Center Stage (2000)

Director:

Nicholas Hytner

Writer (WGA):

Carol Heikkinen (written by)

Release Date:

12 May 2000 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Music

Tagline:

Life doesn't hold tryouts.

Plot:

A group of 12 teenagers from various backgrounds enroll at the American Ballet Academy in New York to make it as ballet dancers and each one deals with the problems and stress of training and getting ahead in the world of dance.

Plot Keywords:

Ballet | Dancer | Dancing | Love | Dance

Awards:

1 win

Cast

Amanda Schull	...	Jody Sawyer
Zoe Saldana	...	Eva Rodriguez (as Zoë Saldana)
Susan May Pratt	...	Maureen Cummings
Peter Gallagher	...	Jonathan Reeves
Donna Murphy	...	Juliette Simone
Debra Monk	...	Nancy Cummings
Ethan Stiefel	...	Cooper Nielson
Sascha Radetsky	...	Charlie Sims
Julie Kent	...	Kathleen Donahue
Ilia Kulik	...	Sergei
Eion Bailey	...	Jim Gordon
Shakiem Evans	...	Erik Jones
Elizabeth Hubbard	...	Joan Miller
Victor Anthony	...	Thomas
Christine Dunham	...	Audition Teacher
Stephen Stout	...	Mr. Sawyer
Maryann Plunkett	...	Mrs. Sawyer
Laura Hicks	...	Nervous Mother
Barbara Caruso	...	ABA Scout
Jeff Hayenga	...	ABA Scout (as Jeffrey Hayenga)
Karen Shallo	...	Mother at Audition
Carlo Alban	...	Eva's Friend
Giselle Daly	...	Eva's Friend
Lisa LeGuillou	...	ABA Girls' Class Teacher (as Lisa LeGuillo)
Robert Montano	...	ABA Pas De Deux Class Teacher
Megan Pepin	...	Anna
Victoria Born	...	Emily
Kirk Peterson	...	ABA Boys' Class Teacher
Sandra Brown	...	Swan Lake Soloist
Elizabeth Gaither	...	Swan Lake Soloist
Oksana Konobeyeva	...	Swan Lake Soloist
Ekaterina Chtchelkanova	...	Swan Lake Soloist (as Ekaterina Schelkanova)
Nancy McDoniel	...	Gala Patron
Sandy Hamilton	...	Gala Patron
Olga Merediz	...	ABA Receptionist
Elvis Crespo	...	Salsa Singer
Giselle Tcherniak	...	Salsa Singer
Jamie Bonelli	...	Girl at Salsa Club
Micki Paley	...	Girl at Salsa Club
Randy Pearlstein	...	Jim's Friend
Nancy Hess	...	Sergei's Salsa Partner
Lovette George	...	Jazz Class Receptionist
Priscilla Lopez	...	Jazz Class Teacher
Brenda Denmark	...	Jonathan's Secretary (as Brenda Thomas Denmark)
Warren Carlyle	...	Cooper's Assistant
Marcia Jean Kurtz	...	Emily's Mother
Kari Thompson	...	Stage Manager
Aesha Ash	...	Jonathan's Ballet Soloist
Sean Stewart	...	Jonathan's Ballet Soloist
Jared Angle	...	ABA Student
Erin Baiano	...	ABA Student
Jennifer Balcerzak	...	ABA Student
Ellen Bar	...	ABA Student
Tamara Barden	...	ABA Student
Sant'Gria Bello	...	ABA Student
Dustin Brauneck	...	ABA Student
Melissa Cabrera	...	ABA Student
Martine Ciccone	...	ABA Student
Elena Diner	...	ABA Student
Nicole Epstein	...	ABA Student
Alina Faye	...	ABA Student
Elizabeth Ford	...	ABA Student
Jason Fowler	...	ABA Student
Kurt Froman	...	ABA Student
Kyle Froman	...	ABA Student
Davena Gross	...	ABA Student
Natalia Haigler	...	ABA Student
Craig Hall	...	ABA Student
Stephen Hanna	...	ABA Student
Adam Hendrickson	...	ABA Student
Patrick Howell	...	ABA Student
Ryan Kelly	...	ABA Student
Rebecca Krohn	...	ABA Student
Jessica Kusak	...	ABA Student
Ryan Lawrence	...	ABA Student
Riolama Lorenzo	...	ABA Student
Stephanie Lyons	...	ABA Student
Deanna McBrearty	...	ABA Student
Eleena Melamed	...	ABA Student
Justin Morris	...	ABA Student
Gillian Murphy	...	ABA Student
Laura Paulus	...	ABA Student
Matt Pitcher	...	ABA Student
Jonathan Porretta	...	ABA Student
Carrie Lee Riggins	...	ABA Student
Emilie Schlegel	...	ABA Student
David Schneider	...	ABA Student
Chrissy Schultz	...	ABA Student
Aaron Severini	...	ABA Student
Kristin Sloan	...	ABA Student
Jonathan Stafford	...	ABA Student
Ryan Stewart	...	ABA Student
Janie Taylor	...	ABA Student
Pascale Van Kipnis	...	ABA Student
Jamie Wolf	...	ABA Student
Julio Augustin	...	Jazz Class Dancer
Jim Borstelmann	...	Jazz Class Dancer
Liam Burke	...	Jazz Class Dancer
Chris Davis	...	Jazz Class Dancer
Nina Goldman	...	Jazz Class Dancer
Shannon Hammonds	...	Jazz Class Dancer
Jack Hayes	...	Jazz Class Dancer
Sean Martin Hingston	...	Jazz Class Dancer
Joann Hunter	...	Jazz Class Dancer
Violetta Klimczewska	...	Jazz Class Dancer
Keri Lee	...	Jazz Class Dancer
Stephanie Michels	...	Jazz Class Dancer
Lisa Nafegar	...	Jazz Class Dancer
Michael O'Donnell	...	Jazz Class Dancer
Angela Piccinni	...	Jazz Class Dancer
Mimi Quillin	...	Jazz Class Dancer
John Michael Schert	...	Jazz Class Dancer
Lisa Shriver	...	Jazz Class Dancer
Scott Taylor	...	Jazz Class Dancer
Endalyn Taylor-Shellman	...	Jazz Class Dancer
Rocker Verastique	...	Jazz Class Dancer
Robert Wersinger	...	Jazz Class Dancer
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Ashley L. Anderson	...	Aba student (as Ashley Anderson)
Kordelia	...	Principal Salsa Dancer (as Kordelia Mages)
Mauricio Sanchez	...	Dancer at Salsa Club
Amisha Upadhyaya	...	Dancer
Jennifer Alexander	...	Dancer (uncredited)
Angela Ali	...	Eva's friend (uncredited)
Derek Ambrosi	...	Extra (uncredited)
Dar Billingham	...	Dance Student (uncredited)
J. Claude Deering	...	Voiceover (uncredited)
Emily Johnson	...	ABA Student (uncredited)
Luis Jose Lopez	...	Lead Salsa Dancer (uncredited)
Alvester Martin	...	ABA Student (uncredited)
Mark Ott	...	Premier Guest (uncredited)
Chris Rivaro	...	Eddie (uncredited)
Scottie Thompson	...	Ensemble (uncredited)

Directed by
Nicholas Hytner

Writing credits (WGA)
Carol Heikkinen		(written by)

Produced by
Caroline Baron	....	co-producer
Laurence Mark	....	producer

Original Music by
George Fenton

Cinematography by
Geoffrey Simpson

Film Editing by
Tariq Anwar

Casting by
Daniel Swee

Production Design by
David Gropman

Art Direction by
Peter Rogness

Set Decoration by
Susan Bode

Costume Design by
Ruth Myers

Makeup Department
LuAnn Claps	....	makeup artist
Naomi Donne	....	makeup designer
Jacques Stephane Lempire	....	hair stylist
Lyndell Quiyou	....	key hair stylist

Production Management
Kathleen McGill	....	unit production manager
Michael Saxton	....	post-production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Sam Hoffman	....	first assistant director
Amy Lauritsen	....	second assistant director
Jennifer Truelove	....	second second assistant director

Art Department
Ann Edgeworth	....	assistant props
Jonathan Graham	....	key construction grip
Sandy Hamilton	....	property master
Steven E. Lawler	....	first carpenter
Miguel López-Castillo	....	assistant art director
Randy Manion	....	art department production assistant
Nick Miller	....	construction coordinator
Kris Moran	....	assistant props
Nell Stifel	....	scenic artist
Robert Topol	....	master scenic artist
M. Tony Trotta	....	camera scenic artist
Dave Weinman	....	lead man (as David Weinman)
Alyssa Winter	....	assistant set decorator

Sound Department
Michael Barosky	....	production sound mixer
Mark DeSimone	....	adr engineer
Pauline Griffith	....	foley artist
Howard Halsall	....	dialogue editor
Tim Hands	....	supervising sound editor
Craig Irving	....	sound re-recording mixer
Mark Lafbery	....	sound re-recording mixer
Daniel Laurie	....	adr editor
Jenny Lee Wright	....	foley artist
Linda Murphy	....	boom operator
Derek Trigg	....	foley editor
Nick Watson	....	sound consultant: Dolby
Jack Whittaker	....	assistant sound editor
Jerry Yuen	....	utility sound

Visual Effects by
Robin Beard	....	digital effects artist
Simon Giles	....	visual effects supervisor
Jim Rider	....	motion control cameraman
Trevor Young	....	digital artist

Camera and Electrical Department
Robert M. Andres	....	key grip
Alison Barton	....	grip
Michael Cambria	....	second assistant camera: "a" camera
Mel Cannon	....	grip
Andrew Casey	....	Steadicam operator
Andrew Casey	....	camera operator: "a" camera
Aryn Chapman	....	camera loader
Lamont Crawford	....	grip
Andy Day	....	chief lighting technician (as Andrew Day)
Chris Drechsler	....	lighting technician
Michael Fradianni	....	electrician
Samuel G. Friedman	....	rigging electrician
Daryl Furr	....	electrician
Ron Goodman	....	camera operator: SpaceCam
Timothy Healy	....	electrician
Jenny Kane	....	electrician
Lee Kazista	....	second assistant camera: "b" camera
Bruce MacCallum	....	camera operator: "b" camera
Kevin McKenna	....	video assist operator
Heather Norton	....	first assistant camera: "b" camera
Lowell Schulman	....	additional best boy rigging gaffer
Patrick Shelby	....	best boy rigging grip
Chris Skutch	....	second grip
Eric Swanek	....	Steadicam assistant
Eric Swanek	....	first assistant camera: "a" camera
Peter Walts	....	rigging gaffer
Barry Wetcher	....	still photographer
Phillip Todd	....	additional first assistant camera (uncredited)

Casting Department
Heather Baird	....	casting associate
Lisa Beach	....	additional casting
Karen E. Etcoff	....	extras casting
Karen Meisels	....	casting associate

Costume and Wardrobe Department
David Davenport	....	wardrobe supervisor
Joni M. Huth	....	wardrobe (as Joni Huth)
Emily Loreto	....	assistant costume designer (as Emily Loreto O'Connor)
Susan J. Wright	....	key wardrobe

Editorial Department
Lisa Clifford-Owen	....	second assistant film editor
Adam Geiger	....	second assistant film editor
Mo Henry	....	negative cutter
Giulia Maura	....	post-production coordinator
Bob McMillian	....	color timer
Saska Simpson	....	first assistant editor

Music Department
Frank Bennett	....	orchestrator
George Fenton	....	conductor
Stephanie Lowry	....	music editor
Ken Ross	....	music supervisor
Steven L. Smith	....	music preparation
Graham Sutton	....	music editor

Transportation Department
Edward Iacobelli	....	transportation captain (as Eddie Iacobelli)
Robert P. O'Neill	....	transportation co-captain

Other crew
Chad Ahrendt	....	assistant: Laurence Mark
Drew Barr	....	assistant: Mr. Hytner
Patty Carey	....	assistant locations
James Cohen	....	production assistant
Ivana Crvelin	....	assistant to line producer
Gina Edmond-Feldman	....	production secretary (as Georgina Feldman)
Adam Finmann	....	production assistant
Seth Jordan Jacobs	....	production assistant
Lori Johnson	....	production coordinator
Larry Kaplan	....	unit publicist
Nicole Klett	....	location assistant
Michael Kriaris	....	assistant location manager
Zoe Mackler	....	assistant: Mr. Wheeldon
Eric Mansur	....	assistant: Laurence Mark
Kevin McKenzie	....	ballet consultant
Douglas Moe	....	assistant production coordinator
Raul Moreno	....	production assistant
Sheila Paige	....	script supervisor
Lyn Pinezich	....	location manager
Elias Scoropanos	....	unit location assistant
Ben Selkow	....	production assistant
Jamie Sheridan	....	production assistant (as James E. Sheridan)
Kathryn-Ann Oaks Shertzer	....	production assistant (as Kathryn Shortzer)
Lisa Shriver	....	assistant choreographer
Susan Stroman	....	choreographer
Kari Thompson	....	dance rehearsal supervisor
Christopher Wheeldon	....	additional choreographer
Nadine F. Wilson	....	production accountant (as Nadine Wilson)
Tomoko Yamamoto	....	assistant accountant
Valentina Aulisi	....	office production assistant (uncredited)
Autumn Saville	....	assistant: Ruth Myers (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Columbia Pictures Corporation
• Laurence Mark Productions

Distributors

• Columbia Pictures
• Columbia TriStar Films (France)
• Columbia TriStar Films de Argentina (Argentina)
• Columbia TriStar Films de España (Spain)
• LK-TEL (Argentina) (video)
• Prooptiki Video (Greece) (DVD)
• Prooptiki Video (Greece) (VHS)
• Prooptiki (Greece)
• Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE)
• Sony Pictures Entertainment

Special Effects

• The Film Factory at VTR (digital effects)

Other Companies

• American Ballet Theatre (ABT)  group cast members
• Epic Records  soundtrack
• Reel Chefs Catering  catering
• Sony Music Soundtrax  soundtrack

Also Known As:

Centre Stage (Australia)
City Ballet (USA) (working title)
The Dance Movie (USA) (working title)

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for language and some sensuality.

Runtime:

115 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

Iceland:L | Brazil:12 | Malaysia:U | Finland:S | South Korea:15 | Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Chile:14 | Denmark:A | France:U | Germany:12 (original rating) | Germany:o.Al. (video rating) | New Zealand:M | Norway:A | Singapore:PG | Spain:T | Sweden:Btl | UK:12 | USA:PG-13 (certificate #37228) | Philippines:G

Filming Locations:

Fordham University, Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts - Columbus Avenue & 61st Street, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Columbia Pictures Corporation

Trivia:

When Cooper blows Jody off after the performance and walks off with another girl ( leaving Jody standing alone by the door) the "other girl" is played by Ethan Stiefel's real-life girlfriend, ballerina Gillian Murphy.

Goofs:

Continuity: In the beginning of the film, when Jody and Eva leave to smoke, the number on their dorm door says 903C, later when Jody, Maureen, and Eva leave to celebrate Eric's birthday, their dorm door says 903A.

Quotes:

Erik Jones: Where are you going?
Eva: We're going out for a smoke
Erik Jones: Come downstairs, it's Marlboro country!

Movie Connections:

Spoofed in Dance Flick (2009)

Soundtrack:

Roméo et Juliette, Opus 64

Shut Up and Dance

Every now and then there's a new movie about dancers, or dancing, or one with a lot of dancing in it. From Astaire to Kelly to Hines, it's the poetry of motion. If you have any appreciation for the art form whatsoever, the one to see right now is Center Stage. It's about a school year in the life of three teenage girls who are roommates at a ballet academy in New York. They pass the auditions to get into the school, but then have to work as hard as possible to move on from there. At the end of the year is a workshop performance where they can be seen by most of the people in the industry who could hire them, including the resident company. They work toward and hope for a career in the most demanding pursuit imaginable, facing gifted competition, and placed on a limited schedule. "A dancer has ten years, maybe fifteen if they're not injured" in order to peak in their career and be the best they can ever be. A singer can sing most of their life. An actor can act all his life. A dancer's clock is ticking. It's only a matter of time before they can only teach and choreograph, so there's a unique sense of urgency to start young, study hard, and survive. All that might make a good movie. Might not.

Along with the good, you have to take the less than good. The characters are nothing new. There's the naive female ingŽnue (Amanda Schull), the bad girl (Zoe Saldana), the favorite girl (Susan May Pratt), the cocky lead boy (Ethan Stiefel, "hailed as the most advanced male dancer in the world"), the nice guy dancer (Sascha Radetsky), the nice guy non-dancer (Eion Bailey), the gay friend (Shakiem Evans), the pushy mother (Debra Monk), the demanding teacher (Donna Murphy), and the dictatorial company director (Peter Gallagher). How'd he get in there? There's even a Russian figure skater (Ilia Kulik) in the cast as a dancer. By the way, everybody is amazingly good-looking. Kind of like, Friends as done by George Ballanchine. Only in the movies, right? The story is nothing new either. Will everything work out? Will their dreams come true? Will they survive the heartbreaks of love, and the bodyaches of dance? Well, it's the movies, isn't it? Since the cast features some of the youngest and best dancers in the world, the acting comes second. Often a distant second. Or third. Don't expect any awards to be handed out in that area. Some parts are surprisingly weak, but then they move on and get back to letting their feet do the talking.

Did I mention that the only reason to see this is for the dancing? The way it's filmed here is excellent, without actually having to go to a ballet. The beauty of movement, the grace of the girls, and the strength and skill of the boys is captured as well as any other movie in the subject you're likely to see. The big dance numbers at the end are worth seeing by themselves, including more modern styles. Beforehand, there are a couple of dance scenes without ballet. The kids go to a club one night and salsa, and later we see a bunch of Broadway hoofers in a jazz class lead by Priscilla Lopez (original cast of A Chorus Line) that reminded me of scenes in All That Jazz. Those were the most fun. Other scenes will remind you of The Turning Point, White Nights, and even Dirty Dancing. The comparison to Fame is inevitable. That was then, this is a new century. The natural talent, dedication, motivation, support, and ass-busting hard work needed to succeed at this kind of life is touched on here, but also touched on is the sheer love of the game. For dance itself. That's the main thing. E-mail and comments are welcome.