Ready, Set, Dance! Family Channel's hit series The Next Step returns March 7

Season two premieres with a one-hour television event

TORONTO, Feb. 6, 2014 /CNW Telbec/ - Pirouetting back onto Family Channel for its second season, the fan-favourite Canadian original series and Canadian Screen Award nominee, The Next Step returns with an extraordinary one-hour television event. Premiering Friday, March 7 in its new timeslot at 7:30 p.m. ET/PT, the dance-filled drama follows the lives of an elite group of young dancers who train at The Next Step Studio. The extended special is part of an exciting Night of Premieres beginning at 6:30 p.m. ET/PT, featuring brand new episodes from top Disney series Austin & Ally and A.N.T. Farm.

Season two of The Next Step picks up on a high note with the team having just won the regional competition, but the celebration is cut short when the A-Troupe dancers learn they must re-audition with hopefuls from other studios in order to make the studio's nationals team. With a new set of rules in place, fresh faces emerge that could shake up the composition of the troupe. Personal relationships are put to the test as the dancers try to find a balance between their individual talent and the dedicated teamwork required to win at the national level. In the premiere episode, the dancers are assigned a challenging choreographed routine that could determine their fate at The Next Step Studio.

In advance of the highly anticipated season premiere, fans can take a trip down memory lane with series' star Brittany Raymond (Riley) as she looks at some the most memorable moments from the series' first season in The Next Step Rewind: Season One Recap, on Friday, February 28 at 7:30 p.m. ET/PT. Following the special, new episodes of The Next Step will air regularly Fridays at 7:30 p.m. ET/PT. Family OnDemand also offers new episodes as they become available weekly starting March 8.

In honour of the series' return, Family Channel is pulling out all the stops with an exclusive red carpet screening party on the same day as the premiere. Fans can visit Family.ca to enter for the chance to win tickets to the exciting event, which includes a live screening of the premiere episode and an opportunity to meet the cast. Site visitors can also learn more about new and returning characters, listen to music from the series, create fun dance mash-ups and tune in to The Next Step Aftershow, an exclusive web series featuring behind-the-scenes footage and commentary on the show.

The Next Step stars Victoria Baldesarra as Michelle; Alexandra Beaton as Emily; Brittany Raymond as Riley; Trevor Tordjman as James; Isaac Lupien as Eldon; Lamar Johnson as West; Brennan Clost as Daniel; Jennifer Pappas as Chloe; Logan Fabbro as Amanda; Bree Wasylenko as Kate; Samantha Grecchi as Stephanie; Tamina Pollack-Paris as Tiffany; and So You Think You Can Dance Canada season four winner Jordan Clark as Giselle. Season two also welcomes new cast members Zac Vran (Canada's Got Talent Top 2 Finalist) as Hunter, someone from Michelle's past; Taveeta Szymanowicz as Thalia, a new studio member; and Natalie Krill as Kate's sister, Phoebe.

The Next Step was recently named the recipient of the Shaw Rocket Prize for the Children ages 6-12 category, the 2013 Digi Award recipient for The Next Step Interactive in the Best In Cross-Platform Kids category, and was nominated for three Canadian Screen Awards including Best Children's or Youth Fiction Program or Series. Further attesting to the series' success, The Next Step has recently been distributed to territories internationally.

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 (Orphan Black, Being Erica, Wingin' It). BBC Worldwide has acquired international distribution rights. The Next Step is also produced with the financial assistance from The Shaw Rocket Fund and the Canada Media 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.

SOURCE: Family Channel

For additional information and to book cast interviews please contact: Joanna Landsberg at 416-956-8547 or [email protected]