How is the team faring this week? In the studio, energy hums as dancers push through long rehearsals, testing new steps and old tensions alike. The question lingers, and everyone reads the room differently as they weigh motivation, fatigue, and the push toward Nationals.
Daniel spends long hours in the studio, crafting a solo he believes could sway Kate’s view on which male dancer should perform the Nationals solo. The routine blends precise technique with expressive storytelling, a performance he hopes will shift the conversation and win the support of the team.
Meanwhile, Kate tracks down Michelle to ask if she and Amanda would volunteer to run a Next Step booth at their school. The aim is practical: attract more dancers to the program and give them a path toward the upcoming Nationals opportunity.
She then reaches out to other A-Troupers to see if they can mentor J-Troupers. Daniel offers to help, but Kate asks him to rest his ankle and focus on recovery rather than additional duties.
Back in the studio, the mentoring begins in earnest. Giselle takes Becca under her wing, Emily works with Richelle, and James coaches Josh through rhythm and focus. The sessions bring new energy and a sense of accountability to the group. Cited from Next Step production notes.
Amanda and Michelle are handing out flyers at their school when Tess, a dancer from Elite, starts to poke fun at them. The girls stand their ground, answer with calm confidence, and Tess’s bravado fades as she backs off. Cited from Next Step production notes.
Chloe is working with Kate when Daniel asks for a moment. He wants a rematch for the solo, but Kate firmly declines, explaining the current plan remains in place.
At school, Michelle approaches Tess to defend Amanda. As she leaves, Tess glances at the Next Step pamphlet and notices a note from Amanda inviting her to meet at 4 p.m.
James uses drumming lessons to help Josh feel the rhythm, hoping the added tempo will help him connect with the music when he dances.
Meanwhile, Daniel walks into Kate’s office with an ultimatum: win the Nationals solo or leave the studio. Kate stands firm and, in a quiet but decisive moment, says goodbye to Daniel.
The A-Troupers are about to rehearse when Kate reveals the big news. The group is stunned; they cannot afford to lose anyone else or they could be left without enough dancers to mount a credible show.
At 4 o’clock, Amanda meets Tess and discovers she has been with Elite the whole time. Every act Tess has staged, including the tears, seems designed to sabotage The Next Step’s Nationals dream.
With the reveal hanging in the air, the studio waits to see what comes next as the team weighs risks and plans for the next rehearsal.
Will The Next Step uncover Amanda’s plan before it’s too late? Catch the next episode to see how the story unfolds, Friday at 7:30 p.m. on Family Channel.
To be continued—tune in next week to see how the Nationals storyline unfolds and whether the team can stay united in the face of surprises.