Family Channel takes a leap with all-new series The Next Step

CANADIAN ORIGINAL SERIES PREMIERES FRIDAY, MARCH 8 AT 7 P.M. ET/PT

TORONTO, Feb. 7, 2013 /CNW Telbec/ - Family Channel gets in to the groove next month with the highly anticipated, Canadian original series The Next Step. Premiering Friday, March 8 at 7 p.m. ET/PT, the serialized reality-style drama series follows an elite group of dancers striving to make it in the world of competitive dance. Immediately following the premiere episode viewers can catch The Next Step Aftershow featuring hosted plotline breakdowns, interviews with the cast and dancing tips.

For the dancers in A-Troupe, The Next Step Dance Studio is like a second home. The tightly knit group trains, rehearses and hangs out together nearly every day. When talented newcomer Michelle joins the studio, many of the dancers are thrilled - now, they have an even greater chance of winning at regionals. But some of the girls let jealousy cloud their judgment, putting their pride before the best interest of the team. With the regional championships fast approaching, the dancers need to set aside their differences, have some fun and learn to work together as a team if they want to qualify for the national title.

In the series premiere episode, "Get the Party Started," dancers at The Next Step Dance Studio audition for a spot on the A-Troupe. New episodes of The Next Step will air regularly Fridays at 7 p.m. ET/PT. Fans looking for a preview of the show can check out The Next Step trailer on Family Channel's YouTube page.

Dancing turns to dialogue as the momentum continues on The Next Step Aftershow. Hosted by an energetic and entertaining young group, the series provides audiences with behind-the-scenes footage, insightful commentary on storylines and a chance to learn some of the cool moves seen on the show. Debuting Fridays, new episodes of The Next Step Aftershow will be available online at Family.ca/thenextstep, where fans can access interactive polls and unlock videos to find out more about the series.

Viewers can also pop, lock and hip-hop over to Family.ca to learn more about their favourite dancers and create fun dance mashups. Family OnDemand also offers new episodes of The Next Step as they become available weekly starting March 8.

The Next Step stars Alexandra Beaton as Emily; Victoria Baldesarra as Michelle; Trevor Tordjman as James; Brittany Raymond as Riley; and Isaac Lupien as Eldon. Rounding out the troupe are Samantha Grecchi as Stephanie; Tamina Pollack-Paris as Tiffany; Jennifer Pappas as Chloe; Brennan Clost as Daniel; Lamar Johnson as West; Bree Wasylenko as Kate; Shamier Anderson as Chris and So You Think You Can Dance Canada season four winner Jordan Clark as Giselle.

Commissioned by Family Channel, The Next Step is produced by Temple Street Productions and is executive produced by Frank van Keeken (Wingin' It, Kids in the Hall, Billable Hours), Ivan Schneeberg and David Fortier (Being Erica, Wingin' It, Recipe to Riches). BBC Worldwide has acquired international distribution rights. The Next Step is also produced with financial assistance from The Shaw Rocket Fund.

Family Channel is a premium, commercial-free network offering the best in family television entertainment in approximately 6 million homes across Canada. Dedicated to celebrating family life and providing a fun experience for all, Family airs a unique mix of series, movies and specials, with a large portion of programming supplied by Disney. Family Channel also offers Family OnDemand, a television-based Subscription Video on Demand (SVOD) service and Family OnLine, an Internet-based, broadband service. Both of these services offer hit Disney movies and series, top-rated Canadian series to subscribers when they want it, where they want it. Visit us at Family.ca.

Family Channel is a member of the Astral family. Astral Media Inc. (TSX : ACM.A/ACM.B) is one of Canada's largest media companies. It operates several of the country's most popular pay and specialty television, radio, out-of-home advertising and interactive media properties. Astral plays a central role in community life across the country by offering diverse, rich and vibrant programming that meets the tastes and needs of consumers and advertisers. To learn more about Astral, visit astral.com.

SOURCE: FAMILY CHANNEL

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For additional information please contact Joanna Landsberg at 416-956-8547 or [email protected]