The second season of THE NEXT STEP premieres on March 7! THE MAG got a chance to visit the set of THE NEXT STEP and chat with the cast about life on set and what we can expect from their characters this season. Meet some of this season’s new faces and check out what they had to say!
How long have you been dancing?
Brittany Raymond (Riley): Since I was four, so a long time.
Taveeta Szymanowicz (Thalia): Since I was six, so 11 years.
Zac Van (Hunter): Since I was four years old.
Brennan Clost (Daniel): I started when I was seven, so I’ve only been dancing for 11 years.
Samantha Grecchi (Stephanie): 13 years, since I was six!
Jennifer Pappas (Chloe): Since I was two years old!
How did you get on THE NEXT STEP?
Victoria Baldesarra (Michelle): I was only 12, turning 13 and my dance teacher sent me to the audition.
Taveeta (Thalia): I had to go to a casting call. We were sent some dance choreography and we had to learn it and go in and perform the dance. They liked us so we went in and had an interview with all the producers and casting directors. From there they asked me to act. Then I got called back and I did the exact same things again. Later, when I was on the subway, I got an email telling me I was going to be on the show and I started screaming. Everyone was looking at me and I was like, ‘I don’t care I’m going to keep screaming!’
Isaac Lupien (Eldon): We auditioned. When we got a call back, we showed up thinking it was another audition and they were like, ‘This is the pilot.’ And we were like, ‘Oh my god! and filmed the pilot.
Brennan (Daniel): Yeah, I was with Isaac, so we filmed the pilot right there. We waited for the show to be approved and then re-auditioned a year later when it got picked up.
How do you relate to your character on the show?
Brittany (Riley): I love her motivation. She’s such a hard worker and that’s one of the things that I admire about her the most.
Taveeta (Thalia): It’s really funny. My character has a lot of similar traits as me. In my first audition, I explained to everyone that I started an improv class at my school. I talked about how I intend to take the group around the world and travel. I recently filmed a scene where Thalia talks about her dreams in life, and I got to talk about those actual dreams! She’s very funny, nice, does her thing and is very supportive of everyone. That’s how I see myself, too.
Samantha (Stephanie): Like Steph, I consider myself a very loyal friend. She knows what she wants and I find I’m very determined and driven as well.
Bree Wasylenko (Kate): I’m the oldest of four girls, so I’m used to being the one in control. It helps that the entire cast is younger than me. It’s easy to go into that maternal dance teacher mindset.
Trevor Tordjman (James): James is very focused and he does slack a little bit. We’re both very laid back and don’t paid attention to the drama.
What’s been your biggest challenge working on the show?
Alexandra Beaton (Emily): I love scenes where it’s heavy acting. Dancing with the caliber of this cast when you’re not a dancer per say is inspiring but also a little intimidating. Luckily, we’re all so supportive of one another I’m never afraid to dance.
Taveeta (Thalia): I think my biggest challenge so far has been working on set and trying to learn how to position your body around the cameras as an actor. I have a dance background, so I forget how things are different for actors. Figuring out special awareness.
Bree (Kate): Improv, it’s so much fun but it’s difficult cause everything can change in an instance. You can do a scene one way and the director will be like ‘awesome, now try this.’ And to switch it up really quickly is fun but really challenging
Zac (Hunter): Acting. Growing up as a dancer, acting is new. I also have to slow it down while talking because I always race through my lines.
Trevor (James): The acting was all very new to me but it helped that my character is so relatable.
What’s it like being new on set?
Taveeta (Thalia): It’s amazing. Everyone’s so nice and welcoming. I feel like I’m part of this huge family. It’s actually so surreal! The cast and crew are so amazing, I’m so humbled and I love it.
Zac (Hunter): This was a dream come true. As dancers, we think differently and we move differently. We’re very connected. I already feel like they’re my good friends and like I’m at home.
What do you do in your free time out side of THE NEXT STEP?
Victoria (Michelle): Mostly dance, relax, simple things.
Taveeta (Thalia): I try to take a lot of dance classes. Netflix before is my before bed habit.
Isaac (Eldon): Just dance!
Samantha (Stephanie): I try to take classes and I’ll be teaching dance in the fall too.
Zac (Hunter): I was a big sports guy — hockey and lacrosse. But now it’s just dance!
What’s your favourite show other than THE NEXT STEP?
Victoria (Michelle): THE LIZZIE MAGUIRE SHOW!
Alexandra (Emily): BOY MEETS WORLD.
Taveeta (Thalia): I have the all of THE NEXT STEP on iTunes! I like PRETTY LITTLE LIARS and TEEN WOLF.
Zac (Hunter): SPONGEBOB!
What do your friends and family think of you doing the show?
Alexandra (Emily): They support me in everything I do. It’s funny because a lot of people don’t really understand my job. My friend Ryan was having a birthday party and I couldn’t go cause I had work. He asked, ‘Can’t you just book it off?’ It doesn’t work like that. I can’t get someone to cover my shift, unless I cloned myself.
Zac (Hunter): My school friends are supportive but they didn’t understand it at first. My hip hop crew in Vancouver, where I’m from, are really supportive of me living my dream.
Brennan (Daniel): Yeah, it’s a little different for me. I’m done high school and go to Julliard in the states; they just know I’m on a Canadian kids show. Sometimes they call me Mickey Mouse in a fun way. Coming home to Canada after it aired, the acclaim was sort of overwhelming. My parents are really supportive. They watch the show with my brother.
Trevor (James): Everyone’s proud of me, happy I’m doing what I love and keeping me grounded.
What can we expect from season 2?
Lamar Johnson (West): Working on this season, we have a better understanding of our characters. The characters are based off of our personalities actually. In the first season they were more strictly written and we stuck to that but through the second season there’s a lot more playing and growing with our characters. We’re all more comfortable acting our characters out.
Isaac (Eldon): The guys also start to get pulled into the drama a little more.
Zac (Hunter): My character Hunter is new and he stirs things up a bit.
Brittany (Riley): There’s a lot more emotions in the season. It’s a big change for Riley and she becomes more independent.
Don’t miss the season 2 premiere of THE NEXT STEP on March 7 on Family Channel!