Don't Stop the Party

Season	Episode
2	1

Release dates

Air date

March 7, 2014

Air date

April 6, 2015

Air date

March 2, 2015

Air date

November 7, 2014

Air date

November 7, 2014

Air date

October 5, 2015

Credits

Writer(s)

Frank van Keeken

Director

Frank van Keeken

Chronology
Previous	Next
"Winner Takes All"	"My Boyfriend's Back"

“	Let's have a round of applause for the happy couple; the happiest couple The Next Step has ever seen!	”
— Emily, to the attendees at the party

Click here to see more quotes.

"Don't Stop the Party" [also known as "Don't Stop the Party (Part 1)"] is the 1st episode in Season 2 of The Next Step and the 31st episode overall. It premiered on March 7, 2014.

Synopsis[]

A-Troupe learns that the rules at Nationals are different and that their team may change.

Plot[]

A-Troupe is in Studio A, celebrating their Regionals win. Eldon Talking Heads confesses that they have been taking a break from the studio, but are now back and ready to take on Nationals. Various dancers reminisce over their past few months in the studio, and express their excitement - or apprehension - at going to Nationals.

Michelle buys drinks for herself and Eldon in Culture Shock, an urban store that has replaced Squeezed. Eldon asks Michelle how they are going to tell everyone that they are together. Since their relationship is still new, Michelle tells Eldon that they shouldn't tell anyone yet, which Eldon begrudgingly agrees to.

West Ben Daniel season 2 episode 1 — West asks Daniel why he is talking about his ankle so much.

In Studio A, a party is being held in celebration of the studio's Regionals win. James and Riley have a conversation, during which Riley admits to him that she hasn't spoken to Emily since Regionals; she confesses that Emily has been very distant and that she thinks something is wrong. Elsewhere, Richelle greets Giselle despite the fact that she doesn't technically know her, as she believes that is always smart to talk to A-Troupers. At the concession stand, Beth begins to stare at James as she converses with Tiffany, which Riley notices. Consequently, Riley asks James if he has ever noticed how much Beth looks at him, which shocks him to the point that he chokes on his drink. James tells Riley not to worry about it, but Riley confesses that Beth needs to get over James - fast. Daniel then enters the studio, and James leaves Riley to greet him; he, West and an unnamed B-Trouper excitedly welcome Daniel back. West confesses that Daniel's ankle injury is now healed, and Daniel rambles on about how stronh his ankle is now, to the point of irritating his peers; he then brings up the fact that only ten dancers of the current eleven are required for Nationals, and asks them who they think will be cut, making them all visibly worried. Michelle and Eldon finally enter the party, and moments later, so does Emily. Emily confesses that wants to make everybody think that she is cool and collected, causing her to exaggeratedly greet all of those in attendance.

Chris kate season 2 — Chris tries to speak to Kate.

Seeing how great Noah is at doing pirouettes, Giselle challenges him to a pirouette-off. Despite her confidence, Giselle loses, but claims that it is because she is in a dress and was going on easy on him. Meanwhile, Chris tells Kate that he needs to talk to her, but is interrupted by Emily; wanting to take back control of her situation, she publicly announces that she and Eldon are no longer dating, and he is now with Michelle. Emiy feigns extreme happiness while telling everyone the news, to the point of forcing everyone to give Michelle and Eldon a round of applause.

West and Daniel voice their lack of surprise that Emily stirred everything up again so quickly, while James points out that is was technically Eldon who started it this time; Giselle condemns Eldon in Talking Heads, claiming that they don't need any more drama in the lead-up to Nationals. Riley approaches Emily in lieu of what happened between her and Eldon, and asks if she is alright. Emily lies to her that she is fine, but Riley tells her that she is there for her nonetheless.

Beth asks Sarah to take over the concessions stand, and approaches James. Sarah and Tiffany remark on how determined Beth is to pursue James, despite being fully aware that he is dating Riley. Beth asks him if he has thought about what she told him at Regionals; after remembering that she told him she still loves him, James becomes visibly uncomfortable. Riley watches the exchange from afar, and assures herself that James is a loyal boyfriend who she can trust - though moments later, she swoops in and pulls James away from Beth, lying that she's hungry.

Chris tries to speak to Kate once again, but she interrupts him, deciding she has to deal with the "love triangle". She calls Michelle, Eldon, and Emily into her office and makes them promise to put their feud behind them. Emily once again pretends to be fine with the situation, despite Kate being unconvinced; Emily confesses that however terrible she feels, she will not let Eldon and Michelle interfere with Nationals.

Emily amanda season 2 — Amanda talks about the team being able to change their members.

After the party, A-Troupe has photographs taken with the Regionals trophy. While the team converses among themselves, Amanda enters the studio, to everyone's surprise. Chloe and Emily ask her why she is there and Amanda says that she is here to audition, which makes everyone laugh at her. Emily explains to her that they are not holding auditions, but Amanda claims that between Regionals and Nationals, a winning studio can change their dance team. Michelle confirms this, and says that it is known as "the Challenge", while Amanda says that Elite calls it "the Winnowing" - which causes West to talk about the separation of wheat and chaff. Emily tells Amanda that, regardless, she is not going to be on their Nationals team. Amanda eventually leaves, but not before telling the team that they need her, which makes them start laughing at her again. Emily confesses that despite not wanting Amanda in A-Troupe, the idea of the Challenge intrigues her.

In Kate's office, Chris finally gets the opportunity to talk to Kate and tells her that he will be leaving the studio to become a co-owner of Superstar Dance Academy. Kate is in shock, especially since he has been at the studio for so long, but is happy for him. In the studio, Emily approaches Michelle, and tells her that she thinks they should do the Challenge; Michelle warns her that Amanda could make it onto the team in this way, but Emily assures her that they would have the final say, meaning that they would be able to block her. After conceding that it worked at her old studio, Michelle agrees that they should do it. After the conversation, Michelle asks Emily if they are "cool", and with new hostility, Emily replies that they are cool "as ice". Various dancers proceed to confess their unease and excitement at the idea of the Challenge.

Trivia[]

This episode is part one out of three in a one-hour special.
It has been ten years since The Next Step Dance Studio last competed at Nationals.
Chris is leaving The Next Step to become the co-owner of Superstar Dance Academy.
Squeezed has been replaced by Culture Shock.
A-Troupe allegedly calls James and Riley by their ship name, Jiley, to which Tiffany does in her Talking Heads.
This is the first appearance of Briar Nolet as Richelle.
The Next Step is going to host the Challenge.

Continuity[]

Several scenes from past episodes are seen as A-Troupe dances to "Smile at the End of the World":
- A-Troupe winning and celebrating their Regionals win in "Winner Takes All".
- Eldon telling Emily that he wants to be with Michelle in "Winner Takes All".
- James and Riley slow-dancing and laughing together in "First Date".
- James and Riley kissing and Giselle, Tiffany and Stephanie smiling at them in "Bad Moon Rising".
- Emily tearfully hugging Giselle and Stephanie after their Regionals win in "Winner Takes All".
Chloe references her money problems that were first made known in "Everybody Dance Now".
Riley references the fact that Beth and James used to date that was first made known in "Everybody Dance Now".
Daniel, James and West reference Daniel's ankle injury that prevented him from dancing in Regionals which culminated in "Break Stuff".
Beth references the fact that she told James she loves him in "Winner Takes All".
Michelle asking Emily if they are cool is reminiscent of her asking Emily if they are okay at the end of "Winner Takes All".

Errors[]

Michelle confesses that she hasn't told anyone about her and Eldon being a couple and neither has he, but Eldon told Emily that he wanted to be with Michelle and also told Michelle that he had told Emily about them in "Winner Takes All".

Production errors[]

A cameraman is clearly visible during James and Riley's duet in the opening dance.
In the opening shots of the party celebrating The Next Step's Regionals win, Ben is seen first with Kate and Chloe, but in the next shot, he is standing at the drinks table with Tiffany, Beth, Charlie and Sarah, and Kate and Chloe are nowhere in sight.