Family Channel has given a full-season order to The Next Step, a single camera tween dance drama from Temple Street Productions.

The Astral Media channel ordered 26 episodes of the series created by Frank van Keeken (pictured), who earlier brought Family Channel the Wingin’ It series.

Production on The Next Step is set to start in summer 2012. No word on casting.

The scripted drama, to be shot with a reality TV feel, follows a group of elite dancers that run a studio and see their lives disrupted when a talented new girl comes on the scene just as a national championship event looms.

The Next Step was commissioned by Michael Goldsmith, director of original programming at Family Channel.

Van Keeken is executive producing along with Ivan Schneeberg and David Fortier of Temple Street.

Family Channel also plans a digital extension for the series to be rolled out on its Family.ca site.