Center Stage

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2:30

Center Stage

PG-13

Released May 12, 2000

1h 54m

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

41%

Tomatometer

80 Reviews

82%

Popcornmeter

100,000+ Ratings

A dozen adolescents have begun their training at the renowned American Ballet Academy, where they encounter tremendous physical and mental stress while vying for a coveted spot in a celebrated dance company. Jody Sawyer (Amanda Schull) has talent but the wrong proportions, the fiery Eva Rodriguez (Zoe Saldana) can't seem to get along with her instructors and Maureen (Susan May Pratt) is having a hard time enduring the emotional highs and lows that accompany ballet school.

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Critics Consensus

Viewers willing to sit through soapy plot contrivances to see some excellent dancing might enjoy Center Stage; for everyone else, there's still always Fame.

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Emanuel Levy

Variety

Assuming that every generation needs its own dance film, Hytner revists the turf of films like Turning Point (classic ballet), Chrous Line (Broadway dancing) and Saturday Night Fever (disco) and blends together their themes and persona to little effect.

Rated: C

Aug 28, 2006

Full Review

Globe and Mail

Rated: 2.5/4

Mar 19, 2002

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Michael Thomson

BBC.com

Rated: 2/5

Apr 17, 2001

Full Review

PJ Nabarro

Patrick Nabarro

This unintentionally hilarious variant on the time-old high school/college/'Fame' staple features some of the most rote storytelling and characterisation going.

Rated: 2/5

Dec 2, 2018

Full Review

Randy White

Common Sense Media

Melodramatic, a bit racy -- some teens will love.

Rated: 3/5

Jan 2, 2011

Full Review

John Venable

Supercala.com

If I was a 12 year old girl who takes any sort of dance classes, this would be my favorite film of all time...but I'm not.

Rated: 4/10

Dec 31, 2005

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Claudia G

This movie is the best dance drama there is. It follows several stories of dancers and brings them together in the end. There is love, beautiful actors, amazing ballet shows and a great plot. A must-see!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/10/25

Full Review

Brian H

All the pretty dancers. When it focuses on the dancing and the dancers it does reasonably well but it doesn't deliver off the dance floor. Zoe Saldana early in career gives a performance hinting at why she would be become the star she is.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

05/12/24

Full Review

isa e

Amanda Schull killed in this, sizzled, the dancing, lipstick, it all worked. plot was formulaic and pedestrian.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

10/11/23

Full Review

Amanda H

If you're looking for a movie with great dancing, this is the movie for you. It's in my movie collection, it should be in yours.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

04/28/23

Full Review

Audience Member

The worst acting ever!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

01/28/23

Full Review

Audience Member

For a movie focused on dance with amazing dancers, the acting wasn't half bad. Not up to par with most movies but enjoyable for what it is.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/14/23

Full Review

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Nicholas Hytner

Director

Amanda Schull

Jody Sawyer

Zoe Saldaña

Eva

Susan May Pratt

Maureen Cummings

Peter Gallagher

Jonathan Reeves

Donna Murphy

Juliette Simone

Center Stage: Official Clip - Salsa Dancing

1:53

Center Stage: Official Clip - Dance of Love

2:02

Center Stage: Official Clip - You Don't Have Great Feet

1:33

Center Stage: Official Clip - The Best Dancer I Can Be

2:14

Center Stage: Official Clip - Battling Ballet Dancers

1:23

Center Stage: Official Clip - Mirror Cleaning Duty

1:50

Center Stage: Official Clip - Eva's Review

0:57

Center Stage: Official Clip - Dance What You Feel

2:09

Center Stage: Official Clip - Welcome to the American Ballet Academy

1:58

Center Stage: Official Clip - She Heard You!

1:36

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Center Stage: Trailer 1

2:30

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Synopsis

A dozen adolescents have begun their training at the renowned American Ballet Academy, where they encounter tremendous physical and mental stress while vying for a coveted spot in a celebrated dance company. Jody Sawyer (Amanda Schull) has talent but the wrong proportions, the fiery Eva Rodriguez (Zoe Saldana) can't seem to get along with her instructors and Maureen (Susan May Pratt) is having a hard time enduring the emotional highs and lows that accompany ballet school.

Director: Nicholas Hytner
Producer: Laurence Mark
Screenwriter: Carol Heikkinen
Distributor: Columbia Pictures, Sony Pictures Entertainment
Production Co: Columbia Pictures, Laurence Mark Productions
Rating: PG-13 (Sensuality|Language)
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): May 12, 2000, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 9, 2013
Box Office (Gross USA): $17.2M
Runtime: 1h 54m
Sound Mix: Dolby Stereo, DTS, SDDS, Surround, Dolby Digital, Dolby SR
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)

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