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Step It Up

Sorry this week's post is a bit late, I've been a bit busy lately and got behind. :)

Step It Up is an American reality show about the dance team Young Contemporary Dance Theatre (YCDT) run by Traci Young-Byron, who used to be the team captain of NBA (basketball) dance team Miami HEAT Dancers. The YCDT dancers perform different styles such as contemporary,  hip hop, West African and jazz. Step It Up follows a similar format to other Lifetime shows Dance Moms, Dance Mums with Jennifer Ellison (the UK version of Dance Moms) and Bring It! where every week the dancers prepare to take part in a performance and/or an audtiton. It's currently on Lifetime UK on Mondays at 9pm but I think tomorrow will be the last episode of the current series.

YCDT is based in Miami, Florida. There are two teams, Company and Repertory (the more elite dancers). Much like Bring It! Traci cuts dancers who she doesn't think are prepared for upcoming performances or events. (Not from the school altogether, just from the event). Some of the dancers featured are Janae who has been told her that good looks can be a disadvantage if the focus is more on how she looks than her talent, Diaunte whose ambition is to get into Rep and brother and sister Jakirah and Antonio. Traci is a unique character who dresses in a distinctive style and often changes her hair style! She is strict with the dancers and can be hard on them but you can tell she cares.

According to Lifetime Traci has a rivalry with Miss D and her Dancing Dolls team (Bring It!). I thought they were quite different dance teams really, the Dancing Dolls do more cheerleader type dance, it's known as "hip hop majorette". I suppose they have hip hop in common though.

Update 20/12/15: I just read that Step It Up is a spin-off from Bring It! and the two teams do directly compete as you can see in this video: http://starsparklex.blogspot.co.uk/2015/12/bring-it-video.html

Here's a video from when the YCDT peformed at and modelled in African designer Tebo Dembe's fashion show:





For more on Step It Up check out these links:

Lifetime US site: http://www.mylifetime.com/shows/step-it-up

Lifetime UK: http://www.lifetimetv.co.uk/shows/step-it-up

Yahoo article: https://www.yahoo.com/tv/step-it-up-lifetime-traci-young-byron-get-right-127705990015.html


P.S. Speaking of dance, I just took part in a dance event with my belly dance group today, Dance Active which is based in Brighton. Here's the link if you'd like to read about it: http://www.brighton-hove.gov.uk/content/leisure-and-libraries/sports-and-activity/dance-active-2013
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