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