MMA fighter and ‘So You Think You Can Dance’ alum star in ‘Step Up Revolution’

TORONTO – As a model and Mixed Martial Arts fighter with no professional experience cutting a rug, Ryan Guzman says he felt like “a lost puppy” when he took on the leading role in the new 3D dance film “Step Up Revolution.”

“It was scary at first,” the 24-year-old California native admitted in a recent interview beside his co-star, Kathryn McCormick, a professional mover and shaker who placed third on season 6 of “So You Think You Can Dance.”

“I remember the first week, I didn’t want to dance in front of all the other dancers, because I’m dancing with people like Misha Gabriel Hamilton and Kathryn McCormick and (Stephen “tWitch” Boss), and they’re all acclaimed dancers from ‘So You Think’ or dancing with Michael Jackson,” added Guzman, who’s acted in several commercials.

“So I was like: ‘How am I going to even compare to these guys, they’ll know I’m a phoney right away.’ But it was quite the opposite.”

Guzman said he and McCormick quickly developed a chemistry and she became a “rock” that he could lean on as they portrayed a couple who come together in a flash-mob dance troupe under trying circumstances.

“There would be some times where I’d be so in my head and I’d have no clue where to go and I’d just look at her and she’d just kind of give me this look like, ‘Dude, you’ve got it,’ and then everything would kind of ease away,” he said.

McCormick’s big advice to Guzman during his screen test was, “You’ve really just got to jump in.”

“I knew there was so much pressure on him because he had never danced before,” said the 22-year-old Georgia native, who had never acted before going in to filming.

“So I was just kind of watching him and I ended up getting up and I was like, ‘All right, bud, it’s you and I, that’s it, let’s pretend no one is here.'”

The film, which opens across Canada on Friday, is the fourth instalment in the “Step Up” dance romance franchise and is written by Amanda Brody and directed by Scott Speer. This time the action takes place in Miami, where The Mob dance troupe sets up flash mobs in an effort to increase their online fame and win a contest.

The story centres around dance-troupe member Sean and wealthy contemporary dancer Emily, who joins The Mob and helps them battle her real-estate honcho father (Peter Gallagher) as he tries to build a development in their historic neighbourhood.

For the flash-mob scenes, the cast often had to bust a move outdoors in the thick heat of Miami, but Guzman said they coped well.

“It was just a loving environment so everybody was so willing and ready to work that you never thought about, ‘It’s 106 (Fahrenheit) right now and I’ve lost 15 pounds.'”

There were some injuries on set, though

“Kathryn broke her toe,” said Guzman.

“He pulled a butt cheek,” added McCormick.

The original 2006 “Step Up” film starred Jenna Dewan-Tatum and husband Channing Tatum, who has seen his fame soar lately with starring roles in filming including “Magic Mike,” “21 Jump Street,” “Dear John” and The Vow.”

McCormick said she grew up watching the “Step Up” films and felt the pressure of trying to hold up one of “the biggest dance franchises in the world.”

“We were both so new to it and the director as well, so we kind of just went in and we’re like, ‘We’re not comparing to anyone, we’re just trying to be our best,'” she added.

“I think everybody else … are comparing us to either Channing or Jenna, so it’s more outside influence rather than us,” added Guzman.