She's Not You The Next Step

Previously on The Next Step...

Are you sure you wouldn't rather be with your band right now?

No, Riley. Of course. This is Internationals.

'I do want to be here.

'But I also really want to be with the band.

'But I'm just not ready to tell anyone that yet.'

If Noah comes in...

then we need to lose somebody else.

I'm the alternate for the team.

I'll back out.

She cheated and she still won.

This isn't about Internationals any more.

Ella betrayed me. But worse, she betrayed my team.

And we're going to make her regret it.

Ready? A five, six, seven, eight. Go one, a two, a three, a four...

We still can't believe that we made it all the way to semifinals.

We started with 160 teams at Internationals. 160.

Now we're down to four.

England, Sweden, Italy and us.

Today, each team gets only one hour to rehearse their group number.

One, a two, a three, a four...

'And it's really the only time we get to practise on stage so...'

we really, really need this rehearsal.

And one, a two. Hold on. Stop one sec.

Cierra, just push out a little. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

-That's a little bit better. OK.

-Your time is up.

What?

-No. She's just messing with us.

-No, no, no. Your time is up.

Please get off the stage.

Having to leave for Ella's team...

just makes me really angry.

You just don't look ready and you know why?

-Why?

-Because you're not.

'She's wrong. We are ready. We're going to win'

and we're going to find a way to beat her.

We have to.

# We, we are gonna show the world

# Everything we're made of

# We're gonna tear the roof off this place

# Stand up. #

-Whoa.

-This is huge.

I feel like Amanda and I just need a moment on stage to ourselves

'because we aren't in any of the routines

'and we won't get to dance here.'

Wow.

This is amazing.

Look at this stage.

Look at the audience.

'So I feel like we just need this moment to take in all the lights'

and just imagine what it would be like to compete at Internationals.

It would be amazing to dance on it though.

Why can't we?

Shall we dance?

'The spotlight is shining on us.

'And it's almost like we're having our own Internationals moment.'

It's pretty magical.

APPLAUSE

'I know we're only alternates, but...'

this moment is pretty great.

Welcome back to our ongoing coverage

of the Absolute Dance International Championship.

I'm your host, Chuck Anderson

alongside dancer and performer, Ashley Leggat.

And then there were four.

On one side of the ledger we have Academia Toscana di Danza

out of Italy...

and Stockholm Dance Theatre. Now Stockholm Dance Theatre,

they've been through this battle too many times.

They are ready to go.

On the other side of the ledger,

we have Summerford School of Dance and, well,

the antithesis of Stockholm Dance Theatre - The Next Step

are getting their first kick at the can here at Internationals.

The cold hard truth is that at the end of today...

only two teams will remain.

HE GROANS IN PAIN

This isn't good.

West looks really sick.

'As I was in Miami, I found the best kebab spot

'that you can possibly ever go to.'

And I think it gave me food poisoning.

All right. How many times have you thrown up?

-Three times.

-You know what? Actually four

-because I just threw up in my mouth.

-Ew.

-And I swallowed it back in.

-What are we going to do?

-You know what? This is food poisoning.

I know it. I eat shawarmas a lot.

It happens to me like once or twice a month.

It takes 24 hours to get out of your system.

I think it's just from the meats.

We do not have 24 hours.

It was... Someone help me up. Come here. Come here.

HIS STOMACH RUMBLES

-You know, I think I got to go...

-Where?

-You know where!

-Oh!

That makes five times. Five. Five times.

West is definitely not going to be ready in time

for the semifinals routine.

We can't afford to wait for him to get better so we're going to

-have to replace him.

-Well, it's either Michelle or Amanda.

Michelle's better for this one. When Michelle and I became alternates,

we decided that we would each be responsible for five dancers.

And West was one of hers.

Michelle? Do you feel ready?

'I've been dreaming about dancing with the team.

'But now that I have the chance,'

I'm so nervous and I don't want to let the team down.

Do you think you can handle it?

Yeah. I'll do it.

We need to get you your costume. We need to rework the routine.

We have lifts so we need to change that, obviously.

'I feel really bad for West, but I just can't wait to perform'

on the International stage.

CHEERING

The first semifinal is getting set to go.

It's going to be Stockholm Dance Theatre

against Academia Toscana di Danza.

That Italian troupe is set to go.

ELECTRONIC MUSIC PLAYS

CHEERING

We can use the word strong to describe these four teams

that are left standing here at Internationals here in Miami.

But that really wouldn't do it justice.

They're so much more than just strong.

They have just exemplified everything that you want to see

-in a competition of this nature.

-They absolutely have.

They have taken every curveball thrown at them

and thrived and this is why they are the final four.

There is no room for mistakes.

And Italy's drawn the short straw here today having to go head-to-head

against defending champions Team Sweden.

'Six, seven, eight.'

One and two and three and four and five.

'I know Michelle is a fantastic dancer,

'but to learn our semifinals routine'

right before we go on, that would be hard for any of us.

One, two, three and four.

'I feel like I'm picking up the choreography just fine,'

but I'm super nervous. It's just a lot to handle.

CHEERING

And up next, those wily veterans out of Sweden - Stockholm Dance Theatre.

-# Wake up in a new skin

-# Oh, babe

-# Life is how it's always been

-# Oh, babe

-# I can open up my eyes

-# Oh, babe

-# And see it in a brand-new light

-# Oh, babe

-# Shivers running down my spine

-# Oh, babe

-# Music in the bright light

-# Oh, babe

-# Suddenly covers me

-# Oh, babe

-# Pouring rain apparently

-# Oh, babe. #

Sweden is already looking very impressive out there.

It's no wonder they're the defending champions.

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

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

six, seven, eight. Pose.

So right now we're re-choreographing the routine to fit Michelle

and it's actually going really well.

I'm ready as I'll ever be.

-Got it?

-Um, yeah. I'm ready to go.

Good because we need to get in costumes and go.

So, let's do this, guys.

-West, you coming, bro?

-Just give me like... Just give me like two min...

-HIS STOMACH RUMBLES

-Oh I'm out. I'm out.

That kebab was kabad. And it kablooied me.

CHEERING

Wow. Ashley, Stockholm Dance Theatre has been a model of consistency

-throughout this week.

-And it continues.

That dance was incredible. They were moving as one. It was fantastic.

And I don't know how they will ever be beat.

All right. So now it's all left up to the judges.

The judges have tabulated their scores.

And the team moving on to the final round is...

Stockholm Dance Theatre.

CHEERING

Sweden is moving on and, Ashley, what have they not used up yet?

-They have not used their five-point advantage.

-Wow.

Really, at this point, they are practically invincible.

# So give it up, up

# All of your love, love

# And don't run, run away. #

Five, six, seven, eight.

One and two and three and four and five.

'Right now, Giselle and I are just backstage and we're just kind of

'going over the dance just to really make sure it's in my brain.

'I can't believe I got this opportunity.'

I feel like this is my time to shine.

The stage looks huge.

Is it any different than Regionals or Nationals?

I mean, I've never been to Nationals.

Mind you, I've never even been to Regionals either.

That's right. You weren't at either.

It's going to be weird starting over at Regionals next year.

Yeah. I never really thought of that.

Me either.

For Noah to go back to Regionals, it makes sense.

Me on the other hand? I've been to Regionals.

I've been to Nationals and now I'm at Internationals.

Regionals?

That's just a big step back.

CHEERING

'It's weird competing against The Next Step

'because they're nice people.

'But when it comes to competition,'

no-one is going to hold me or my team back.

SLOW DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYS

Our semifinal dance? There's a little girl wandering in the woods

and we're all like enchanted trees all trying to scare her.

And it's all about how you could control what you are afraid of.

CHEERING

'They're all so technically beautiful and very fluid.'

And it's actually kind of brilliant.

SHE EXHALES

CHEERING

'Ours is a lot more fun and upbeat and it kind of worries me

'just because their routine is beautiful.'

And I'm worried that that is going to beat us out.

Guys, come in. Huddle around.

Listen, I know that England is fantastic.

They are a very, very strong team.

And that's fine because we're here at the semifinals

and I want you guys to focus on yourselves.

Don't even think about them for one second.

Yes. I totally agree. If we dance for us, we'll win.

-Yup.

-Honestly, this could be our last time dancing together, guys.

We have to go all in.

Yeah? You guys down? Yeah? You guys ready to go in?

-ALL:

-Yeah!

This could be the last time that I step on the stage.

I have to dance for myself.

And I have to go all out.

CHEERING

The drama continues to heighten.

That was a solid performance put forth by Summerford School of Dance.

It sure was and our newbies are up next - The Next Step.

They've got their work cut out for them.

-Beat that.

-Planning on it.

I want to beat Ella more than anything.

Well, Ashley, up next is The Next Step.

And once again they are mired in drama.

The scuttlebutt backstage is that they have to go to an

alternate dancer here in the semifinals.

Chuck, this is an absolute nightmare. We are at the semifinals.

There's no room for drama or anything to be happening so

I really hope they can figure it out and give it a fair shot on stage.

-All right. You guys got this?

-Will The Next Step...

-Here we go.

..please enter the stage? CHEERING

All right, all right. I'm here.

West, what are you doing?

What?

-Look, West, I got this. I can perform.

-No, no. It doesn't matter.

-I haven't...

-HIS STOMACH RUMBLES

..thrown up in three minutes. It's fine. I'm good.

Michelle, it's up to you.

Listen, you could probably do a better job than I could, so...

light up the stage guys.

-Good luck, guys.

-Good luck.

-Kill it.

Will The Next Step please enter the stage?

-CHEERING

-Good luck!

'I thought I was going to have this moment with the team, but...'

I guess not.

Sometimes you just have to step back.

-# Just set me on fire

-# Fire

# Your love is just like a flame

-# You're burning me up

-# Fire, fire, fire. #

CHEERING

OK, now we have been told that they are not going with their alternate

and they're ready to perform.

Let's see what they got.

ELECTRO-SWING MUSIC PLAYS

'Our semifinals routine is called Let's Dance Tonight

'and it's kind of about James having this dream.

'He kind of gets pulled into this old-fashioned style of dancing.'

He's very hip-hop and completely different from how we're dancing

which is very swing.

Then I realise that they have never seen hip-hop.

'So I show them some hip-hop and then by the end of it

'it's kind of like a hip-hop swing fusion.'

# Shake your body from side to side. #

CHEERING

'Now that I'm on stage, I'm feeling better than ever.'

I wouldn't have missed this for the world.

'As I'm dancing I feel happy. Super happy.'

Because even though this may be my last time dancing, I still love it.

Woo!

'They're doing so amazing, but...'

you know, I just wish that I was up there with them and

being a part of their performance.

# You and me baby gonna dance tonight

# Come here, girls Help me do it right

# Shake your body from side to side. #

'I think The Next Step have a good routine.'

But we are going to win this.

Woo!

CHEERING

Ashley, is it safe to say that The Next Step

just delivered their best performance?

It sure is. I'm blown away. I did not expect to see that

after everything that's been going on backstage.

But was it enough to beat England?

Let's see how this thing pans out.

The judges... We're waiting on them.

'Waiting to hear who the winner is is always the most stressful part.'

There's not much else you can do.

You just have to stand and wait for the results.

'This is very tense.' I am so nervous right now.

And it's even worse because

we don't have the five-point advantage any more.

'The suspense is killing me.'

If we don't beat Ella's team, I don't know what I'll do.

Talk about the heightened drama throughout the course of this week.

Absolutely. I feel so bad for the dancers standing up there waiting.

There is no worse moment than waiting to hear

if you've won or lost.

-And it looks like we might have a decision.

-Yeah, they're ready.

Yeah, here it comes.

The judges have tabulated their scores

and the team moving on to the final round is...

The Next Step! CHEERING

We're going to the finals at Internationals.

OK, this is huge. I don't even know how to feel I'm so excited.

In your face, Ella.

'I finally beat Ella.'

She deserves it.

It kind of reassures me that

cheating does not get you ahead.

Ella cheated and she lost.

SNR has been following The Next Step through Regionals, Nationals

and now here at the International Championship.

It's The Next Step's first appearance here

at the Internationals and they are in the title bout.

THEY CHEER

What are you doing?

It's over, you beat us. We can be friends now.

-Don't you get it?

-Oh, no. I get it. I just don't play that way.

Oh, Ri.

Scowling doesn't suit you.

That's right. Scowling doesn't suit me.

'Celebrating with my real friends does.'

Woo! THEY CHEER

'We're just warming up for our finals routine.'

This day is the most important day of the entire competition.

Riley, come here for a second.

Listen. I've been having a great time at Internationals.

Don't get me wrong.

But I've been thinking a lot lately.

And...

I just want to be with the band.

I know. But once Internationals is done

you'll have plenty of time to do both.

No. No, no, no. You're not understanding what I'm saying.

When Internationals is over...

I just want to be with the band.

I don't know what to say.

You could say you're cool with that?

I don't think I can.

I can't give James my blessing for this...

because it terrifies me.

Dance has always been the one thing that we've had in common and

by him saying that he wants to leave dance...

it's kind of like him saying...

he wants to leave me.

-All right. You guys warm?

-Yeah.

-Yeah? OK. Let's get up.

Let's start working on this. Today is the big day.

-Come on, get in your spots.

-It sure is a big day.

Excuse me. What are you doing here? This is a closed rehearsal.

Yeah. Not for an Absolute Dance Internationals judge it isn't.

Lucien is back.

That's right. I'm a judge.

Lucien's a judge? Are you kidding me?

He has managed to sneak his way in again.

Of course, his one goal is to take down The Next Step.

And it looks like he might finally succeed.

'I know Lucien really well.'

And with him as a judge...

there's no way we're going to win.

# We, we are 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. #