Ready to Start The Next Step

Previously on The Next Step...

This is Phoebe, my sister.

She is going to be our new head choreographer.

-So, what do we think about the challenge?

-I think we should do it.

I'll let all the other studios know that The Next Step

-is holding auditions.

-I just don't think it's smart

to split up the team like that.

I don't want to see you in my studio again.

I want to find a new place to dance and not be treated unfairly.

We'll be pleased to have you audition, Amanda.

This is a bad idea.

-Wait, you two know each other?

-She's my girlfriend.

I am really surprised that Hunter thinks of me as his girlfriend.

-You want Eldon back, right?

-Yeah.

And I want Michelle back. Let's help each other.

If Emily and I work together,

Michelle and Eldon don't stand a chance.

MUSIC PLAYS

Right now, we're warming up for the solo auditions

that are about to start.

I am so surprised by all of the people that showed up.

We have some of the best dancers in the region here,

inside The Next Step Dance Studio.

-Steph.

-Hey.

-What do you think of this whole challenge?

I think the challenge is just going to divide The Next Step.

Not all of us are going to make it

and it's just going to change everything.

We should be working on the routine, not auditioning.

It's OK. Just kill it.

-You too, girl. Good luck.

-You too.

I am a little bit nervous because... no-one here really likes me.

I know I did some terrible things at Elite as dance captain.

But I really want to start over at The Next Step

and show everyone that I'm not really a mean person.

-James!

-What's up?

-Hey, I'm so excited!

"Oh, James! Oh, my God, James!"

-Do you think I have a shot?

-Ah, maybe. Maybe, yeah.

-Really? I've been practising so hard, I'm so ready.

-Yeah.

-Hey, Riley! We should put our stuff away.

-Yeah.

-Good luck!

-Bye, good luck!

I'm a little concerned that Beth is going to make it into A-Troupe.

Because that means that I'm going to have to hear that voice every day.

-I'm really nervous for these auditions.

-Why, though?

I'm feeling a little bit weird about this whole Michelle/Hunter thing.

I just hope it doesn't affect my audition.

You're, like, the best dancer here.

Oh, please. Come on.

I know Eldon feels a little bit nervous that Hunter's here.

But, after the auditions, I'll have a chance to talk to him

and explain everything about Hunter and I.

And, for now, he just needs to focus on dancing.

-But still...

-Exactly.

-..I don't want to mess up.

-You won't.

Be confident.

-Hi.

-Hi.

Why haven't I seen you before? Are you a recreational dancer?

No, actually, my studio won Nationals a few years ago.

But...we didn't make it this year.

-I really liked it there.

-Ohhh.

It would be in my best interest to psyche her out,

so she doesn't dance her fullest.

So you lost at Regionals but want to go to Nationals?

But still really like your studio, so why are you here?

Well, I feel like I deserve to go to Nationals this year,

so I came to audition.

This new girl looks like she's worked really hard

and probably does deserve to be here.

But that doesn't mean I'm happy that she is.

That's cute. Good luck with that.

Thank you.

Attitude.

We haven't even made it through the first round of the challenge

and there's already new dancer drama.

I mean, I hope everyone can keep it together,

because this is the biggest audition of our lives.

# We

# We're gonna show the world

# Everything we're made of

# We're gonna tear the roof off this place

# Stand up! #

OK, everyone. It's time!

-DANCERS:

-Whoo!

I'm super nervous for these auditions, because if you tank this,

then...you don't get to be on A-Troupe this year.

There's so many more amazing dancers.

We really have to step up our game.

Round one for auditions for the National team. Yeah.

Auditions are going to work like this.

We are going to have them each do a solo first.

Then we cut it down to 20, and we go to choreo.

After we do the choreo, we narrow it down to 12 people,

which makes our National team.

So let's have everyone spread out to the side,

so we have room for the solos.

In soloists, we are looking for someone that has that wow factor,

that you could throw up on the stage at Nationals

and it would bring the house down.

DANCE MUSIC PLAYS

Watching Eldon do his solo is amazing.

I mean, one of the main reasons I even dated him

was because of what an amazing dancer he is.

DANCE MUSIC CONTINUES

Yo, Eldon? He's a good dancer, he's got some tricks.

I have the wow factor. I have what people will pay money to see and

I'm not threatened by him at all.

Watching Hunter dance definitely does bring back a lot of memories

but we're just friends.

That little head slide right there,

Michelle named it back in Madison, actually.

She named it the Head Hunter.

MUSIC CONTINUES

I'm dancing pretty well, right now.

Being surrounded by the best dancers in the region really pumps me up.

Riley was great, which I'm really thankful for.

I just think she's becoming more confident in herself.

I really hope me and James make it on the team together.

With how many phenomenal dancers there are...I don't know.

MUSIC CONTINUES

If Beth makes it into A-Troupe,

then her obsession with James is going to be even more unbearable.

I'm actually a little nervous.

As much as I hate to admit it,

Amanda's dancing...pretty well.

I'm just happy right now to be away from Elite

and dancing at a new studio.

The new dancers are just blowing me away. They are so fantastic.

But, we're already a team so I just don't see Kate

wanting to split us up.

MUSIC CONTINUES

This one guy is killing it.

He's doing flips that me, James and West are doing.

And he can turn, too.

This girl's actually dancing really well.

Which is scary for me because she's actually got a similar style

to the way I dance.

Everyone knows that I was injured, and that's a weakness.

And having any sort of weakness could cost me.

Noah? He's so good and he's so cute.

I can't believe these J-Troupers.

MUSIC CONTINUES

There could be a chance that Rochelle and Noah will make A-Troupe.

Where did they come from? They're insane.

Do I think Rochelle can make A-Troupe?

Yes.

Having all this tough competition is making me push that much harder

to have my spot back.

The original A-Troupe dancers are really putting it out

on the dance floor.

We're the dancers that won Regionals.

You think you can challenge us for one of our spots?

Bring it on.

ALL CHEER

Amazing! Thank you so much. That was awesome.

You definitely brought it to the next level!

She can't even handle herself!

-Welcome to The Next Step, my darling.

-I'm so happy!

OK, we need to sit and think about this for a little bit, so...er,

just hang out, and we'll get back to you soon.

-Thank you so much, you guys.

-Going into the challenge,

I really thought nothing could top our Regional team.

But after seeing some of these dancers, I...

I can't say I say the same.

-Wow.

-You can say that again.

There's no way we're going to be able to narrow it down to 12.

I don't know how we're going to do that.

-Hopefully the choreography will weed a few out.

-Oh, it will.

OK.

Right now, Emily, Phoebe, Kate and I are deciding the 20 dancers

who will move on in the challenge.

Yeah, Daniel, with his ankle. I didn't even notice.

-At all. He was perfect.

-Yeah.

If I don't make the Nationals team,

it'll mean nothing except sadness, disappointment

and another emotion that I probably won't enjoy.

It's the first time The Next Step has gone to Nationals

in over ten years.

It would also be my first time going to Nationals.

So it pretty much means everything for me to make the Nationals team.

Amanda.

-I mean...

-I'm a fan of Amanda's.

-..she was great.

I'm going to say it right now, she's going to cause us trouble.

-Well, let's at least allow her to go to the next round.

-Yeah.

-Hey.

-So, how did the auditions go?

-It was amazing.

-Yeah.

-We tried our best.

Yeah, it was the best time I ever did that combo.

Honestly? It might be too soon to say, but...

I think the J-Troupers have a really good shot

at being on the Nationals team.

Rochelle and Noah are beyond amazing, but they're too young.

-BOTH:

-But that's the thing...

..is that I think they're too young, but their technique is flawless.

-And, honestly...

-Unbelievable.

-Better than a lot of the A-Troupe dancers.

-That's what I'm saying.

-I'm sure you guys will make it, both of you.

-Yeah.

-Hopefully.

-Thanks. Yeah, hopefully.

The one that we do need to talk about is Hunter.

Why do we need to talk about him?

Well, I know that you guys have some history

and it could be a little bit awkward if he joined the troupe but...

-Matters of the heart.

-Yes.

I'm so worried that this Hunter and Michelle drama

will tear the team apart

now this love triangle has turned into a love square.

Michelle, I'll leave it up to you, OK?

You can decide if you want Hunter in the top 20.

All right. I'll think about it.

Keeping Hunter for the next round of the Nationals auditions

does make me feel a little bit uncomfortable.

But I can't show it, because that's unprofessional.

I don't want anything to get in the way of my team winning Nationals.

But...if we can do that AND I get Eldon back...

..it might be worth it.

Watching Michelle, Emily, Kate and Phoebe come out of the office

is so nerve-racking.

I'm shaking, I don't know what to do with my hands.

I'm biting my nails.

I'm, like, sweating and antsy and I'm just excited

to see who gets on the team.

I have a pit in my stomach.

I feel like I'm going to throw up but at the same time I'm excited

because I want to see who made it.

It's insane. I've never felt anything like this before.

All right, you guys.

I have the list of who made the first cut.

You guys were all so fantastic.

It made our decision extremely hard.

Just keep reaching for the stars,

because not only astronauts can have stars,

you can have your very own star, too.

OK.

Yes, thank you. Yeah.

Erm...

Let's do this!

In our top 20, we have...

Michelle, Emily.

Eldon.

-CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

-Whoo! Yes!

I'm so relieved, just cos you never know what can happen.

Personally, I would have to say that Eldon is the strongest dancer today

that auditioned. I mean, he's just so great.

Hunter.

I'm like, "Yes, yo, I made it in!" I wanted to scream and shout so bad.

But, you know, I'm cool.

The strongest dancer, for me, surprisingly, was actually Hunter.

I really liked his style, I thought it was fresh, I thought it was new.

Riley.

James.

Hearing my name...is a huge relief.

Aw, it feels great.

Beth.

Good for Beth, you know(?)

Chloe.

West.

Giselle.

Tiffany.

Stephanie.

When my name is called, I feel so relieved.

I can't wait to bring everything that I got to the second round.

Amanda.

I'm thrilled. I mean, I just proved to all these dancers

that I'm just as good as them.

I think Amanda is absolutely fabulous.

And there should be no reason why she doesn't make it

onto the National team.

Unfortunately, I see no reason to cut Amanda after the solo round.

So I'm hoping choreography will be a little different.

Jake.

And we have two dancers from the same studio.

Cass and Morgan.

And from J-Troupe, we have both Noah and Rochelle.

The J-Troupers are surpassing all my expectations.

I think we've got an amazing future here at Next Step,

just looking at those two. They absolutely blew me away.

OK. And the final two spots...

go to...

Waiting for my name to be called is

one of the most intense moments I think I've ever experienced.

It's really scary.

Daniel and Thalia.

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

-Congrats.

-Thanks.

It would mean the world to me to make the Nationals team.

It's everything any dancer dreams of.

Guys, gives yourselves a round of applause!

For those of you who didn't make it, I'm so sorry.

But if you could grab your stuff and head out, that would be appreciated.

Thank you.

I hope we'll end up with the same team that won Regionals.

But there are no promises.

Feel yourself sinking deeper

and deeper

and deeper into the ground.

You're a tree among trees in a vast forest.

You feel your branches getting taller and longer,

stretching up towards the sky.

You feel the cool wind against your bark.

Right now, we are all...

meditating? With Phoebe.

A little bird comes and lands on your branch.

And the little bird says, "Chirp-chirp!"

After the choreo round, we are cutting it down to 12,

and I am leading them through a meditation,

to deal with the pressure of this really intense audition.

-Hey, where's Stephanie?

-MEDITATION CONTINUES

Actually, I don't know.

I know she does have an...acting class today.

I'm sure she'll be here soon.

Well, she better be, this is a pretty serious audition.

You can't really miss it.

She better show up fast, because if she's not here in this room

for these auditions... she's out of A-Troupe.

And you don't speak bird but you know what he's saying.

-OK, I've had enough of this.

-Finally!

Kate! You gonged before it was time.

-Phoebe, let's go.

-I wasn't done!

I think meditation is wonderful.

But there is a time and a place.

And in the middle of an audition for the Nationals team?

Not the place.

Today is choreo day.

BOYS START TALKING The second, final cut auditi...

-Excuse me!

-Hey.

-Did I say you could speak?

There will be no speaking while I'm teaching choreo, do you understand?

I will not stand for anyone talking back or disrespecting me.

So when we are in this room and I am teaching choreo,

I don't want to hear a peep. We came here to dance. Yes or no?

Now I know not to mess with Phoebe.

It does make sense, the really quiet one that can kind of snap.

-ALL:

-Yes.

-Excuse me?

-Yes.

Oh, good. OK, let's start.

I thought the choreo would be chillin'.

But now that I've seen this side of her, I really don't know.

Maybe it will be the opposite of chillin'.

DANCE MUSIC PLAYS Five, six, seven, eight.

This goes one, two, three, four.

Turn five, six... Hit it. ..seven, eight.

I definitely didn't think the choreography

was going to be as hard as it is.

One, two, up, up, down.

Chaines, pitch!

It's great choreography but she's teaching it so fast,

I mean, I'm not picking it up at all.

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

I find it pretty cool that she implements

a whole bunch of dance styles in one.

But, you know, it's just...it's hard if you don't do every dance style.

Five, six, seven, eight.

Phoebe's choreography is actually really hard, but it has to be.

If we want to win Nationals,

our routine has to be ten times better than it was at Regionals.

So now you all know the choreo.

You have 30 minutes...and then we're going to all come back here

and it's going to be the final cut.

We only have 30 minutes?!

How is this even possible?

OK, namaste.

-DANCERS:

-Namaste.

I hope everyone can keep up. This is auditions for Nationals,

so we'll see what happens.

Making it back on A-Troupe is going to be way harder than I thought.

After this round, I wouldn't be surprised

if some of our original A-Troupe members don't make the cut.

So if they can't keep up...bye-bye.

# We

# We're gonna show the world

# Everything we're made of

# We're gonna tear the roof off this place

# You

# You can never fade us out

# Don't even ask the DJ

# Everybody knows we own this sound... #