January 31, 2018 (2018-01-31) – December 18, 2022 (2022-12-18)
Step Up (previously titled Step Up: High Water) is an American drama television series, based on the Step Up film series. It premiered on January 31, 2018, on YouTube Red. The series was created by Holly Sorensen, who also serves as an executive producer alongside Channing Tatum and Jenna Dewan. After being canceled by YouTube Red after two seasons,[1]Starz picked up the series for a third season,[2] which premiered on October 16, 2022.[3] In December 2022, the series was canceled after three seasons.[4]
Premise
The series follows the students and faculty of "High Water", Atlanta's most cutthroat performing arts school. When twins Tal and Janelle relocate from Ohio, they find themselves thrust into a world where every move is a test. As they attempt to navigate their new world— on and off the dance floor— they will discover just how deep they are willing to dig to realize their dreams and seize their moment.[5]
After a hashtag about Sage Odom being broke and owing people money goes viral, he comebacks with a live performance of his new hit single with the help of the High Water students.
The dance crew must find their inner sex appeal for the world tour.
15
5
"Inversion"
Damian Marcano
Jordan Heimer & Manuel Figueroa
March 20, 2019 (2019-03-20)
Odalie works with Davis on a stunt piece similar to Dirty Dancing to impress Sage. Still drunk from the night before, Tal makes a huge mistake that could cost Odalie her dance career.
16
6
"Isolations"
Jessica Lowery
Delondra Williams
March 20, 2019 (2019-03-20)
The fallout of Odalie’s injury continues to rock the High Water students.
17
7
"Attitude"
Dominic Leclerc
Molly Kate Margraf & Jerica Lieberman
March 20, 2019 (2019-03-20)
With Tal and Davis’s help, Odalie is able to dance with some aquatic therapy. She finally feels like she’s making progress since her injury.
Fully recovered from her injury, Odalie wants a spot back on the world tour. Poppy feels threatened as she and Odalie must compete for her lead spot in the tour. Sage must decide between his vision of the tour and the optics.
On June 23, 2017, YouTube announced that it had officially given Step Up: High Water a first season order consisting of ten episodes, each running about 45 minutes in length. The series was described as YouTube Red's first "big-budget, Hollywood-produced television drama" and that its arrival would end up "moving it into more direct competition with players like Netflix and traditional cable networks." In the announcement, it was revealed that each episode of the series would cost several million dollars to produce.[10] A few days later, members of the series' creative team were announced. Original songs for the series were set to be written by singer/songwriter Jason “PooBear” Boyd and “Jingle” Jared Gutstadt. The films series’ choreographer Jamal Sims was expected to choreograph the first episode after which subsequent episodes would be choreographed by Jamaica Craft. The pilot episode was set to be directed by Adam Shankman.[11] It was later reported that Debbie Allen had directed the show's second episode.[12]
On May 22, 2018, it was announced that YouTube had renewed the series for a second season.[13] On January 24, 2019, it was reported that the second season would premiere on March 20, 2019.[14] On August 16, 2019, YouTube Premium canceled the series after two seasons.[1] On May 28, 2020, Starz picked up the series for a third season.[2] Following filming restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic, Blackhall Studios reopened for production on several films and the series, which was being written at the time, on July 13, 2020. Production was immediately paused on the same day when lead actress Naya Riverawas found dead following a boating accident several days prior.[15] Rivera's character had been set to appear; in August 2020 it was announced that a re-worked season would begin filming in January 2021.[16] On September 17, 2022, it was announced that the third season would premiere on October 16, 2022.[3] Days before the season finale, it was announced that Starz had canceled the series.[4]
Casting
On June 28, 2017, it was announced that Ne-Yo, Naya Rivera, Faizon Love, Lauryn McClain, Petrice Jones, Marcus Mitchell, Jade Chynoweth, Carlito Olivero, Terrence Green, R. Marcos Taylor, Eric Graise, and Kendra Oyesanya had been cast in the series' main roles.[11] On January 19, 2018, it was reported that Savion Glover would make a guest appearance in the series as a teacher at High Water.[17] On August 28, 2018, it was announced that in season two Ashley Greene and Jeremy Copeland were joining the cast, that Rick Ross and Todrick Hall would appear as themselves, and that JaQuel Knight would make a cameo appearance in addition to choreographing episode three.[18] After YouTube canceled the series, Petrice Jones moved on to other projects, leaving him unavailable by the time Starz picked up the show for Season 3. His role was filled by Keiynan Lonsdale as new character Tal Baker. Because of Naya Rivera's death, Christina Milian was cast as Collette.[19]
Release
Marketing
Promotional poster for Fathom Events' special screening of the premiere episode.
On July 12, 2017, YouTube released a video introducing the show's main cast.[20] On August 13, 2017, the cast of the series, including Jade Chynoweth and Kendra Oyesanya, performed at the 2017 Teen Choice Awards with a highly choreographed dance routine.[21]
On December 19, 2017, YouTube released the first trailer for the series and announced that the show would premiere on January 31, 2018, with all ten episodes released at once.[22] On January 24, 2019, the official trailer for season two was released.[14]
Premiere
On January 30, 2018, YouTube partnered with Fathom Events for special screenings of the first episode of the series at more than 750 movie theaters. The event also included a screening of the original 2006 Step Up film that launched the five-film franchise, and a behind-the-scenes look at the making of the television series.[23][24]
Reception
In a positive review, Sonia Saraiya of Variety offered the series praise saying: "This YouTube Red original has found an intriguing way to blend the mediums of dance, film, and soapy teen television, with an energetic, conscious new installment in the series that is a lot of fun to get sucked into."[25] In another favorable critique, Decider's Kayla Cobb described the series as "a genuinely compelling and dramatic story that very well may stand as the best narrative installment of the Step Up universe."[26]
