The Next Step Episode Seven Recap: Drama, Duets and Dethrones
Last night, Family Channel’s THE NEXT STEP returned with more drama, tension, and, of course, dazzling dance. In the episode before this one, Emily hatched a plan to slip into an Elite rehearsal, yet the scheme collapsed when Michelle was caught filming. The studio hummed with the fallout because stepping into Elite has always represented prestige and the potential to fracture the tight-knit team the troupe has built over time.
In episode seven, Emily and the other dancers return to the studio, but Michelle is not there. Riley confronts Emily with blunt honesty, upset that Michelle was left behind and wondering whether loyalty has taken a back seat to tricky ambitions. The ripple effect of that choice quickly becomes the emotional heartbeat of the day as trust, or the lack thereof, colors every conversation.
At the scene of the crime, Michelle finds herself in a tight spot as the Elite dancers press for answers. When asked why she is there, she fibs, claiming she is there to audition for Elite. The Elite dancers challenge her to prove her talent, and Michelle unveils her strongest tricks. The display is unmistakably impressive, and Elite’s leaders quietly acknowledge the potential she could bring to their ranks, inviting her to join the troupe. The moment lands like a seismic shift, leaving the Next Step crew to process the new reality and its consequences.
Back at The Next Step studio, the dancers turn their attention to duets, carefully outlining how partnerships will work in upcoming numbers. Eldon asks Emily to be his duet partner, and she declines, brushing him off for what feels like the millionth time. Then, almost out of nowhere, he asks her out on a date. Emily resists once more, pushing back against the repeated advance, and the tension between them becomes a tangled tease that lingers in the air.
Michelle finally returns to the studio and shares what happened with the Elite. The group’s reactions are mixed: some feel betrayed by her deception, others suspect the truth may still be closer to the surface. Emily, in particular, harbors a wary hope that Michelle’s lie will backfire on those who viewed it as a threat to her leadership, while also wrestling with the uneasy reality of ongoing betrayal and shifting loyalties.
Michelle is then summoned to Kate’s office and questioned about whether she plans to transfer to Elite. She admits that she was spying and, to her relief, learns she isn’t in serious trouble—yet the admission torques the air with new weight. The dynamics at the studio begin to tilt as everyone watches how the never-ending power play will unfold and who will hold the reins of leadership next.
Meanwhile, Emily talks with the other girls about pushing Michelle out of the group once and for all. Riley overhears the conversation and becomes furious at what she perceives as underhanded scheming. She teams up with James to chart a plan that could dethrone Emily as dance captain and offer the coveted position to Michelle instead, turning the studio’s delicate balance into a political minefield.
Eldon decides he needs to refine his approach to catching Emily’s eye. He pretends to be down and deliberately dances poorly to appear vulnerable. In an unusual turn, Emily agrees to go out with him after rehearsal, hoping to lift his spirits and perhaps spark a change in their on-stage dynamic. The exchange is awkward, but it becomes a turning point—one that could redefine their future collaborations and the duo’s chemistry on stage.
Outside the studio, the first date between Emily and Eldon arrives in all its awkward glory. Eldon, visibly nervous, hands Emily a pillow as a prop of comfort for no clear reason. He tries to land a joke and falls short, and Emily gently tells him that his timing is off. Then, unexpectedly, Eldon bursts into a confident routine that catches Emily by surprise, and his performance finally earns a smile. She agrees to be his duet partner but makes it clear that the dating agreement isn’t going to continue beyond this moment.
Riley and James meet with Michelle to propose that she might be the better captain in place of Emily. Michelle reacts with a mix of panic and resolve, admitting she isn’t ready to take on that kind of responsibility. The conversation leaves everyone with a charged sense of what could come next and who will ultimately step up when the pressure is highest.
Will Riley and James manage to dethrone Emily as captain, and more importantly, who will assume leadership if Michelle cannot rise to the challenge? The studio waits for the next chapter, eager to see which alliances fracture and which loyalties hold firm as the season’s drama continues to unfold.
Be sure to catch new episodes of THE NEXT STEP on Fridays at 7 p.m. ET/PT on Family Channel!