Step Up (TV series)

Step Up (previously titled Step Up: High Water) is an American drama television series, based on the Step Up film series created by Duane Adler, that premiered on January 31, 2018 on YouTube Red. The series was created by Holly Sorensen, who also serves as an executive producer alongside Channing Tatum and Jenna Dewan. In May 2018, it was announced that YouTube had renewed a second season; which premiered on March 20, 2019.

Step Up
Also known as
  • Step Up: High Water
Genre
Created byHolly Sorensen
Based onStep Up film series
by Duane Adler
Starring
Theme music composerKutt the Check
Composers
  • Stephanie Economou
  • Jared Gustadt
  • Jeff Peters
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons2
No. of episodes20 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producers
Producers
  • Joshua Throne
  • Salli Newman
CinematographyJoaquin Sedillo
Camera setupSingle-camera
Running time41–57 minutes
Production companies
Release
Original networkYouTube Red (seasons 1–2) Starz (seasons 3)
Picture format4K (UHDTV)
Original releaseJanuary 31, 2018 (2018-01-31) –
present (present)
External links
Official YouTube channel

In August 2019, the series was cancelled after two seasons.[1] In May 2020, Starz picked up the series for a third season, where the High Water subtitle was dropped.[2]

Premise

The series follows the students and faculty of "High Water”, Atlanta’s most cutthroat performing arts school. When twins Tal and Janelle relocate from Ohio, they find themselves thrust into a world where every move is a test. As they attempt to navigate their new world— on and off the dance floor— they’ll discover just how deep they’re willing to dig to realize their dreams and seize their moment."[3]

Cast and characters

Main

Recurring
  • R. Marcos Taylor as Earnest Octavio/East-O (season 1)
  • Terayle Hill as Marquise Howard
  • Al Calderon as Johnny One (season 1)
  • Saidah Nairobi as Electra
  • Ashley Greene as Nine Sanders (season 2)
  • Jeremy Copeland as Zo Browder (season 2)

Guest

Episodes
SeasonEpisodesOriginally releasedNetwork
110January 31, 2018 (2018-01-31)YouTube Red
210March 20, 2019 (2019-03-20)

Season 1 (2018)
No.
overall		No. in
season		TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal release date
11"Pilot"Adam ShankmanHolly SorensenJanuary 31, 2018 (2018-01-31)
22"Solo"Debbie AllenThembi L. Banks & Rochée JefferyJanuary 31, 2018 (2018-01-31)
33"The Running Man"Rob HardyHadjiiJanuary 31, 2018 (2018-01-31)
44"Shuffle"Janice CookeMolly Kate Margraf & Jerica LiebermanJanuary 31, 2018 (2018-01-31)
55"5.6.7.8"Janice CookeBryan M. Holdman & William H. BrownJanuary 31, 2018 (2018-01-31)
66"Duets"Michael SchultzThembi L. Banks & Rochée JefferyJanuary 31, 2018 (2018-01-31)
77"Dance Craze"Nzingha StewartWilliam H. BrownJanuary 31, 2018 (2018-01-31)
88"Ensemble"Silas HowardBryan M. HoldmanJanuary 31, 2018 (2018-01-31)
99"Choreography"Charles Randolph-WrightHolly Sorensen & Bryan M. HoldmanJanuary 31, 2018 (2018-01-31)
1010"Two-Step"Norman BuckleyHolly Sorensen & William H. BrownJanuary 31, 2018 (2018-01-31)

Season 2 (2019)
No.
overall		No. in
season		TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal release date
111"Precision"Lisa LeoneHolly SorensenMarch 20, 2019 (2019-03-20)
122"Splits"Mary LambertKenny NeibartMarch 20, 2019 (2019-03-20)
133"Form"Lisa LeoneHadjiiMarch 20, 2019 (2019-03-20)
144"Vogue"Charles Randolph-WrightRochée JefferyMarch 20, 2019 (2019-03-20)
155"Inversion"Damian MarcanoJordan Heimer & Manuel FigueroaMarch 20, 2019 (2019-03-20)
166"Isolations"Jessica LoweryDelondra WilliamsMarch 20, 2019 (2019-03-20)
177"Attitude"Dominic LeclercMolly Kate Margraf & Jerica LiebermanMarch 20, 2019 (2019-03-20)
188"Azonto"Janice CookeLou-Lou IgbokweMarch 20, 2019 (2019-03-20)
199"Improvisation"Anne FletcherWilliam BrownMarch 20, 2019 (2019-03-20)
2010"Hip-Hopera"Fred GerberHolly Sorensen & William BrownMarch 20, 2019 (2019-03-20)

Production

Development

On June 23, 2016, YouTube announced at the annual VidCon conference in Anaheim, California that they were developing a new drama series based on the Step Up film series with Lionsgate Television producing alongside Channing Tatum and Jenna Dewan.[5][6]

On June 23, 2017, YouTube announced that it had officially given Step Up: High Water a first season order consisting of ten episodes, each running about 45 minutes in length. The series was described as YouTube Red's first "big-budget, Hollywood-produced television drama" and that its arrival would end up "moving it into more direct competition with players like Netflix and traditional cable networks." In the announcement, it was revealed that each episode of the series would cost several million dollars to produce.[7] A few days later, members of the series' creative team were announced. Original songs for the series were set to be written by singer/songwriter Jason “PooBear” Boyd and “Jingle” Jared Gutstadt. The films series’ choreographer Jamal Sims was expected to choreograph the first episode after which subsequent episodes would be choreographed by Jamaica Craft. The pilot episode was set to be directed by Adam Shankman.[8] It was later reported that Debbie Allen had directed the show's second episode.[9]

On May 22, 2018, it was announced that YouTube had renewed the series for a second season.[10] On January 24, 2019, it was reported that the second season would premiere on March 20, 2019.[11] On August 16, 2019, YouTube Premium cancelled the series after two seasons.[1] On May 28, 2020, Starz picked up the series for a third season.[2] Following filming restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic, Blackhall Studios reopened for production on several films and the series, which was being written at the time, on July 13, 2020. Production was immediately paused on the same day when lead actress Naya Rivera was found dead following a boating accident several days prior.[12] Rivera's character had been set to appear; in August 2020 it was announced that a re-worked season will begin filming in January 2021.[13]

Casting

On June 28, 2017, it was announced that Ne-Yo, Naya Rivera, Faizon Love, Lauryn McClain, Petrice Jones, Marcus Mitchell, Jade Chynoweth, Carlito Olivero, Terrence Green, R. Marcos Taylor, Eric Graise, and Kendra Oyesanya had been cast in the series' main roles.[8] On January 19, 2018, it was reported that Savion Glover would make a guest appearance in the series as a teacher at High Water.[14] On August 28, 2018, it was announced that in season two Ashley Greene and Jeremy Copeland were joining the cast, that Rick Ross and Todrick Hall would appear as themselves, and that JaQuel Knight would make a cameo appearance in addition to choreographing episode three.[15]

Release

Marketing
Promotional poster for Fathom Events' special screening of the premiere episode.

On July 12, 2017, YouTube released a video introducing the show's main cast.[16] On August 13, 2017, the cast of the series, including Jade Chynoweth and Kendra Oyesanya, performed at the 2017 Teen Choice Awards with a highly-choreographed dance routine.[17]

On December 19, 2017, YouTube released the first trailer for the series and announced that the show would premiere on January 31, 2018 with all ten episodes released at once.[18] On January 24, 2019, the official trailer for season two was released.[11]

Premiere

On January 30, 2018, YouTube partnered with Fathom Events for special screenings of the first episode of the series at more than 750 movie theaters. The event also included a screening of the original 2006 Step Up film that launched the five-film franchise, and a behind-the-scenes look at the making of the television series.[19][20]

Reception

In a positive review, Sonia Saraiya of Variety offered the series praise saying, "This YouTube Red original has found an intriguing way to blend the mediums of dance, film, and soapy teen television, with an energetic, conscious new installment in the series that is a lot of fun to get sucked into."[21] In another favorable critique, Decider's Kayla Cobb described the series as "a genuinely compelling and dramatic story that very well may stand as the best narrative installment of the Step Up universe."[22]

References
  1. Andreeva, Nellie (August 16, 2019). "Series 'Step Up: High Water' & 'Wayne', Pilot 'Dark Cargo' Seek New Homes As YouTube Steps Up Scripted Pullback/". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on August 17, 2019. Retrieved August 16, 2019.
  2. Petski, Denise (May 28, 2020). "'Step Up' Series Picked Up By Starz Following YouTube Cancellation". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on June 7, 2020. Retrieved May 28, 2020.
  3. Cranswick, Amie (December 20, 2017). "Step Up: High Water TV series gets a first trailer". Flickering Myth. Retrieved December 22, 2017.
  4. Starz. "Breaking News - Starz Announces Pick Up of Re-Imagined "Step Up" Series from Lionsgate Television". Futon Critic. Retrieved 2020-10-15.
  5. Wallenstein, Andrew (June 24, 2016). "'Step Up' Movie Franchise to Become TV Series on YouTube Streaming Service". Variety. Archived from the original on December 20, 2017. Retrieved December 22, 2017.
  6. Andreeva, Nellie (June 24, 2016). "'Step Up' TV Series Produced By Channing Tatum, Other Shows Ordered By YouTube". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on December 11, 2017. Retrieved December 22, 2017.
  7. Barnes, Brooks (June 23, 2016). "YouTube Red Buys 'Step Up,' Its First Big-Budget TV Drama". The New York Times. Archived from the original on October 27, 2017. Retrieved December 22, 2017.
  8. Petski, Denise (June 28, 2017). "'Step Up: High Water': Ne-Yo, Naya Rivera & Faizon Love To Topline YouTube Red Drama Series". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on December 14, 2017. Retrieved December 22, 2017.
  9. Kwateng-Clark, Danielle (November 24, 2017). "'Step Up: High Water' Has Debbie Allen Flexing Her Directing Powers". Essence. Archived from the original on December 3, 2017. Retrieved December 22, 2017.
  10. Petski, Denise (May 22, 2018). "'Step Up: High Water' Renewed For Season 2 By YouTube". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on May 23, 2018. Retrieved May 22, 2018.
  11. Petski, Denise (January 24, 2019). "'Step Up: High Water': First Look At Season 2 Of YouTube Series". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on January 25, 2019. Retrieved January 24, 2019.
  12. Goldsmith, Jill (2020-07-17). "Atlanta Production Ramp-Up Underway Despite Surge In COVID-19 Cases In Region". Deadline. Retrieved 2020-10-15.
  13. Topel, Fred (2020-08-27). "Naya Rivera Had a Big Role in 'Step up' Season 3 -- How They're Adapting". Showbiz Cheat Sheet. Retrieved 2020-10-15.
  14. "BWW Exclusively Premieres Clip from STEP UP: HIGH WATER ft. Savion Glover". Broadway World. January 19, 2018. Archived from the original on January 19, 2018. Retrieved January 19, 2018.
  15. Jarvey, Natalie (August 28, 2018). "Ashley Greene Joins Cast of YouTube's 'Step Up: High Water' (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on August 28, 2018. Retrieved August 28, 2018.
  16. Kinane, Ruth (July 12, 2017). "'Step Up: High Water': Meet the Cast in This Exclusive Video". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on December 22, 2017. Retrieved December 22, 2017.
  17. Fuhrer, Margaret (August 14, 2017). "Watch the Cast of "Step Up: High Water" Slay at the Teen Choice Awards—Then Learn Their Moves". Dance Spirit. Archived from the original on February 6, 2018. Retrieved December 22, 2017.
  18. Petski, Denise (December 19, 2017). "'Step Up: High Water': Trailer & Premiere Date For YouTube Red Series Based On Film Franchise". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on December 22, 2017. Retrieved December 22, 2017.
  19. McNary, Dave (January 4, 2018). "Film News Roundup: Fathom Sets Premiere Showings for 'Step Up: High Water' Series". Variety. Archived from the original on January 4, 2018. Retrieved January 5, 2018.
  20. "Step Up: High Water Season Premiere Event In Movie Theaters - Fathom Events". Fathom Events. Archived from the original on January 4, 2018. Retrieved January 5, 2018.
  21. Saraiya, Sonia (January 31, 2018). "TV Review: 'Step Up: High Water' on YouTube Red". Variety. Archived from the original on February 1, 2018. Retrieved February 1, 2018.
  22. Cobb, Kayla (February 2, 2018). "YouTube Red's 'Step Up: High Water' Is Like A More Dramatic 'Glee' But With Dancing". Decider. Archived from the original on June 14, 2018. Retrieved July 16, 2018.
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