Changes: A-Troupe

Revision as of 20:16, 8 January 2020

"I think Kate and Chris's dance is great for two old people."

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A-Troupe is the highest ranking troupe at The Next Step Dance Studio. As such, A-Troupe represents the studio at most competitions, notably those affiliated with Absolute Dance.

History

Cathy created A-Troupe in 1995.^[1]

A-Troupe has competed at every Absolute Dance Regional competition since 1998 as a unified team. Between the years 2006 and 2014, A-Troupe consecutively lost every Regionals they went to,^[2] meaning they never advanced to Nationals, which they have nevertheless attended at least twice. A-Troupe has attended Internationals once, in 2015.

The A-Troupe audition held prior to the 17th Annual Absolute Dance Regionals is the first audition to allow dancers from outside the studio to contend for a spot on the troupe.^[3] Before the 17th Annual Absolute Dance Nationals, the studio holds its first Challenge.^[4]

After the 18th Annual Absolute Dance Regionals, a schism forms in A-Troupe due to conflicting views on the most important dance styles, resulting in the formation of TNS East and TNS West.^[5] After a climactic fallout between the teams which results in them being disallowed from competing at the 19th Annual Absolute Dance Regionals,^[6] they are eventually make amends and reunite as a merged A-Troupe, thus regaining their position as contenders for the Regionals title.^[7]

Description

A-Troupe is The Next Step Dance Studio's highest-ranking competitive troupe, and the only troupe that can attend the Absolute Dance competitions. Therefore, it always consists of between 10 and 12 dancers, as at least 10 dancers are needed for most competitions, with up to 2 alternate dancers allowed on the team in case someone cannot perform. It is well-known that nobody's spot on A-Troupe is guaranteed, and that everyone has to audition for their place - though both philosophies sometimes waver.^{[Note 1]} ^{[Note 2]}

Unlike the other troupes at The Next Step, A-Troupe is led by a dance captain. The troupe is also assisted by a head choreographer.

A-Troupe rehearses in Studio A and Studio 1.

Uniform

After qualifying to the 17th Annual Absolute Dance Nationals, A-Troupe receives a uniform, professionally made by designers Zoltan and Minnow.^[8] The uniform consists of a blue zip-up jacket with the two logos of The Next Step on the front and back and the letter "A" for A-Troupe on both shoulders, worn over a light blue T-shirt with the same logos on the front and back, and accompanied by blue bottoms (fitted yoga pants for the girls and sweatpants for the boys); this is later changed to black leggings for the girls and black sweatpants for the boys.

Presumably redesigned after the studio's Internationals win, A-Troupe later wear new jackets of the same colour, but with black detailing, smaller collars and a different font for the logos.^[9] The boys still wear black sweatpants, but the girls now wear black leggings with the "TNS" logo layered on blue detailing around the hems.^[10] The design of the shirt remains the same.

After A-Troupe's Regionals loss and the division of the team, Elliot purchases jackets for TNS East, which are very different to the previous ones. These new jackets are silver, with blue font stating the studio's name on the back and TNS East on the front. After the two teams merge, A-Troupe reverts to wearing their old uniforms.

After the team qualifies for Regionals, new studio head Miss Angela obtains new uniforms for A-Troupe. These consist of sky blue tank tops for the girls and matching T-shirts for the boys, both with "TNS" is printed on the shirts in gold lettering, accompanied with black bottoms. Some of the boys wear long-sleeved white shirts under them and the girls either wear black tank tops or black sports bras underneath. After Angela is dismissed as studio head, A-Troupe does not wear these uniforms anymore; they are next seen during "It's a Wonderful Life, Piper - Part 1" and "Part 2", as part of the alternate reality where Angela remains as studio head.

Members

Current

Former

Trivia

The existence of J-Troupe, along with the judgement that Noah and Richelle are too young to be on the Nationals team in Season 2,^[4] implies that there is a minimum age at which dancers can join A-Troupe; however, there is no clear indication of what it is.

Gallery

"Look at that painting!"

To view the A-Troupe gallery, click here.

Notes

↑ Neither Michelle or Emily has to audition for the troupe in The Final Cut - though it is possible that they were given a bypass due to their status as dance co-captains, or because this was supposedly during the middle of the year as opposed to the start of a new year and season.
↑ Stephanie is allowed back onto A-Troupe with an incomplete audition in First Date, despite auditioning for Elite Dance Academy without telling Kate. Similarly, Amy is later allowed to return to A-Troupe simply by asking in The Return of Amy, despite leaving voluntarily before the previous competition.

References

↑ The Next Step Souvenir Book. Wikia. Retrieved on May 15, 2016.
↑ "Don't Stop the Party" Wikia. Retrieved on November 4, 2019
↑ "Get the Party Started." The Next Step. Family Channel. Retrieved on December 11, 2017.
↑ ^4.0 ^4.1 "Ready to Start." The Next Step. Family Channel. Retrieved on December 11, 2017.
↑ "Go West, Young Michelle." Wikia. Retrieved on May 21, 2017.
↑ "TNS: Civil War." The Next Step. Family Channel. Retrieved on November 5, 2017.
↑ "This Changes Everything." The Next Step. Family Channel. Retrieved on November 5, 2017.
↑ "Work It." The Next Step. Family Channel. Retrieved on June 10, 2016.
↑ File:Finn's Disastrous Interview.jpg. Wikia. Retrieved on January 4, 2020.
↑ File:Richelle Regionals.jpg. Wikia. Retrieved on January 4, 2020.

[8] Neither Michelle or Emily has to audition for the troupe in The Final Cut - though it is possible that they were given a bypass due to their status as dance co-captains, or because this was supposedly during the middle of the year as opposed to the start of a new year and season.

[9] Stephanie is allowed back onto A-Troupe with an incomplete audition in First Date, despite auditioning for Elite Dance Academy without telling Kate. Similarly, Amy is later allowed to return to A-Troupe simply by asking in The Return of Amy, despite leaving voluntarily before the previous competition.

[:0-1] The Next Step Souvenir Book. Wikia. Retrieved on May 15, 2016.

[:1-2] "Don't Stop the Party" Wikia. Retrieved on November 4, 2019

[:2-3] "Get the Party Started." The Next Step. Family Channel. Retrieved on December 11, 2017.

[:3-4] 4.0 ^4.1 "Ready to Start." The Next Step. Family Channel. Retrieved on December 11, 2017.

[:4-5] "Go West, Young Michelle." Wikia. Retrieved on May 21, 2017.

[:5-6] "TNS: Civil War." The Next Step. Family Channel. Retrieved on November 5, 2017.

[:6-7] "This Changes Everything." The Next Step. Family Channel. Retrieved on November 5, 2017.

[:7-10] "Work It." The Next Step. Family Channel. Retrieved on June 10, 2016.

[11] File:Finn's Disastrous Interview.jpg. Wikia. Retrieved on January 4, 2020.

[12] File:Richelle Regionals.jpg. Wikia. Retrieved on January 4, 2020.

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@@ Line 7: / Line 7: @@
 |formerdancecaptain = [[Amanda]], [[Emily]], [[Giselle]], [[Kate]], [[Lily (Season 6)|Lily]], [[Michelle]], [[Noah]], [[Piper]], [[Richelle]], [[Skylar]]
 |formerchoreographer = [[Chris]], [[Daniel]], [[Phoebe]], [[West North|West]]
-|currentmembers = [[Amy (Season 4)|Amy]], [[Finn]], [[Henry]], [[Kenzie]], [[Kingston]], [[Oswald|Ozzy]], [[Piper]], [[Richelle]], [[Summer]], [[Lily (Season 6)|Lily]]
+|currentmembers = [[Amy (Season 4)|Amy]], [[Finn]], [[Henry]], [[Kenzie]], [[Kingston]], [[Lily (Season 6)|Lily]], [[Oswald|Ozzy]], [[Piper]], [[Richelle]], [[Summer]]
 |formermembers = [[Alfred|Alfie]], [[Amanda]], [[Cassie]], [[Cathy]], [[Chloe]], [[Cierra]], [[Daniel]], [[Danielle]], [[Davis]], [[Ella]], [[Elliot]], [[Eldon]], [[Emily]], [[Giselle]], [[Heather]], [[Hunter]], [[Jacquie]], [[James]], [[Jordan]], [[Josh (Season 5)|Josh]], [[Kate]], [[LaTroy]], [[Lola]], [[Max]], [[Michelle]], [[Noah]], [[Phoebe]], [[Riley]], [[Shantel]], [[Skylar]], [[Sloane]], [[Stephanie]], [[Thalia]], [[Tiffany]], [[Tyler]], [[West North|West]], [[Winnie]], [[Zara]]
 |first episode = "[[Get the Party Started]]"