Un Paso Adelante (One Step Forward) is a Spanish TV series which lasted 84 episodes and was originally broadcast on Spanish channel Antena 3 from 2002 to 2005.
It's similar to the American series Fame, but set in Spain (Madrid), specifically the prestigious art school of Carmen Arranz, where the students are aspiring dancers, singers, and actors. The show focuses on the ambitions, love lives, and other social issues of both professors and students. One of the main students is played by Mónica Cruz, younger sister of Penélope Cruz.
While mostly unknown in the English-speaking countries, the series was very successful in several countries of Europe and Latin America, back in the 2000s. It has a sequel titled UPA Next, that premiered in 2022.
Tropes:
- Boarding School: The students live in the art school where the series takes place.
- Chuck Cunningham Syndrome: Rafa, a Plucky Comic Relief character who appears in the first two seasons, disappears without explanation before the end of season 2.
- The Ingenue: Lola is a deeply insecure and naive girl who never had a boyfriend at the beginning of the series. Ironically, despite her innocent personality, she is often seen performing seductive dance choreographies with skimpy clothes.
- Jerkass Ball: All the characters take their turns. Each one of the protagonists can Took a Level in Jerkass in a certain storyline, in order to create some drama. Even Pedro and Lola, who were the nicest characters in season 1.
- Jerk with a Heart of Gold: Rober, on his better days. He shamelessly acts like a jerk and a bully, but being one of the protagonists, he has his share of Pet the Dog moments.
- Mr. Fanservice: Both Rober and Pedro are muscular and frequently appear shirtless. And it's not just them, even other minor male characters can fit this role.
- Rich Suitor, Poor Suitor: In season 1, Silvia has to choose between the rich Rober and the poor Pedro. However, she ends up choosing rich asshole Rober over poor nice guy Pedro, and Pedro gets over her after a while.
- Star-Crossed Lovers: Pedro and Lola. Lola is in love with Pedro since the first episode. After three years of Unrequited Love Switcheroo and both of them dating other people, they finally start dating in season 4. Unfortunately, in the final season (season 6), their relationship is ruined by some misunderstandings and they eventually break up.
- Teacher/Student Romance:
- Ingrid has a long and complicated one with her music teacher Juan. It lasts many seasons, but it doesn't end well.
- Pedro has one with his dance teacher Adela, which is weird, because he also used to date Adela's much younger sister Marta, who is another student.
- Town Girls: Brash and outgoing Ingrid (Butch), prim and proper rich girl Silvia (Femme), and shy and naive Lola (Neither).
- Unrequited Love Switcheroo: Lola and Pedro in early episodes. In season 1, Lola is in love with Pedro who only sees her as a friend. In season 2, Pedro starts to be attracted to Lola when she is romantically involved with another guy.
- Vitriolic Best Buds: Pedro and Rober start out as rivals, and they often fight and act like they hate each other, although they become friends eventually.
