"The Big Leap" is a modern tale about second chances, chasing your dreams and taking back what's yours. The show revolves around a group of diverse, down-on-their-luck characters attempting to change their lives by participating in a potentially life-ruining reality dance show that builds to a live production of "Swan Lake."
On the heels of his latest show failure and a stressful divorce, producer Nick Blackburn (Scott Foley) reluctantly signs on to produce "The Big Leap," a brand-new contest series filming in Motor City. The show, which brings together dancers from every age, background and body type, is the brainchild of aging dancer Wayne Fontaine (Kevin Daniels). With choreographer Monica Sullivan (Mallory Jansen) on board to help Nick mount the production, he begins his search for not only the best dancers, but also the ones that could stir up the most drama. Gabby Lewis (newcomer Simone Recasner), once dreamt of becoming a professional dancer, but her dreams were sidelined when she got pregnant right out of high school.
In the midst of the monotony that is her 9-to-5 office job, she stumbles upon "The Big Leap," reigniting her passion for dance. Auditioning alongside Gabby is Justin Reyes (Raymond Cham Jr.), Gabby's former dance partner and high school boyfriend...that is, until he came out of the closet (to the surprise of no one, except Gabby). Their fellow contestants include Reggie Sadler (Ser'Darius Blain), a famous pro football champ whom Nick believes could give the show the star power and controversy it needs to break through; Britney Lovewell (Anna Grace Barlow), a born-and-bred hyper-competitive ballroom dancer paired with her twin brother; unemployed autoworker Mike Devries (Jon Rudnitsky), whose gradual unraveling recently led his wife, to leave him; Paula Clark (Piper Perabo), a high-powered corporate executive; and former ballerina Julia Perkins (Teri Polo), now a social-media-obsessed mom who focuses more on her Instagram than on her teenage girls or husband.
Inspired by a U.K. reality format, THE BIG LEAP is an innovative show-within-a-show that takes viewers on a journey of self-acceptance, body-positivity and empowerment at any age.