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