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The 18th Annual Absolute Dance Regionals in Region 7 is set in Season 4 from to Even Better Than the Real Thing to A Change Is Gonna Come. It takes place in 2016.

The SNR Network coverage of the event is hosted by Tanisha Scott and Chuck Anderson.

The winner is Gemini Dance Studio.

History[]

To qualify for the 18th Annual Regionals, each studio must compete at at least one of three regional qualifiers and finish higher than a certain position. In the first qualifier, a trio competition, the top four studios qualify for Regionals; in the second, a quintet competition, the top three studios qualify; and in the final qualifier, a duet competion, only the top studio qualifies (though in the event of a tie, a solo round decides the winner).[1]

Competitors[]

Format[]

Similarly to previous Absolute Dance competitions, the 18th Annual Regionals is made up of successive knockout rounds, with two studios pitted against each other in each category. However, for the first time, a team isn’t necessarily eliminated if they lose a round; this only occurs in the trio and duet rounds, which studios only compete in if they lose either the solo or quartet rounds. Prior to the semi-finals, a studio is only out of the competition if they lose two rounds in a row - or if they follow the specific pattern of losing the solo round, winning the trio round, then losing once again in the duet round.

In each round one studio is pitted against another studio

Round 1: Solo or Freestyle round the winners progress to Round 2A round whilst the losers progress to the sudden death Round 2B

Round 2A (Winners of Round 1): The Quartet round offers the winners a chance to bypass round 3 and immediately qualify for the semi-finals should they win, whilst the losers are sent to the sudden-death 3rd round

Round 2B (Losers of Round 1): The trio round pits the losing teams against each other, the winners progress to Round 3 whilst the losers are eliminated

Round 3 (Winners of Round 2B vs Losers of Round 2A): The 4 teams compete in duets, the winners progress to the semi-finals whilst the losers are eliminated

Semi-Finals (Winners of Round 2A vs Winners of Round 3): The 4 teams compete in small groups. the winners progress to the finals whilst the losers are eliminated

Finals (Winners of the Semi-finals): Each team must perform a 10-person dance, the winner is crowned the Regionals title

Rounds[]

Round 1: Solos[]

This round takes place in "Even Better Than the Real Thing".

This round is also the "freestyle round", meaning that all solos performed must be improvised and choreography is strictly forbidden. The soloist for each team is randomly selected on the first day of Regionals to ensure that the routines have equal preparation time.[2]

This is the first of two rounds not to have any eliminations. The winners move on to the quartet round, while the losers must compete in the sudden death trio round.[3]

Sloane is chosen as the soloist for The Next Step Dance Studio, and defeats the soloist from Dance Extreme. However, two members of Gemini Dance Studio provide evidence that Sloane performed choreography,[4] resulting in her disqualification from the competition and her win being voided. Dance Extreme therefore advances to the quartet round, while The Next Step moves on to the trio round.

Qualifying teams[]

The italicized teams qualify to the quartet round.

  • Superdance vs. Gemini Dance Studio
  • Sean Boutilier Academy of Dance vs. The Dance Zone
  • Steps vs. Rythum Plus Dance Company
  • Dance Extreme vs. The Next Step Dance Studio (disqualified)

Round 2a: Quartets[]

This round takes place in "Don't Stop Me Now".

The quartet round follows the solo round, with only the winners of that round competing. The quartet winners immediately move on to the semi-finals, while the losers must compete in the duet round and risk elimination.[5]

Since The Next Step Dance Studio loses the solo round, they do not perform in the quartet round.

Qualifying teams[]

The italicized teams qualify to the semi-finals.

  • Gemini Dance Studio vs. Steps
  • Dance Extreme vs. Sean Boutilier Academy of Dance[Note 1]

Round 2b: Trios[]

This round takes place in "Don't Stop Me Now".

The trio round is a sudden death round, which a team only participates in if they lose the solo round.[3] This is the first elimination round: the winners move on to the duet round, while the losers are out of the competition.

After their soloist is disqualified, Amanda, Michelle and Amy perform the trio for The Next Step Dance Studio.[6]

Qualifying teams[]

The italicized teams qualify to the duet round.

  • Rythum Plus Dance Company vs. Superdance
  • The Dance Zone vs. The Next Step Dance Studio

Round 3: Duets[]

This round takes place in "Livin' on a Prayer".

The duet round follows the quartet and trio rounds. It provides the losers of the quartet round and the winners of the trio round with one more chance to qualify for the semi-finals.

Richelle and Noah perform the duet for The Next Step Dance Studio.[7]

Qualifying teams[]

The italicized teams qualify to the semi-finals.

  • Rythum Plus Dance Company vs. Steps
  • Sean Boutilier Academy of Dance vs. The Next Step Dance Studio

Semifinals: Small groups[]

This round takes place in "Livin' on a Prayer".

The respective winners of the quartet and duet rounds advance to the semifinals, where they perform a small group routine. The winners advance to the finals, and the losers are eliminated.

Since Sloane has been disqualified and Alfie is in Bern, LaTroy and Piper respectively replace them for this round. The Next Step Dance Studio's small group therefore consists of Henry, LaTroy, Noah, Piper and Skylar.[7]

Qualifying teams[]

The italicized teams qualify to the finals.

  • Rythum Plus Dance Company vs. Gemini Dance Studio
  • Dance Extreme vs. The Next Step Dance Studio

Finals: Ten-person dances[]

This round takes place in "A Change Is Gonna Come".

The winners of the semi-finals advance to the finals, where they face off with a ten-person routine.

Since Sloane is disqualified and Michelle is in hospital, Cassie replaces the former and Alfie flies from Bern to replace the latter.[7] However, Michelle is put back into the dance at the last minute, and Amanda is demoted to make room for her. The Next Step Dance Studio’s ten-person dance therefore consists of Alfie, Amy, Cassie, Henry, LaTroy, Michelle, Noah, Piper, Richelle and Skylar.

Gemini Dance Studio defeats The Next Step, replacing them as the Regional champions.[8]

The Next Step Dance Studio's team[]

Featured[]

  1. Amanda (does not compete in the finals)
  2. Amy
  3. Henry
  4. LaTroy
  5. Michelle
  6. Noah
  7. Piper
  8. Richelle
  9. Skylar
  10. Sloane (disqualified)

Alternates[]

  1. Alfie[Note 2] (competes in the finals)
  2. Cassie[5] (competes in the finals)

Gallery[]

Kathy Riley season 3 episode 13 "Look at that painting!"

To view the Absolute Dance Regionals/18th Annual Absolute Dance Regionals (Region 7) gallery, click here.


Notes[]

  1. The dancers who perform Sean Boutilier Academy of Dance’s duet in "Livin' on a Prayer" are shown to have performed in the quartet that loses to Dance Extreme in "Don't Stop Me Now".
  2. Alfie is never officially named as an alternate for The Next Step Dance Studio, but since he does not initially travel to Regionals as part of the main team and only joins them once another dancer needs replacing, it is likely that his presence in the finals would be interpreted as the studio making use of an alternate. This is not affected by the fact that he is part of The Next Step’s original routines for the semifinals and finals, as all the dances were assigned prior to Cassie being selected as an alternate, and it is never suggested that her selection would have stopped her dancing in the quartet round.

References[]

  1. "Square One." Wikia. Retrieved on February 24, 2016.
  2. "Even Better Than the Real Thing." Wikia. Retrieved on February 10, 2017.
  3. 3.0 3.1 "Nobody's Perfect." Wikia. Retrieved on December 18, 2016.
  4. Only You”. Wikia. Retrieved on December 11, 2020.
  5. 5.0 5.1 "The Edge of Glory." Wikia. Retrieved on February 10, 2017.
  6. "Don't Stop Me Now". Wikia. Retrieved on February 10, 2017.
  7. 7.0 7.1 7.2 "Livin' on a Prayer." Wikia. Retrieved on February 11, 2017.
  8. "A Change Is Gonna Come." Wikia. Retrieved on February 12, 2017.
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