A-Troupe is the highest ranking troupe at The Next Step Dance Studio. As such, A-Troupe represents the studio at competitions, particularly those affiliated with the Absolute Dance franchise.
History
Cathy created A-Troupe in 1995.[1]
A-Troupe has competitively competed at every Absolute Dance competition since 1995 as a unified team.
The audition prior to the 17th Annual Absolute Dance Regionals competition is the studio's first audition that allows dancers from outside the studio to contend for a spot on the troupe.[2] Before the 17th Annual Absolute Dance Nationals, the studio holds its first Challenge.[3]
A schism eventually forms in A-Troupe due to conflicting views on the most important dance styles, resulting in the formation of TNS East and TNS West.[4] After a climactic fallout between the teams which results in them being disallowed from competing at the 19th Annual Absolute Dance Regionals,[5] they are eventually make amends and reunite as a merged A-Troupe, thus regaining their position as contenders for the Regionals title.[6]
Description
A-Troupe is The Next Step Dance Studio's only competitive troupe, causing it to always consist of 10-12 dancers as 10 dancers are allowed on-stage at a time at competitions, with 2 alternates also on the team in the case of injury. It is well-known that on the troupe, nobody's spot is guaranteed. Although, curiously, neither Michelle or Emily has to audition for the troupe during the Challenge.[7] However, it is possible that they didn't have to audition because this was supposedly during the middle of the year as opposed to at the start of the new year and season.
A-Troupe is led by a dance captain and is the only troupe at The Next Step Dance Studio for which this is the case. The troupe is also lead 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 have uniforms professionally designed by Zoltan and Minnow.[8]
The uniforms consist of a blue zip-up jacket with the logo of The Next Step on the front and back, and the letter "A" for A-Troupe on the right shoulder, worn over a light blue T-shirt with TNS on the left breast; with blue trousers (fitted yoga pants for the girls, and sweatpants for the boys), which are 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, albeit with black embroidery and The Next Step logo in different font. The rest of the uniform remains the same.
After the team's Regionals loss, it is Elliot who purchases jackets for the team, which are very different to the previous ones. These new jackets are silver with blue font stating the studio's name on the back with TNS East on the front.
After the team qualifies for Regionals, new studio head Angela obtains new uniforms for A-Troupe. These outfits consist of sky blue tank tops for girls and matching T-shirts for boys. "TNS" is printed on the shirts in gold lettering and they are 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.
Members
Current
Former
- Alfie
- Amanda
- Amy
- Cassie
- Cathy
- Chloe
- Cierra
- Daniel
- Danielle
- Davis
- Eldon
- Ella
- Elliot
- Emily
- Giselle
- Heather
- Hunter
- James
- Jordan
- Josh
- Kate
- LaTroy
- Lily
- Lola
- Max
- Michelle
- Noah
- Phoebe
- Riley
- Shantel
- Skylar
- Sloane
- Stephanie
- Tiffany
- Thalia
- Tyler
- West
- Winnie
- Zara
Gallery
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"Look at that painting!"
To view the A-Troupe gallery, click here. |
References
- ↑ The Next Step Souvenir Book. Wikia. Retrieved on May 15, 2016.
- ↑ "Get the Party Started." The Next Step. Family Channel. Retrieved on December 11, 2017.
- ↑ "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.
- ↑ "The Final Cut." The Next Step. Family Channel. Retrieved on December 11, 2017.
- ↑ "Work It." The Next Step. Family Channel. Retrieved on June 10, 2016.