The Next Step (2013 TV series)


The Next Step is a Canadian teen drama series created by Frank Van Keeken. it follows the members of a troupe from the titular dance studio, as they train for and compete in various championships. They deal with rivalries with other dance schools and drama among the team itself. The series is shot in a mockumentary style influenced by reality television. It premiered on Family Channel on March 8, 2013 and has aired on Universal Kids in the United States and CBBC in the United Kingdom, respectively. The series has also spawned digital content, as well as live touring shows featuring its cast members.

Episodes

Cast

Production

Development

On February 24, 2012, Family Channel announced that it had ordered 26 half-hour episodes, and a four episode season finale. Special content was also going to be available, including The Next Step Interactive. Filming began July 19, 2012 in Toronto, Ontario. On April 9, 2013, Family announced that it had renewed the series for a second season.
On May 5, 2014, the series was renewed for a third season, which premiered on March 16, 2015. On April 16, 2015, it was announced that the series would return for a fourth season, which premiered on February 15, 2016. On March 21, 2016, Frank van Keeken announced on Instagram that The Next Step would return for a fifth season, which premiered on May 26, 2017. The series has been renewed for a sixth season of 26 episodes which premiered in Canada on September 29, 2018. A 24-episode seventh season premiered on CBC Gem on April 10, 2020, and was preceded with a two-part special in December 2019 on CBBC.

Filming

The Next Step is filmed at Filmport Presentation Centre, Toronto.
Exterior and street shots were shot on location in Downtown Toronto. Locations include Dundas Street, Front Street, Jarvis Street, University Avenue, and Yonge Street.
The exterior shots posing as The Next Step studio are from Colborne Street.

Broadcast and reception

The series premiere of The Next Step set ratings records for Family, with at least 574,000 viewers on its initial broadcast—which set a record for Family's highest-rated original series premiere. On January 8, 2014, BBC Worldwide licensed the series to several international broadcasters, including ABC Me in Australia, Hulu in the United States, and CBBC in the United Kingdom. In Canada, the show also airs on Vrak in French. In August 2017, the U.S. rights to the series were sold to Universal Kids, with the network also becoming a production partner for the sixth season. Boat Rocker Media, owner of the show's producer, Radical Sheep Productions, cited a reduction in funding for the series from DHX Media as an impetus for the arrangement.
In July 2020, The Next Step was praised by viewers and the media for airing a same-sex kiss, when characters Cleo and Jude kissed after performing a duet together. This was the first same-sex kiss to be featured in the series, following a gay couple being briefly featured in an episode of the fourth season. Eloise Stonborough of LGBT charity Stonewall described the scenes as "an exciting moment for LGBT representation", and praised the series for improving "understanding of what it means to be lesbian" for young viewers of The Next Step.

Awards and nominations

Digital content

''The Next Step Interactive''

The aftershow started when an episode finished. It was approximately 1–3 minutes long, and was hosted by five members: Asha Bromfield, Lovell Adams-Gray, Luke Watters, Kelly McNamee, and Samantha "Sam" Munro. The aftershow talks about The Next Step and breaks down some parts to help the viewer understand storylines.

''The Next Step: Off Season''

Since the fourth season, The Next Step has had an off season, where the events between the end and start of a season are displayed. The off season typically involves hints for the approaching season, as well as introducing new characters.

Website

The Next Step has a website with information about the characters, a schedule of episodes, a gallery of shots and videos from the show and a store, with The Next Step related clothing. It also includes a soundtrack for The Next Step.

Tours

Hit The Floor Tour

On September 27, 2013, Paul Cormack of Family Channel announced that The Next Step cast would go on a tour. Cormack announced:
"We are always looking for new and exciting ways to connect with our audience on a national level. The Next Step Hit The Floor Tour reaches viewers in their own communities, providing a one-of-a-kind, interactive experience that demonstrates Family Channel's commitment to creating unique opportunities for its fans."
Not all of the cast members were the hosts of the tours. Only Victoria Baldesarra, Lamar Johnson, Isaac Lupien, Jennifer Pappas, Brittany Raymond, and Trevor Tordjman were part of the tour.
Each event consisted of the cast performing in groups, a Q&A period where the audience asks questions, and a session to get freebies for attending the event. The first 200 attendees were given a wristband, which would get them an autograph signed by the hosts.
DateCityCountryVenue
October 19, 2013OshawaCanadaOshawa Centre
October 19, 2013TorontoCanadaScarborough Town Centre
October 20, 2013Richmond HillCanadaHillcrest Mall
October 21, 2013WaterlooCanadaConestoga Mall
October 22, 2013HalifaxCanadaMic Mac Mall
October 24, 2013WinnipegCanadaKildonan Place
October 25, 2013EdmontonCanadaKingsway Mall
October 26, 2013CalgaryCanadaThe Core
October 27, 2013VancouverCanadaMetrotown

Due to the attendance numbers at the previous six malls, Family Channel moved the event in the Kingsway Mall from inside to the parking lot.

Wild Rhythm Tour

The cast of The Next Step went on a third tour during 2016. The tour was to visit Canada, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Australia, New Zealand, England and Ireland. This was the first international tour by the cast.
Not all the cast went on the tour; it only included Victoria Baldesarra, Trevor Tordjman, Jordan Clark, Taveeta Szymanowicz, Isaac Lupien, Lamar Johnson, Myles Erlick, and Briar Nolet. Newcomer Isaiah Peck, who was to star as Henry in season 4, also attended the tour. Taveeta Szymanowicz was only on the Canadian tour. Brittany Raymond was on the European shows and could not go to the shows in Australia and New Zealand because of a family problem.

Absolute Dance Tour

Nine of the season 6 cast toured Australia, England, the Republic of Ireland, and Scotland, in September, October, and November 2019.
The touring cast were Shelby Bain, Alexandra Chaves, Sage Linder, Liam Mackie, Briar Nolet, Isaiah Peck, Berkeley Ratzlaff, Dylan Ratzlaff, and Noah Zulfikar.