Fans of Canadian dance academy drama series The Next Step have watched the characters grow up on television. For Victoria Baldesarra, who plays Michelle and is the only cast member to have appeared in all six seasons of The Next Step, the opposite is also true.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
She has watched fans of the show grow up, too.
"I interact with fans on Instagram and I'm like 'Wow, you're 18 now? I remember meeting you when you were 12'. It's crazy," she tells Weekender from Los Angeles.
"On the flip side, I can literally see myself changing throughout the years - my body, my hair, my dancing. Everything."
The Next Step follows the lives of the A-Troupe dancers as they strive to win a series of dance competitions while dealing with their own dramas and relationships. It's a fly-on-the-wall mockumentary, shot in a reality TV style. Cast members also tour the world with a 90-minute stage show featuring dance solos, duets, trios and group numbers choreographed to popular hit songs along with original music from the show.
The Next Step - Absolute Dance tour, which is coming to Newcastle, gives fans the chance to get up close and personal with cast members Briar Nolet (Richelle), Isaiah Peck (Henry), Shelby Bain (Amy), Alexandra Chaves (Piper), Berkley Ratzlaff (Davis), Sage Linder (Summer), Dylan Ratzlaff (Jacqui), Liam Mackie (Finn) and Noah Zulfikar (Kingston).
As the most experienced cast member, Baldessara's character Michelle is now a teacher on the show. Off camera, though, she has also adopted a mentoring role.
Baldessara began dancing at the age of three and three years later was dancing competitively. She trained at the Canadian Dance Unit in Ontario for more than 11 years and was a member of Team Canada's national dance team.
"Being on tour is physically demanding and it can be draining," she says.
"The new cast members will get a taste of it on this tour. When we've been rehearsing I've been telling them how life on the road is and how things will flow.
"I feel like I am a mentor towards them. There might only be three years in age between some of us but I have been part of everything to do with the show and I think they respect that."
Season six is Baldessara's last. She is keen to pursue other acting roles in the US but says she will never forget her Next Step family.
"On The Next Step you get to know everything about each other. I know all the other dancers on a personal level; they feel like family and could call them at any time for help if I needed it," she says.
"I've basically almost finished up on the show now and have moved from Canada to LA. Acting has always been a dream of mine. But I'll still be dancing. I'm trying to do it all."
Catch The Next Step - Absolute Dance tour at Civic Theatre Newcastle on September 19. Meet and greet tickets are available.
While you're with us, did you know Newcastle Herald offers breaking news alerts, daily email newsletters and more? Keep up to date with all the local news - sign up here.
