Cruz Abelita, renowned for his portrayal of Justin across three captivating seasons of Lionsgate TV's "Step Up: High Water," has inked a representation deal with CESD. This dance-infused drama served as a thrilling small-screen revival of the beloved Lionsgate film series. "Step Up: High Water," which chronicled the lives of students and faculty at Atlanta's most fiercely competitive performing arts school, High Water, aired its inaugural season on Starz before transitioning to YouTube's subscription service for its subsequent two seasons.
The ensemble cast also boasted talents like Ne-Yo, Faizon Love, Eric Graise, Terayle Hill, Enrique Murciano, and Tricia Helfer. Following a tragic accident involving the late Glee star Naya Rivera, Lionsgate TV, after consulting with her family, cast Christina Milian to step into Rivera's shoes in the scripted series. The original producers of the films—Adam Shankman, Jennifer Gibgot, and Meredith Milton—served as executive producers alongside original stars Channing Tatum and Jenna Dewan, as well as series creator and showrunner Holly Sorensen. "Step Up: High Water" was filmed in Abelita's hometown of Atlanta.
As an ascending child actor, Abelita made his feature film debut in the 2020 romantic drama "Words on Bathroom Walls," directed by Thor Freudenthal and co-starring Charlie Plummer, Andy Garcia, and Taylor Russell. Abelita's television credits are equally impressive, including Disney's "Haunted Mansion," Netflix's "Christmas on the Square" featuring Dolly Parton, ABC's "The Wonder Years," Peacock's "Please Don’t Destroy," and NBC's "Found," where he portrayed Charlie with memorable flair.
In addition to CESD, Abelita is represented by East Coast Talent Agency in Atlanta and Crackerjack Management in Los Angeles, further solidifying his promising career in the entertainment industry.
