Temple Street Media Ventures, the digital production arm of Canada’s Temple Street Productions, is getting tweens to cut loose with a new iPad app.

The Next Step Dance Academy is based on Temple Street’s reality-style series The Next Step. The app teaches kids how to dance, featuring lessons from their favorite Next Step stars. Available now on the Apple App Store, the first lesson is free to download and additional ones can be purchased for US$1.99 apiece.

Along with expanding the brand’s digital presence, Temple Street is also growing its global licensing footprint. Last year, UK-based licensing agency Brands With Influence came aboard to manage L&M rights for the dance-based series in all regions outside North and South America.

Commissioned by DHX-owned Family Channel, The Next Step is produced by Temple Street Productions with BBC Worldwide handling international distribution rights. It airs in Canada (Family Channel), the US (Hulu) and the UK (CBBC) and on a variety of other broadcast and cable channels internationally.