shut up and dance . . . the next step

four , rock and a hard place

EVERYONE WAS SCATTERED IN STUDIO A, warming up, stretching, or just working on dance moves for their rehearsal later on in the day, with Kate and Chris soon walking in to greet them. "Attention, dancers. Attention please." The man addressed the room.

"Some exciting news." Kate continued, with a bright smile on her face, "It looks like we're going to be competing at a local dance competition this weekend." At the news, everyone started to clap - The Next Step got the opportunity to dance small competitions, preparing for the big one.

"We're going to switch it up a little bit, and I'm going to change the line positions." Kate informed the dancers, "You'll perform for Chris and I and then I'll make the decision."

Emily's face contorted into a look of confusion and irritation as she listened to Kate and Chris - after all she was dance captain and it had always been her job to sort the line placements.

"I don't know what Kate is trying to pull right now, but there's absolutely no way I'm letting her take this responsibility away from me. I am the dance captain."

As the A-troupers prepared to dance for Kate and Chris, they were instead greeted by Emily and Stephanie strutting out of the office with a clipboard. "Alright everybody." The blonde girl raised her voice to catch everyone's attention, "Are you ready? The order is: Chloe, Tiffany, Daniel, Eldon, James, Stephanie, Riley, Harper, Michelle, then West."

The music started to play as the dancer's spread out, watching Chloe take the floor.

"She does have to earn her place, though, you know? She is new." Emily spoke lowly to Stephanie, who wrote notes down.

"Dance placement is an indicator for hierarchy in the dance studio." The blonde explained.

"The only thing I wish is she'd put a little more technical things in her routine." Emily noted, observing Tiffany.

West finished off with a jazz split, leaving a very impressed Emily, "Oh! That was sick."

"If you're placed in the front row it basically means that you're one of the strongest dancers." Riley said.

"And if you're in the back it's kind of like a diss." Chloe added.

Stephanie was no doubt going to be in the front row as she was Emily's best friend.

As Riley began performing her piece, she ended up stumbling her moves, catching herself off guard and causing her to mess up.

"I'm dancing terribly. I'm forgetting everything." Riley stated exasperatedly. "I've never danced this bad before in my life." She sighed, "Back row here I come."

Harper gave Riley an empathetic smile, knowing that nerves had just caused her to choke up as she took the floor. Starting off with a side leap, the brunette kicked her leg in the air, bending backwards into a walkover, making sure her toes were pointed.

"Technique is beautiful." Emily voiced to Stephanie, keeping her eyes on Harper. "But I feel like she needs a little more."

"I have to admit I am nervous about the lineups." Harper spoke, "I think being in the back will be a little humbling as it doesn't really give anyone at regionals to see you fully dance."

The girl finished fairly confident in her performance as everyone clapped. "Alright, Michelle, let's go." Emily said aloof.

The blonde girl strutted onto the dance floor confidently, starting to perform phenomenally but Emily pick pointed out unnecessary flaws. "That jump could've been higher."