Rock and a Hard Place The Next Step

Previously on The Next Step...

Michelle being in A Troupe is honestly confusing.

We don't let randoms walk in from the street and audition.

So, Michelle, are you going to audition to be dance captain?

I guess.

Now that she might lose her captaincy to a new girl...

I mean, what is going on?

This is MY captaincy at stake! So from the top.

I feel like she's way too threatened by Michelle.

The E Girl rules are very simple. Number one...

An E Girl always has another E Girl's back.

I'm pretty angry.

Stephanie's tanking it.

Stephanie throwing the dance is not cool.

Emily should have won fairly.

That was so not cool what you did to Michelle.

I have never stood up to my sister before.

Are you even an E Girl any more?

Attention, dancers! Attention, please.

Some exciting news. It looks like we are going to be

competing at a local dance competition this weekend.

CHEERING

We're going to a small competition this weekend. It's almost like

rehearsal for regionals.

We get to scope out the competition of, like,

the other studios around the area.

It'll give us a chance to go out

and get used to being on stage again.

We're going to switch it up a bit,

and I'm going to change the line positions.

You'll perform for Chris and I and then I'll make the decision.

I don't know what Kate is trying to pull right now, but there is

no way I'm letting her take this responsibility away from me.

I AM the dance captain.

# We...

# We're going to show the world

# Everything we're made of

# We're going to tear the roof off this place.

# Stand up. #

The dance positions are usually made up by the dance captain

and the dance captain is me, right?

It's true, Emily, but I just feel like there's a lot of tension

in the air, and it's probably best if the positions come

from Chris and I.

How are the dancers supposed to trust me,

or even respect me,

if you keep taking away my responsibilities

as dance captain?

Emily is dance captain, and I think it's up to me

and Kate to just let her do what she needs to do.

She knows what she's doing, and I know she wants to win.

OK, fine. You can set the dance positions.

-Remember our main objective.

-Do what's best for the team.

Ms Kate, I always do what's best for MY team.

So, I heard you were choreographing for J Troupe.

-What's up with that?

-I'm going to work with them later on.

Dan just joined A Troupe and already he wants to choreograph?

The E Girls can't let him have that much power.

-You know I did that before?

-No.

Yeah, you know what they're like? (They're crazy.)

-No...

-But you'll be fine. You'll be fine. You'll be fine.

Well, no, what do you mean?

E Girl rule number 46:

Never let anyone else in A Troupe look too good.

You're tense now. I can sense it.

-Well, you've got me all nervous!

-They'll sense that.

They'll sniff it out. Have fun. OK.

-Be fun. Don't be like this. Like a robot, like...

-OK.

-OK.

I'm a little shaken up.

If they rattled her up, they're going to tear me apart.

All right, everybody! Are you ready?

The order is, Chloe, Tiffany, Daniel, Eldon, James,

Stephanie, Riley, Michelle, then West.

I'm holding auditions for the dance placements

for this weekend's competition.

# Hey, you, what do you say?

# I been thinking about you since yesterday. #

She just has to earn her place, though. You know? She's new.

Dance placement is an indicator for the hierarchy in the dance studio.

The only thing I wish is she'd put more technical

things in her routine.

Oh! That was sick. That was really cool.

If you were placed in the front row, it basically means that

you're one of the strongest dancers.

And if you're in the back, it's kind of like a diss.

I'm pretty confident that I'm going to be in the front row.

Not only am I Emily's best friend,

I'm also one of the best dancers in the troupe.

# And I run cos my world keeps crumbling

# And the gloves in my hand keep thundering

# But I know one day is all I need

# All I know is you can't get next to me. #

But let's, er...

Let's take some points off of that really creepy look.

Nice. Nice.

Oh.

I am dancing terribly. I'm forgetting everything.

I've never danced this bad before in my life.

Riley usually gets nervous. She's very shy.

But she's an amazing dancer and I know she'll be OK.

Good job! Whoo! Go, Riley!

Back row, here I come.

All right. Michelle, let's go.

# ..In the big, blue sky... #

She's not footing that turn.

# I'm ready to try if you want it

# Don't worry, I'll catch you when you're falling... #

-That jump could've been higher.

-It was really high.

Could have been higher.

# I'm waiting, I'm waiting... #

I'm pulling out some of my best tricks, and I really hope

that Emily and Stephanie are impressed.

Oh, another flip.

All right. Can we gather around?

Michelle is unreal. She is so good.

I think she's going to be in the front row, if not front and centre.

Everyone, attention!

I'm going to go run this by Kate and Chris,

get their opinion on it and see if they think it's fair.

You know, I'm not really sure where I'm going to be placed in the dance.

I know that I'm new here and that I have to earn my spot.

-Excuse me.

-Hey.

-Hey, how are you?

I want the dancers to think that we're getting Kate and Chris' input

for dance placements. But we're not.

Actually, what I came to talk to you about is there's a light...

somewhere out there that's just done.

It's completely gone out.

OK. Do you know which one it is?

-They're pointing.

-Or is it?

I'm happy that Emily is going to Kate

and Chris about the line placements, cos I know that it will be

a fair decision and an unbiased decision.

-Got that, Chris?

-Yeah, safety is important.

Yeah, safety is 110% important.

Safety is super important.

I'm glad they came to me about the light bulb, although I've

never seen them so concerned about the condition of the studio.

# You know you want to dance

# Just take a chance. #

All right everybody.

Attention! I have in my hands our line positions.

Back it up, and I'll tell you what they are.

Stephanie, you're here.

Me being in the front is no surprise, really, to me.

I mean, I work hard and I'm a great dancer and I'm Emily's best friend.

Eldon.

Chloe, back row beside Tiffany.

I'm shocked. I thought I did a little bit better than back row.

I will be here. Riley, you're in the front.

Me in the front row?

Something's going on, because there's no way that that dance

that I just did is front row material.

I put Riley in the front because she's my sister.

I'm going to give her a chance and she deserves it.

I know she's a good dancer and I know she'll work hard.

Michelle, you can stay where you are. Back row.

The fact that Michelle is in the back row really surprises me.

I know that I'm new here and that I have to earn my spot,

so I guess it's OK that I'm in the back.

All right, everybody. I'm going to need you to back it up,

and all I'm looking for now is cleanliness in the arms.

Just be sharp and be there, OK?

I don't know what my sister is up to.

I guess she's maybe a little jealous of Michelle.

All I know is that me and Michelle should definitely be switched.

Being in the front row is throwing me off.

I've never been in the front row before.

I don't see anyone in front of me to, like, follow along with,

so I'm trying to follow my sister.

# So addicted to you

# There's nothing that I won't do

# To feel you

# I'm so addicted to you

# I only really want to

# Be near you. #

I think Riley's really overwhelmed with being in the front row.

It's her first time and I know that feeling,

and I just want my sister to be OK.

What's going on? What's going on?

You're nervous to be in the front row?

Oh, I get it, I get it.

When it was my turn up there, I was so nervous, Ry.

Like, don't worry, OK? You'll get there.

-Well, I just...

-You want a break? OK! No, no.

-No, we can give you a break.

-But...

Riley, you're my sister.

All right, let's take a break, everyone!

Emily calling a break for me just shows that she's delusional.

She doesn't see that I'm not getting the choreograph

because I shouldn't be in the front row, Michelle should.

Yeah, let's go get some juice!

I think the break will allow Riley

to calm down, collect herself, and then she'll be perfect.

# I only really want to

# Be near you. #

Hi, boys and girls. I'm Daniel.

After talking to Tiffany, I'm really, really nervous

about working with the J Troupe.

-I'm thinking that today...

-You know we speak English, right?

Yeah, sorry. Erm...

I told the J Troupers if they give

Daniel a hard time, they get to dance for A Troupe.

Like this, really fast.

-Um, excuse me? I have a question.

-Sure.

Do you even know what you're doing?

You're like, "No, I don't know what I'm doing, help me out."

We're not going to follow along unless you know all of our names.

I don't think I like you.

I didn't think it would be this difficult.

They can't even pick up a few steps.

I'm really, really not sure what I should try to get through to them.

Yo, Riley, Riley.

Can you tell me what tangent is again?

-Sine of a cosine.

-Sine of a cosine?

-Yeah.

-Hey, I got you something.

-OK.

-It's from the top of a mountain.

-The top of a mountain?

Like, the top of a mountain. Like, Rocky Mountains.

-Oh, water bottle?

-Yeah.

SHE LAUGHS

It's natural spring mountain water.

Mmm, got it.

He's probably the only person at the studio who'll tell me

his honest opinion, and the brutal truth,

which is what I need right now.

-Can I ask you something?

-Yeah, sure.

Do you think I should be in the front row?

OK, honestly?

Honestly.

I kind of like the fact that Riley asked for my opinion.

I mean, why come to me?

Seriously, I think Michelle should be in the front row.

-I mean, no offence.

-No. I... Thank you for being honest.

I just needed to hear it.

OK.

It kind of hurts a little bit.

I thought, you know, maybe he thought

I should be in the front row.

But it's the truth and that's

what I wanted to hear and it's what I needed to hear.

-OK, guys, so can we take it from the top?

-No.

-We're taking it from the top. Hop up, please.

-We're bored.

-How about we go through with music? That's fun.

-We have.

These kids are rotten.

They are not listening to me at all, and it's really, really hard.

Please get up. I just want to make your dance the best it can be.

-It's not me on stage, it's you.

-Thank gosh it's not you on stage.

LAUGHTER

All right, J Troupe, get up! Rehearsal starts now, get up.

Get up!

I'm coming into Studio B because I can tell Daniel's had enough.

There's no way he's going to want to choreograph our J Troupe again.

One and two, and three, and four, and five, and six.

We'll work on that part later.

One, two, three, four...

Ever since Tiffany walked in, the J Troupers are really motivated,

and I think this routine is going to be really good.

I made Daniel's life miserable and now he loves me.

I'm such an E Girl.

-Kate?

-Hey, Riley, what's up?

Hi. Um, erm...I just wanted to get your thoughts on something.

Sure.

Emily got Kate's approval on the line order,

so I just wanted to figure out why she put me in the front row.

I didn't. I didn't approve the line-up.

I don't know why Riley thought I approved the line-up.

Emily never spoke to me about any of this.

I thought she came in and talked to you about it.

She made that decision on her own.

Like, if you click it, it gives you options.

The thing is that I didn't do that the last time so...

Em, can we talk?

Well, it's E Girls, like, sit and talk.

As sisters, though. Like, just alone.

Oh, sister thing. OK, I'll be back.

I talked to Kate. She told me she had no input in the line order.

And you didn't even confront her about it?

Well, no. I thought it was a good order.

I just think me and Michelle should be switched.

Well, I disagree.

I think she needs to earn her place, just like everybody else did.

-OK. She deserves to be in the front row.

-Riley.

-I just want what's best for the team.

-Riley!

Here I am doing her a favour and she wants to rebuff it?

Well, I guess that's the last time I do anything for her.

I'm sticking up for you. Maybe have a little faith in me, OK?

I think I know what I have to do,

I just don't know if I can pull it off.

# Your smile

# Lights up my world

# I can't believe you are my girl. #

-Yo.

-Hey.

-How's it going?

Not so good. I mean, you were right.

I don't deserve to be in the front row.

But the funny thing is, Emily made the lines up by herself.

Kate had nothing to do with it.

I'm not surprised.

I know that Kate would have never approved that dance line-up.

-I don't know. I kind of have an idea.

-Do it.

It's kind of dangerous, what I'm thinking about doing,

so I don't know how it's going to work out.

I have no idea what Riley has in mind,

but I think she should do it. I think she should follow her heart.

All right, everybody, let's take our positions.

You should be warm by now.

Wait.

Stay in the front.

In this moment, I am standing up to my sister

and doing what's right.

Clearly she's trying to embarrass me in front of the whole troupe.

What are you doing?

What's right.

Kate had nothing to do with these line placements.

Emily did this all on her own.

And I clearly do not deserve to be in the front row, Michelle does.

How dare Riley call me in front of everybody!

Not only is she an E Girl, but she's MY sister.

I am really not pleased in being caught in the middle of Riley

and Emily. That's not my position to take.

Do you all agree with me?

Yeah.

When Riley stands up to her sister, it's surprising,

because no-one's ever stood up to Emily like that.

Yeah.

Yeah.

I applaud her, cos that was the right thing to do,

you know, for the team.

Sorry, sis, you're outvoted.

OK, that's fine.

I know in a few days she'll turn her focus to something else,

and she'll see my side of things eventually.

So, I'm in the front?

Yes.

OK, dancers, we have a lot of work to do on this dance still, OK?

We need to pick up the energy big time.

Good job on moving Michelle to the front.

You did the right thing.

"Good job, on the line placement. Michelle is beside you. Thank you."

-Thanks.

-OK, here we go!

One, two, three, four, five, six.

When you're a leader,

you have to lose little battles to win the big war.

So they better be prepared

for when I win that war, because I'm going to remember

what they did to me.

Let's go again.

One, two, three, J Troupe!

OK, so, I choreographed this routine for the J Troupe.

They have a huge competition this weekend.

Shout out to Tiffany for helping me out.

Here they are. Good luck, guys!

CHEERING

DANCE MUSIC

Yeah!

Whoo!

I'm really proud watching the J Troupe.

They are doing the dance awesomely.

CHEERING

My plan to mess with Daniel worked brilliantly,

because he learned his lesson and he thinks the E Girls are great.

I think he's been sufficiently schooled.

CHEERING

That was so good, you guys! So, so good.

I learned two things. One, that choreography is

really hard, and two, that I am never going

to try a stunt like that again.

Yeah, girl, those nails...

-Can we go this weekend?

-Yeah!

-Awesome.

I'm getting a little nervous,

because I can see the E Girl look in their eyes, and with that look

nothing ever ends well.

What's going on?

Look.

It seems like your interests lie outside of E Girls lately.

-I...

-No...

It's not up for discussion. Who wants Riley out of E Girls?

RILEY SCOFFS

She's my own sister, my family, and she just kicked me out.

She violated one of our main rules. We have to have each other's backs.

I did what was right and I got punished for it.

Me and my sister are definitely not going to be the same.

# We...

# We're going to show the world

# Everything we're made of

# We're going to tear the roof off this place

# You...

# You can never fade us out

# Don't even ask the DJ

# Everybody knows we own this house. #