6 /10 1 Votes
Country of origin United States No. of seasons 1 Running time 44 minutes Final episode date 8 June 2008 | 5.9/10 IMDb Genre Reality Original language(s) English No. of episodes 10 First episode date 3 April 2008 Network Bravo | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Cast Elizabeth Berkley, Jerry Mitchell, Nancy O'Meara, Nick Drago | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Step It Up and Dance is an American reality television competition series where contestants are supposed to "learn what it takes to make it big in the cutthroat dance industry". Actress and dancer Elizabeth Berkley serves as host, and director and choreographer Jerry Mitchell mentors the 12 dancers chosen from around the country as they learn a variety of dance styles. Director and choreographer Vincent Paterson and choreographer Nancy O'Meara serve as judges for the competition.
Contents
- Contestants
- Eliminations
- Episode 1 A Scary Surprise
- Episode 2 Baring It All
- Episode 3 Battle Zone
- Episode 4 Gotta Have Rhythm
- Episode 5 Major League Broadway
- Episode 6 Modern Meltdown
- Episode 7 Perfect Partners
- Episode 8 Dancing in the Rain
- Episode 9 Finale Part 1
- Episode 10 Finale Part 2
- Reception
- References
The show premiered on April 3, 2008 on Bravo.
Contestants
(in order of elimination)
Eliminations
Episode 1: A Scary Surprise
The dancers arrive in Los Angeles and unknowingly begin the competition by dancing in a nightclub. Based on their performance in the nightclub, the dancers are divided into a winning group and losing group. Both groups perform in front of the judges, with one member of the winning group winning immunity for the next week and one member of the losing team going home. Both teams performed to the Spice Girls song, "Spice Up Your Life". Notable events include Jessica running off the stage during the winning group's performance and Adriana leaving the show due to an injury. Jessica was told that if she weren't on the winning team, she would be immediately eliminated.
Episode 2: Baring It All
The dancers perform the French apache (dance). To separate the dancers into winning and losing groups, they had to demonstrate their skills with a partner while displaying the drama and character the dance requires. Notable highlights include Jessica redeeming herself, Janelle being told that immunity was the only thing that saved her elimination, and Michael is unanimously voted as the weakest link of the losing team but he still manages to make it through to the next challenge. At this point, Michelle is the only dancer to have been in the winning group both times.
Episode 3: Battle Zone
The dancers are taught hip-hop techniques. After performing, guest judge Dave Scott selected three crew leaders based on their performance. After learning a routine, each team faced off against each other. After the face-offs, Red Everest was voted as the winning group, while Breakin Blues and BT Slam were the elimination groups.
Episode 4: Gotta Have Rhythm
The dancers learned stomp techniques from Luke Cresswell. The winning team performed a stomp routine with trash cans and the elimination team performed a stomp routine with brooms.
Episode 5: Major League Broadway
Episode 6: Modern Meltdown
Winning teams and elimination teams are no more as everyone is eligible for the win and the elimination. In the audition, two teams of three were formed. The first team consisted of Cody, Michelle, and Nick. The second team consisted of Janelle, Michael, and Miguel. For the callback performance, the two teams had to create their own dance to Gwen Stefani's "The Sweet Escape".
Episode 7: Perfect Partners
The eliminated competitors return to compete with those remaining in a Latin-themed dance. As an added challenge, the judges inform the contestants that one of the eliminated dancers will have a chance to return to the show, potentially knocking someone else out of the competition. Notable highlights include Oscar returning and no one being eliminated.
Episode 8: Dancing in the Rain
The dancers have a lesson in music video choreography under the watchful eye of guest judge Tina Landon. In the audition, contestants have to learn Landon's choreography for Rihanna's song "Umbrella". For the callback performance, two teams (under the leadership of audition winners Nick and Cody) have to choreograph their own dance segments to coordinate with the dance they learned earlier.
Episode 9: Finale, Part 1
The dancers are challenged to choreograph Michael Jackson's "Man in the Mirror".
Episode 10: Finale, Part 2
The dancers take part in a final challenge and perform their solos for the judges.
Group Song: "Labels Or Love" by Fergie
Solo Song: "It's Over" by TJ Moss
Reception
The series premiere was Bravo's highest-rated in the 10PM time slot ever, with 826,000 viewers, among whom 574,000 were aged 18 to 49. The show continued to perform well throughout its run, averaging 756,000 viewers each week - of whom 522,000 were aged 18 to 49 - and helped contribute to Bravo's highest-rated April ever.
There has been no talk of a second season of the show - despite it performing well in the ratings - and its page has been removed from Bravo's website. The series was officially canceled on April 14.