Step Up or Step Out: bigger budget, more depth

Written by Tashi from the blog Tashi's TV on 28 Mar 2012
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As spilt by Taz' right here, auditions for Season 2 of e.tv's street dance show Step Up or Step Out have been happening round the country. They started in Jozi in early March, moved to Bloem then Durbs and hit Cape Town at the weekend.

I popped through to find out what we can expect from the new season and got lost to the boogy with judge Arthur Mafokate, while grabbing us the inside scoop ...

The show held auditions in Bloem for the first time this season. 14 groups auditioned in the city.

Step Up Season 2 Pic 25

What Arthur gets up to in between takes. (He replies to 999 Music e-mails - I snooped over his shoulder.)

According to series producer Josh Feldman, various new developments are being introduced this season. The show has a bigger budget, a callback phase has been added to the format and a new twist will be introduced once the show reaches the final stages.

Josh, who happens to be a former K-TV presenter - he presented from the age of 12 to 23 and then moved into producing.

Josh: The look and feel of the show has been taken to another level. If you look at Season 1, during the audition phase for example, there were literally two flats: a flat behind the judges, a flat behind the auditioning crew - we've now created adjacent flats that wrap around the street dance crews and we've given it a lot more depth.

It's a lot grittier - the key word is depth as opposed to flatness, in terms of how the whole show's constructed. There's a lot more depth to every element of the show. Last year the format was fresh and new and people were still finding their feet and this year we understand the format a lot better so I think you'll see a seamlessness this year.

Judge Emile YX? who spent some time exploring India between the first season and now.

Tashi: What are you looking for specifically this season?

Emile: Now that they've seen what we're looking for I'm expecting to see something different this season. Thus far I've only seen one group that stands out for me. Just because they chose to combine some things - they did something that's unexpected.

The groups need to realise that in any competition, whether it be locally or internationally, you need to have something different. You need to come up with your own inventions to a certain extent. For me I'm looking for that and I'm looking for the desire.

South Africans don't have the desire to win. I see it in all aspects of our community - there isn't this drive of: "We're winning this", being confident enough. Americans have a lot of that and I think that's why they get as far as they do bcause there's that belief.

We come from a different background so I'm hoping that as time goes by we'll see less of the shyness, the insecurity ... what's the word? A lot of our dancers are very uncomfortable in their bodies, they don't look very confident about who they are. I'm hoping that as time goes by that will change.

Dalen Lance returns as host while studying for his MBL in between. He started it last year and graduates next year.

As Taz' mentioned, Khabonina Qubeka's joined the series as a new judge, taking over from Penny Thloloe. No-one will say why exactly but word from a mole is that the show wanted someone "fresh".

Tashi: As the new judge on the scene, what have you got your eye on?
Khabonina: I'm looking for a group that's completely charismatic so a group that will make me watch them. A group that's going to be committed to the show: are they consistent? Are they going to be able to stick together throughout all the difficulties and challenges?

You can tell a very disciplined group the moment they walk in and start dancing. There are going to be callbacks where we watch the tapes to see who's going to be the Top 20. That Top 20 needs to be made of groups who are capable of being South Africa's best dance crew, for many reasons.

It's not just about great dance moves, it's about discipline and also being able to learn because we want to teach them different dance styles, styles they don't even know exist. Can they absorb them? Can they apply them? That's what I'm looking for.

Khabodacious at the Bloem auditions.

Tashi: What did you think of last seasons' winners?
Khabonina: Uhm ... ja, I think they did great job. I wasn't here last season, it was Emile, Penny and Arthur so they've got their reasons why they selected those winners. I think they're very passionate dancers, they've got heart but I didn't see anything else from the group.

The hard thing about this industry is that the moment you win a show you need to take davantage of your title, make sure you get yourself gigs, don't wait for your manager, don't wait for anyone to get you gigs, push yourself - I didn't see enough of them out there.

You can't blame the industry, you can't blame your manager, you need to put yourself out there. I'm not saying I'm blaming the group, I'm just saying I didn't see that.

A crew called Jappie Starz who were hard at work rehearsing for their audition as I was leaving, while the judges were at lunch. I couldn't stay so I don't know if they made it. The show will tell.

The auditions head off to PE this weekend and then it's on to callbacks. The season premieres on Sunday, 29 April at 18h05 and the companion show Flipside will be on Saturdays at 13h30, starting on 5 May.

1 Comment

myname
30 Mar 2012 10:25

I can assure you Arthur is delighted. Yeerrrrrrr they used to fight like mini mouses. Hope they choose a great group.

I think I'm growing old. I no longer enjoy TV these days and i get so annoyed if i miss news.

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