Step Up: High Water

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Step Up: High Water
File:StepUpHighWater.png
Genre <templatestyles src="Plainlist/styles.css"/>
Created by Holly Sorensen
Based on Step Up film series
by Duane Adler
Starring <templatestyles src="Plainlist/styles.css"/>
Theme music composer Kutt The Check
Composer(s) <templatestyles src="Plainlist/styles.css"/>
  • Stephanie Economou
  • Jared Gustadt
  • Jeff Peters
Country of origin United States
Original language(s) English
No. of seasons 2
No. of episodes 20 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producer(s) <templatestyles src="Plainlist/styles.css"/>
Producer(s) <templatestyles src="Plainlist/styles.css"/>
  • Joshua Throne
  • Salli Newman
Cinematography Joaquin Sedillo
Camera setup Single-camera
Running time 41–57 minutes
Production company(s) <templatestyles src="Plainlist/styles.css"/>
Release
Picture format 4K (UHDTV)
Original release January 31, 2018 (2018-01-31) –
March 20, 2019 (2019-03-20)
External links
Official YouTube channel

Step Up: High Water is an American drama web television series, based on the Step Up film series created by Duane Adler, that premiered on January 31, 2018 on YouTube Red (now YouTube Premium). The series was created by Holly Sorensen, who also serves as an executive producer alongside Channing Tatum and Jenna Dewan. On May 22, 2018, it was announced that YouTube had renewed the series for a second season; which premiered on March 20, 2019.

On August 16, 2019, the series was cancelled after two seasons.[1]

Premise

Step Up: High Water 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’ll discover just how deep they’re willing to dig to realize their dreams and seize their moment."[2]

Cast and characters

Main

  • Lauryn McClain as Janelle Baker (season 1)
  • Petrice Jones as Tal Baker
  • Marcus Mitchell as Dondre Hall
  • Terrence Green as Rigo Octavio
  • Carlito Olivero as Davis Jimenez
  • Jade Chynoweth as Odalie Allen
  • Kendra Oyesanya as Poppy Martinez
  • Eric Graise as King
  • Faizon Love as Al Baker
  • Ne-Yo as Sage Odom

Recurring

  • Naya Rivera as Collette Jones
  • R. Marcos Taylor as East-O
  • Terayle Hill as Marquise
  • Al Calderon as Johnny One
  • Saidah Nairobi as Electra
  • Ashley Greene as Nine Sanders
  • Jeremy Copeland as Zo Browder

Guest

Episodes

Season Episodes Originally released
1 10 January 31, 2018 (2018-01-31)
2 10 March 20, 2019 (2019-03-20)

Season 1 (2018)

No.
overall
No. in
season
Title Directed by Written by Original release date
1 1 "Pilot" Adam Shankman Holly Sorensen January 31, 2018 (2018-01-31)
2 2 "Solo" Debbie Allen Thembi L. Banks & Rochée Jeffery January 31, 2018 (2018-01-31)
3 3 "The Running Man" Rob Hardy Hadjii January 31, 2018 (2018-01-31)
4 4 "Shuffle" Janice Cooke Molly Kate Margraf & Jerica Lieberman January 31, 2018 (2018-01-31)
5 5 "5.6.7.8" Janice Cooke Bryan M. Holdman & William H. Brown January 31, 2018 (2018-01-31)
6 6 "Duets" Michael Schultz Thembi L. Banks & Rochée Jeffery January 31, 2018 (2018-01-31)
7 7 "Dance Craze" Nzingha Stewart William H. Brown January 31, 2018 (2018-01-31)
8 8 "Ensemble" Silas Howard Bryan M. Holdman January 31, 2018 (2018-01-31)
9 9 "Choreography" Charles Randolph-Wright Holly Sorensen & Bryan M. Holdman January 31, 2018 (2018-01-31)
10 10 "Two-Step" Norman Buckley Holly Sorensen & William H. Brown January 31, 2018 (2018-01-31)

Season 2 (2019)

No.
overall
No. in
season
Title Directed by Written by Original release date
11 1 "Precision" Lisa Leone Holly Sorensen March 20, 2019 (2019-03-20)
12 2 "Splits" Mary Lambert Kenny Neibart March 20, 2019 (2019-03-20)
13 3 "Form" Lisa Leone Hadjii March 20, 2019 (2019-03-20)
14 4 "Vogue" Charles Randolph-Wright Rochée Jeffery March 20, 2019 (2019-03-20)
15 5 "Inversion" Damian Marcano Jordan Heimer & Manuel Figueroa March 20, 2019 (2019-03-20)
16 6 "Isolations" Jessica Lowery Delondra Williams March 20, 2019 (2019-03-20)
17 7 "Attitude" Dominic Leclerc Molly Kate Margraf & Jerica Lieberman March 20, 2019 (2019-03-20)
18 8 "Azonto" Janice Cooke Lou-Lou Igbokwe March 20, 2019 (2019-03-20)
19 9 "Improvisation" Anne Fletcher William Brown March 20, 2019 (2019-03-20)
20 10 "Hip-Hopera" Fred Gerber Holly Sorensen & William Brown March 20, 2019 (2019-03-20)

Production

Development

On June 23, 2016, YouTube announced at the annual VidCon conference in Anaheim, California that they were developing a new drama series based on the Step Up film series with Lionsgate Television producing alongside Channing Tatum and Jenna Dewan.[3][4]

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.[5] 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.[6] It was later reported that Debbie Allen had directed the show's second episode.[7]

On May 22, 2018, it was announced that YouTube had renewed the series for a second season.[8] On January 24, 2019, it was reported that the second season would premiere on March 20, 2019.[9]

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.[6] On January 19, 2018, it was reported that Savion Glover would make a guest appearance in the series as a teacher at High Water.[10] 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.[11]

Release

Marketing

File:HighWaterPremiere.jpg
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.[12] 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.[13]

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.[14] On January 24, 2019, the official trailer for season two was released.[9]

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.[15][16]

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."[17] 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."[18]

References

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External links