Step Up: High Water

• 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

• Naya Rivera as Collette Jones
• R. Marcos Taylor as East-O (Season 1)
• Terayle Hill as Marquise
• Al Calderon as Johnny One (Season 1)
• Saidah Nairobi as Electra
• Ashley Greene as Nine Sanders (Season 2)
• Jeremy Copeland as Zo Browder (Season 2)

• Savion Glover as Quincy Hobbs
• Rick Ross as Himself
• Will Swannell as Himself
• Todrick Hall as Himself
• Robin Givens as Dana
• Travis Wall as Himself
• Luther Brown as Himself

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.[4][5]

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.[6] 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.[7] It was later reported that Debbie Allen had directed the show's second episode.[8]

On May 22, 2018, it was announced that YouTube had renewed the series for a second season.[9] On January 24, 2019, it was reported that the second season would premiere on March 20, 2019.[10] On August 16, 2019, YouTube Premium cancelled the series after two seasons.[1] On May 28, 2020, Starz picked up the series for a third season.[2]

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.[7] On January 19, 2018, it was reported that Savion Glover would make a guest appearance in the series as a teacher at High Water.[11] 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.[12]

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.[13] 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.[14]

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.[15] On January 24, 2019, the official trailer for season two was released.[10]

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.[16][17]