Your New Beginning The Next Step

Previously on The Next Step...

THEY CHEER

That means the competition is over!

Congratulations, you guys!

This is officially the Internationals team!

One, two three! Internationals!

I would have been bothered if you didn't make it into A-Troupe.

Do you feel the same way?

Yeah.

# One, two, three, four

# Follow me out the door

# We're going out tonight to hit the dance floor

# There's no time to be down any more

# Now

# And five, six, seven, eight

# Come on now, don't be late

# We gotta go now

# Get rid of your frown

# No time to be down... #

This is the first time A-Troupe is dancing

with the three new Elite people.

# I feel all right... #

Dancing with The Next Step is really weird.

They've been our sworn enemies for years.

I don't know how this is going to work.

# Time for a good time now... #

I don't have to like these people. They don't have to like me.

As long as we look like a team and we're clean,

that's all I care about.

# Whoa-oh, ah-oh, ah-oh, ah-oh-oh... #

I still don't feel like I'm fitting in as part of the Next Step.

Max, Shantel and I are just kind of outsiders still.

# Now the music's loud

# The bass is going down... #

It is weird dancing with the three new members of A-troupe,

because I danced with them at Elite.

But I'm just happy that I'm here and I'm on the Next Step now.

# Oh, whoa-oh-oh, whoa-oh-oh... #

My two boys are not there, James and Hunter,

and of course Emily's not here.

So it's...it's definitely new for all of us.

I'm the new guy,

and I guess I don't really quite fit in right now, but...

hopefully, in time, I'll start to get the hang of things in A-Troupe.

# Whoa-oh, ah-oh, ah-oh, ah-oh-oh

# Oh-oh-oh, ah-oh, ah-oh

# Oh-oh-oh

# Whoa-oh, ah-oh, ah-oh, ah-oh-oh... #

As the new A-Troupe, we don't really feel united.

But, because we're dancers,

you don't really see that during a routine.

It's only when the dance ends that you can really start to feel

the tension between the Elite members and the Next Step.

I think why we don't really hang out with the Elite people is...

because we want our old team back.

Things are different now,

and I don't know if we'll be able to pull it together.

# We

# We are gonna show the world

# Everything we're made of

# We're gonna tear the roof off this place

# Stand up! #

'I am here at the orthodontist today...'

to get my braces off!

I'm so excited!

I cannot wait to be able to eat corn on the cob and apples

and hard candies and gum!

Riley.

This magazine is from 1992

and, look, still an amazing macaroni and cheese recipe.

Are you seriously reading a magazine right now?

Aren't you excited?

-Excited? No, I'm frightened.

-Why?

I don't think you've thought this whole thing through.

Are you kidding?

No, I'm not kidding. I might not even recognise you.

You know what you should do? Come out with a little name tag

-that says, "Hello, my name is Riley," just so I know.

-Yeah? Mm-hm?

Ah!

'Clearly, Riley is way too nervous'

to have any sense of humour right now.

I wasn't finished reading my horoscope. Come on.

This magazine is from 1992.

I think you're up. I think you're up.

Hold on Riley. Smile.

-What?

-Smile.

'Take one last look at my smile,'

cos it's changing for ever.

All right. Five, six, seven, eight. One, two...

'I don't even know these three new people from Elite,

so it's hard to dance with somebody without a connection.

Five, six, seven, eight.

I can feel the tension in the room

and I feel it's just because The Next Step isn't used to the way they work

and they're not used to the way we work.

Seven, eight, hit.

If we're going to succeed at Internationals,

this tension has to go.

At some point, we have to make up, and this is the time.

OK. This has been bothering me all rehearsal.

Something's not right here.

Clearly, there's two separate teams. We're not a family yet,

and there is no way we can win Internationals like that.

Well, what do you have in mind?

Oh, I don't know.

Duets?

'I'm hoping with maybe duets, we can'

work one-on-one with each other

and it'll give us a chance to work out our differences.

I like that. That is a great idea, Cierra.

'Right now, I'm feeling the divided countries,'

so this is a great opportunity for them to...become one.

OK.

West, Noah and Giselle,

you guys pick one Elite dancer to pair up with.

-OK?

-Yeah.

-Sure.

-Don't be shy.

-Shantel, right?

Giselle?

'I'm really excited to work with Shantel.

'I don't really know much about her,'

so I'm just excited to get to know her.

Oh...OK...

-Yeah.

-So duet or not?

I definitely want to duet with Eldon

because we'd get to spend a lot more time together.

Quiz time. Thalia.

What is Eldon's pre-competitive ritual?

Oh, that's easy.

He doesn't wash his lucky sock for like three weeks before competition.

That's disgusting.

And it's true.

You guys have clearly already bonded many a time.

You guys don't need to do this. Go enjoy your afternoon.

-Thanks, Phoebe.

-Good job.

Ugh! I shouldn't have got that question right,

cos then I would have been able to work with Eldon.

'Noah and I are in Studio A,

'we're supposed to be working on our duet...'

but we're just kind of sitting on the floor.

Not even talking.

I had pizza yesterday.

Oh, yeah?

Way too many olives.

Why am I talking to her about pizza?

I should ask her something about herself.

Do you miss Elite?

Mm. I don't know. Parts of it but, you know, not really.

Sometimes I miss here.

And I go here.

How do you miss here, then?

I used to be in J-Troupe, and now I'm here.

-So you're new to A-Troupe too?

-Yeah.

'So I found out that Noah is kind of new to the team, too.'

I'm starting to loosen up around him.

-Want to try some stuff?

-Yeah.

All right. Er...

-Do you do any acro?

-Yeah. I can tumble. Can you?

Sweet. I say we start in the corner.

'So now that we've broken the ice,'

I think that our duet will be pretty good.

I think Noah and I will really come together.

OK, let me see them.

Wow. OK.

-Yeah.

-Not bad at all. Look at that.

-It's not a bad job...

-HE GASPS

Seriously?

-HE LAUGHS

-I'm playing with you.

Look at you. Look at how beautiful you look.

Thank you.

I cannot wait to show everyone my new teeth.

It's going to be amazing.

I can't wait for everyone to notice. I'm really excited!

# Cold

# I was cold

# Well, I spoke to you like no-one ever should

# You

# And your games

# Well, you play me like a guitar all day

# We go round and around and around and around

# Till we're out of breath on the ground

# We go back and forth... #

'The duet's going really good.'

I'm actually kind of glad I got to know Cierra a little bit better

and it's just been a lot of fun.

# We used to be cold Now we're all right, baby

# Yes, we're all right, baby

# Whoa-ah-oh

# We used to be down Now we're all right... #

'I'm having so much fun right now.'

I love dancing with Noah.

# Whoa-ah-oh-ah-oh. #

Woo!

Great job, you guys!

'This was a great exercise.'

If I do say so myself.

I thought maybe our team could do duets

to help us bond and work out our differences.

That sounds great!

'I'm at Hidalgos to show someone - ANYONE -'

my new teeth.

Hi, guys.

-BOTH:

-Hey.

-How are you?

Good.

That's a very cheesy pastry.

-Yeah.

-Lots of cheese in there. Like cheese on cheese on cheese.

-On cheese.

-Yeah, cheese.

-Lots of cheese.

Riley seems obsessed with cheese and smiling.

I'm trying to say cheese a lot because it makes me smile

and then hopefully Cierra and Skylar will notice my...my teeth.

Is everything all right?

Everything's great. Everything is fantastic.

Notice anything different about me?

Um...well, you seem very happy.

Yes, yes! And why would that be?

You won the lottery?

No. No. But try again!

Your shirt.

It's like islands...it's a choice.

The hair!

It's the hair.

Never mind.

'I don't understand why Cierra and Skyler'

can't see that I don't have braces on.

I mean, it's a really big change! But, uh, you know, they are new.

So they'll get a free pass on this one.

Hey, James.

Yo, what's up?

What's in the bag?

It's a romantic gift for Riley.

OK, what is it?

I hesitate to tell Eldon because

I know he won't get it.

-What is it?

-All right, it's corn on the cob.

How is that romantic?

Uh, it's the most romantic.

-Hey.

-Hey.

-I got something for you.

What did you get?

A bag?

No, not just a bag.

Oh! Corn on the cob!

Yeah, corn on the cob.

-That's so romantic! Thank you!

-No worries!

I don't know why the corn is working but it gives me an idea.

Now hold on! You need butter with that.

Ah, butter kebab.

-Oh, yeah.

-Yes.

Mmm,

this is so good.

This...

is the most romantic gift I have ever received.

In my life.

All right. So how has the rehearsal been going? The dance?

How are you guys connecting?

Oh, the dance!

-Dance.

-Dance.

-Yeah.

-Good.

-Great!

-Amazing.

-OK.

We didn't really work on much.

but our styles are so similar.

I think we can figure this out as we go.

I only have one thing left to say to you two.

And that is, let's see your dance.

-OK.

-Dance.

Yeah, are you ready?

Yeah.

# Oh, we believe in the summertime

# We're gonna feel right

-# Tonight

-Tonight

# Another moment of sunlight we're gonna fire fire fire... #

'I feel Max and I are on a level that is beyond talking.'

We don't even have to talk to communicate or to connect.

# We believe in the summertime

# We're gonna feel all right

-# Tonight

-Tonight

# Another moment... #

My duet with West is amazing.

We're so connected, it's like we can read each other's minds.

Yeah, I love working with Max.

I definitely think we can be friends after this.

MUSIC ENDS

SHE APPLAUDS

Amazing!

You guys, that was fantastic!

Dude!

Great job! Honestly! Like, the connection the two of you had...!

'Max and West have a really strong bond'

and I'm just hoping that the last duet

goes as smoothly as these first two.

Hey, Eldon.

Hey.

Please stand.

OK.

'I'm very excited to give Thalia the corn.'

Mainly because I saw Riley's reaction and if I could get Thalia

to react like that, then, I don't know - that would be awesome.

I got you this.

Why?

It's romantic.

I have no idea what went wrong.

It wasn't buttered. Should have buttered it.

Hey, so listen.

I was thinking we start at the back of the room and you start behind me.

On the count of five, we split out and then we do a kick,

a jump and maybe even some turns.

And then at the end the last five counts of eight,

we do some acro stuff and everything

and I have the music picked out and everything.

It sounds great

but I think you are kind of missing the point of the exercise.

And what's the point of the exercise?

Well, to get to know one another.

I'm Shantel. You're Giselle.

Let's dance.

That's not really getting to know one another.

Why don't you tell me something about yourself?

Why don't you tell me something about yourself?

OK. I started dancing when I was five.

Well, I started dancing when I was two.

Did my ballet exam at five and I passed that.

OK. I started dancing when I was five, started acro when I was seven

and went to circus school.

Oh. So like a clown?

No. Like a contortionist.

Well, I started dancing when I was two.

Did my ballet exam at five, passed that and at the age of eight

I got my aerial and then I toured with a ballet company when I was 14.

I started dancing when I was five.

Started acro when I was seven, was a contortionist,

went to circus school, came back learned other styles

-and now I'm here.

-So are you happy now? Can we dance?

I guess.

Perfect. Like I said, you start behind me.

'We are not working together.

'We are not doing anything of what the exercise was supposed to be.'

It is pushing me further away from Elite.

I really want someone -

anyone - to notice that I don't have braces on.

Hey, your teeth!

Yes! Yes what about my teeth?

Hey, you've got something in your teeth.

Oh, yeah...

it's corn.

James got me this really romantic gift of corn on the cob.

Oh.

Riley tells me that James gave her corn on the cob

and that apparently it's really romantic.

So now it's got me thinking, maybe that is why Eldon gave me the corn.

Hah.

Wait a second.

What?

-Your teeth.

-Yeah, I know, there is corn in them.

No. You got your braces off!

Yes! Yes! Oh, my gosh!

Finally! It's about time someone notices I don't have braces on.

-Ha. It feels good.

-They look really good!

-Thank you!

-You're welcome.

So, are you coming from Madison or your dad's?

Uh, well, I've been everywhere which way up and down

but I just came back from Madison.

You've been there a lot. Are you planning on staying there?

No, of course not, no.

Good, because we need you here.

Yeah, I love it here.

I know that the team needs her more than ever

so, hopefully she'll choose The Next Step.

One, two, three and four

five, six...

I think it's to the right.

No, I think it's to the left, I mean it feels better.

I know, but I thought we decided... OK, fine.

-It's to the left.

-OK, to the left.

Five, six, 7...8.

That's it, right?

-Yeah, the leg is up.

-OK.

-Hey, girls.

-Hi.

How's it going?

-Good.

-Good.

Good.

Good to hear, you know what that means.

This whole duet has been a complete nightmare.

You guys feeling what I'm feeling?

Because I'm feeling a lot coming off you two right now.

I'm feeling something.

I think I should see your dance now. Are you guys ready?

'The duet is...'

nowhere close to being ready but if Phoebe really wants to see it

then we'll work together and we'll make it happen.

Yeah.

I'm not dancing.

-What?

-I... It's messy and the timing is off.

I mean at Elite, we wouldn't show something that is so messy.

-Oh, OK. This is The Next Step.

-Yeah.

This is not Elite.

Here at The Next Step, we take risks.

Yeah. Let's just go for it. We are just going to have to wing it.

So she's going to have to trust me

and that's the only way this is going to work.

You can go for it. I'm not going to.

So you are going to make me do the duet by myself?

I'm not making you do anything.

Fine. I'll do it by myself.

OK.

I thought she'd take one for the team,

but clearly not.

# We-We-We-We-We-We run the dance floor

# Break it down this is how we paint the town

# My-My team we run the scene

# Breaking heart taking crowns

# So we showing off, Adeline

# Crazy, we out our minds

# All my girls around the world

# Get-Get ready, we 'bout to shine... #

I just, I just can't believe that I have to do this duet as a solo.

It is specifically made for two people

so it's very strange performing it alone.

# Let it go, let it go, let the music take control

# Let the beat drop down

# Till it's underneath the floor... #

I would have really loved to get to know her as a person

and then everything would have been fine.

Why'd she have to be so stubborn?

RAPPING

'These two really are surprising me.'

I thought that they would really click.

Shantel is clearly very resistant to the exercise

and she hasn't quite let go of the old Elite ways.

# Let it go, oh, oh, oh

# Oh, oh, oh. #

-That was great.

-Thank you.

Great dancing, Giselle.

But unfortunately it was a complete failure.

Because we only had one, and one plus one equals two - duet.

I am making note of this, this was your choice.

I'm disappointed.

Of course we failed the duet,

of course!

She didn't want to work with me at all.

You didn't point your foot at one of the parts.

I thought we had decided point and not flex and then for the arms,

they were like here and I really thought we decided on here.

-And then the left thing...

-Are you kidding me?

After all of that?

I'm just saying that's why I didn't want to do it.

-It was...

-Yeah, but it doesn't matter if it was messy.

The whole point of the exercise was to get to know one another.

This might be how you guys do things at Elite

but this is not what we do at The Next Step.

We actually work as a team!

Nice. Nice teamwork.

I'm done with Shantel.

I don't think she'll ever fit in here.

# We are gonna show the world

# Everything we're made of

# We're gonna tear the roof off this place

# You can never fade us out

# Don't even ask to change it

# Everybody knows we own this town... #