:08:39I'm going to nod at West if I'm going to do the flip, all right?
0:08:39 > 0:08:41All right, cool. Yeah, for sure.
0:08:49 > 0:08:51Excellent napkin use, girls!
0:08:56 > 0:09:01The dancers are so together and their tricks are just perfect.
0:09:01 > 0:09:04They've upped their props, they've upped their turns,
0:09:04 > 0:09:06they've just improved on everything.
0:09:06 > 0:09:08And we barely beat them at Regionals,
0:09:08 > 0:09:11so it's going to be a stiff competition at Nationals.
0:09:12 > 0:09:16CHEERING AND APPLAUSE
0:09:18 > 0:09:20Whoo! Yeah! Yeah, ha-ha!
0:09:22 > 0:09:25Elite's Small Group is really good and it kind of makes me realise
0:09:25 > 0:09:28that we're going to have to go up against them at some point,
0:09:28 > 0:09:30cos they're going to keep advancing.
0:09:30 > 0:09:33'The studio advancing to the duet round is...
0:09:33 > 0:09:36'Elite!' CHEERING AND APPLAUSE
0:09:40 > 0:09:42I think James will do the B-Twist.
0:09:42 > 0:09:45I mean, he's always had this competitive drive inside of him
0:09:45 > 0:09:47and something tells me he's going to do it.
0:09:47 > 0:09:50Well, let's see if The Next Step can join Elite.
0:09:50 > 0:09:53Here they are, performing in Small Group.
0:09:53 > 0:09:55A-TROUPE CHEER
0:09:55 > 0:09:56James, you OK?
0:10:01 > 0:10:04As I walk out onto stage, I can't wait to hit the number.
0:10:05 > 0:10:08I'm a bit nervous, but I'm excited to kill it.
0:10:08 > 0:10:10I'm as ready as I'll ever be.
0:10:12 > 0:10:15As I head on stage, I'm pretty nervous.
0:10:17 > 0:10:19I'm just really hoping I don't mess this up.
0:10:40 > 0:10:43I'm getting goose bumps just listening to the audience cheer.
0:10:43 > 0:10:46I definitely think Luther's choreo makes a difference.
0:10:46 > 0:10:48It just gives us that much more to dance for, you know?
0:10:48 > 0:10:51It's not just for the team, but it's also for Luther.
0:10:53 > 0:10:55Is it automatic that these dancers right now
0:10:55 > 0:10:58are feeding off the energy of the music?
0:10:58 > 0:10:59Absolutely, that bass -
0:10:59 > 0:11:02and their dance alone will get them like that.
0:11:14 > 0:11:16The boys are doing amazing.
0:11:16 > 0:11:19They are so together and they're killing it, they're so in it.
0:11:27 > 0:11:29Oh! Oh, boy, here comes some attitude!
0:11:29 > 0:11:32He went to the Dougie!
0:11:32 > 0:11:35Oh - and now he's giving a bit of crunk! OK!
0:11:40 > 0:11:41So, I get to the part in the dance
0:11:41 > 0:11:43where I was thinking about putting the B- Twist in
0:11:43 > 0:11:46and I don't "hear it" or whatever,
0:11:46 > 0:11:48but honestly, it just doesn't feel right.
0:11:57 > 0:11:59CHEERING AND APPLAUSE
0:11:59 > 0:12:01So many tricks, so many flips...
0:12:01 > 0:12:04I mean, this is a professional calibre routine
0:12:04 > 0:12:09that you would see in any commercial today, or any video, and guess what?
0:12:09 > 0:12:12That's what Luther Brown does. Well done!
0:12:12 > 0:12:13We just share the love,
0:12:13 > 0:12:15because I feel like we've come really close
0:12:15 > 0:12:18and this number was just amazing, so I'm really happy.
0:12:18 > 0:12:21Oh, my goodness, you guys!
0:12:21 > 0:12:22That was amazing!
0:12:22 > 0:12:24You killed it! Oh, you're so great!
0:12:24 > 0:12:26Whoo!
0:12:26 > 0:12:29Yo, guys, guys, I'm sorry I didn't hit uh...that B-Twist.
0:12:29 > 0:12:33Don't even worry about it, it was so good. It was great.
0:12:33 > 0:12:34I was so pumped about doing it,
0:12:34 > 0:12:36I felt like they were kind of getting pumped
0:12:36 > 0:12:39that I was going to do it and I just bailed. I didn't do it -
0:12:39 > 0:12:42and I think it would've added to the dance if I did it.
0:12:42 > 0:12:45James, seriously, it's fine, OK? Don't worry about it.
0:12:45 > 0:12:48I mean, I guess it's better to be safe than sorry, but...
0:12:50 > 0:12:52I was sure he was going to do it.
0:12:52 > 0:12:55If we don't win, I'll probably feel super guilty.
0:12:56 > 0:13:00'And the team moving on to the Duet round is...
0:13:00 > 0:13:04'The Next Step!' CHEERING AND APPLAUSE
0:13:09 > 0:13:13Definitely feels so good to win. We're moving on, again!
0:13:13 > 0:13:15We get to move on to the next round!
0:13:15 > 0:13:20Only 16 studios are moving on and we're one of them!
0:13:20 > 0:13:22It is also a little bit nerve-racking,
0:13:22 > 0:13:25because me and James's duet is next.
0:13:52 > 0:13:53Male Solo?
0:13:53 > 0:13:55Check.
0:13:55 > 0:13:56Small Group?
0:13:56 > 0:13:57Check.
0:13:57 > 0:14:00Life Of Dance now focusing on Duets
0:14:00 > 0:14:03and this duo really does
0:14:03 > 0:14:05a fine job of incorporating acro into their routine.
0:14:19 > 0:14:22Right now, we are in the third round of Nationals -
0:14:22 > 0:14:23the Duet round.
0:14:23 > 0:14:25We have 16 teams in total.
0:14:25 > 0:14:28By the end of the third round, there'll be eight.
0:14:28 > 0:14:30The Duet competition is fierce.
0:14:30 > 0:14:33I mean, we're getting up to the rounds of Nationals
0:14:33 > 0:14:35where it's only the best competitors.
0:14:42 > 0:14:44After James and I got back together,
0:14:44 > 0:14:48we decided to start off with a whole new routine
0:14:48 > 0:14:50and that makes me extremely nervous,
0:14:50 > 0:14:52because we haven't had a lot of time to rehearse it
0:14:52 > 0:14:56and if our competition is as good as LOD is, we're in trouble.
0:15:03 > 0:15:06CHEERING AND APPLAUSE
0:15:08 > 0:15:12I'm scared to eventually go against LOD,
0:15:12 > 0:15:16cos it's going to happen, unless one of us gets cut.
0:15:16 > 0:15:20'And the winner, moving on to Female Solos is...
0:15:20 > 0:15:23'Life Of Dance!' CHEERING AND APPLAUSE
0:15:25 > 0:15:28I don't even think the word "lose" is in their vocabulary.
0:15:39 > 0:15:41Yo, what's up? How you doing?
0:15:41 > 0:15:42I'm fine.
0:15:43 > 0:15:44You seem nervous, what's up?
0:15:44 > 0:15:46I've just been thinking.
0:15:46 > 0:15:48There's something on my mind,
0:15:48 > 0:15:51ever since watching the boys do their Small Group
0:15:51 > 0:15:53and I just need to tell James about it.
0:15:54 > 0:15:57I think you should do the B-Twist in our duet.
0:15:57 > 0:15:58The B-Twist? Yeah.
0:15:58 > 0:16:01I'm kind of shocked that she wants me to do the B-Twist.
0:16:01 > 0:16:02I thought we were kind of past the B-Twist.
0:16:02 > 0:16:04The competition here is fierce.
0:16:04 > 0:16:08If James can do the B-Twist, it'll put our routine over the top.
0:16:08 > 0:16:10I don't even know if I can do the move 100%!
0:16:10 > 0:16:12OK, but I know you can do the move.
0:16:12 > 0:16:16Really? Yes. You've worked so hard on it. I believe in you.
0:16:19 > 0:16:21OK, when?
0:16:21 > 0:16:23Um... After we do the lift, stage left.
0:16:26 > 0:16:28OK.
0:16:28 > 0:16:30If Riley's sure I can do it, I'm doing it.
0:16:30 > 0:16:32I'm a little nervous, but I'm so confident in this
0:16:32 > 0:16:34and I feel so comfortable with Riley,
0:16:34 > 0:16:37I just want to kill this dance.
0:16:44 > 0:16:48Well, Tre Armstrong, the Absolute Dance National Championships
0:16:48 > 0:16:51just went a little Van Gogh on us.
0:16:51 > 0:16:53Check out this set.
0:16:53 > 0:16:55Well, the set up is magnificent.
0:16:55 > 0:16:56Let's see what happens,
0:16:56 > 0:16:59as The Next Step looks to move on to Female Solo.
0:17:13 > 0:17:17The whole story of our piece is that I am a piece of artwork
0:17:17 > 0:17:21and James is all about business and I somehow come to life.
0:17:37 > 0:17:39So, she dances and basically, she shows me her world
0:17:39 > 0:17:42and convinces me to come into her world with her.
0:17:42 > 0:17:43It's a pretty cool concept.
0:17:59 > 0:18:04Our first duet... It kind of was based a lot on Riley's style,
0:18:04 > 0:18:06and it was for her and I was trying to make her happy -
0:18:06 > 0:18:09and it didn't work. And neither did we.
0:18:09 > 0:18:11After we got back together,
0:18:11 > 0:18:13I thought it would be a good idea to fuse ballet -
0:18:13 > 0:18:16which is my style - and hip-hop, which is his style.
0:18:21 > 0:18:23And it just works so much better,
0:18:23 > 0:18:27because we're not trying to be something that we're not.
0:18:51 > 0:18:54'When I come out, I see Riley,
0:18:54 > 0:18:56'and I know that with her, I can do anything.'
0:18:56 > 0:18:58Riley, Riley, I'm going to do it.
0:19:01 > 0:19:02What was that?!
0:19:02 > 0:19:05I'll tell you what that was. That was an incredible B-Twist!
0:19:11 > 0:19:14CHEERING AND APPLAUSE
0:19:25 > 0:19:28Seeing James do the B-Twist
0:19:28 > 0:19:30just puts a huge smile on my face.
0:19:30 > 0:19:32I'm just so unbelievably proud of him.
0:19:37 > 0:19:40Luther said I shouldn't do the B-Twist until I hear it.
0:19:40 > 0:19:43But once Riley told me to do the B-Twist,
0:19:43 > 0:19:44I kind of realised that
0:19:44 > 0:19:47maybe that's the voice telling me to do it.
0:19:48 > 0:19:50When it comes down to it,
0:19:50 > 0:19:52the only voice I ever need to hear is Riley's.
0:19:55 > 0:19:56You did it!
0:19:56 > 0:19:58I know, that was unreal. I'm so proud of you.
0:19:58 > 0:20:00I love you, you know that?
0:20:05 > 0:20:07CHEERING AND APPLAUSE
0:20:11 > 0:20:13There's an audience here. Yeah...
0:20:14 > 0:20:19I didn't mean to say that I love James, but I do.
0:20:19 > 0:20:22I mean, this is the first time I'm ever realising it, but...
0:20:22 > 0:20:24I love him.
0:20:24 > 0:20:29'And the studio moving on to compete in the Female Solo round is...
0:20:29 > 0:20:33'..The Next Step!' CHEERING AND APPLAUSE
0:20:35 > 0:20:38We won! Yo!
0:20:38 > 0:20:39Wooo!
0:20:39 > 0:20:41Next Step has been quite good.
0:20:41 > 0:20:44Oh, yeah, they've been the dark horse in this whole competition,
0:20:44 > 0:20:46so it's going to be interesting to see where they go from here.
0:20:46 > 0:20:48And now, they get ready for Female Solo.
0:20:50 > 0:20:52The Next Step is going to the fourth round!
0:20:52 > 0:20:53This is insane!
0:20:56 > 0:20:59Now that we've won Duets, we are on to Michelle's solo.
0:20:59 > 0:21:02I can't wait to compete with my solo - and I'm fired up!