Center Stage

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2:30

Center Stage

PG-13

2000

1h 54m

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

42%

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79 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

Aug 28, 2006

C

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.

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Elizabeth Zimmer

Village Voice

Jan 1, 2000

Nicholas Hytner's movie might be subtitled Beverly Hills 90210 Goes to Juilliard.

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Robert Horton

Film.com

Jan 1, 2000

Embarrassingly enjoyable.

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PJ Nabarro

Patrick Nabarro

Dec 2, 2018

2/5

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

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Randy White

Common Sense Media

Jan 2, 2011

3/5

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

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John Venable

Supercala.com

Dec 31, 2005

4/10

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.

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Evelyn X

@yiyi1111 Feb 6, 2026

It is a story about a group of young dancers. The most beautiful girl is incredibly sharp; I even wondered if she deliberately approached the lead male dancer just to secure her spot as the protagonist. Meanwhile, the girl widely recognized for her superior technique—and the obvious choice for the lead—struggles to stay thin, eventually resorting to bulimia. I felt it was a pity that she gave up the opportunity, as she could have accepted the role first and then decided her path. However, I respect her courage in walking away and leaving the stage to someone who truly enjoys it. Then there is the girl who dances purely for herself. She initially seemed arrogant and even disrespectful toward her teacher, but seeing her practice late at night changed my perspective. This reminded me of a Chinese drama about dancers, where the "pretty" one focused on commercials while the "underdog" eventually became the lead through sheer dedication.

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Claudia G

@RT17666274 Feb 10, 2025

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!

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Brian H

@RT25736836 May 12, 2024

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.

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isa e

@RT65594135 Oct 11, 2023

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

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Apr 9, 2022

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

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Heidi D

@RT80397565 Mar 22, 2022

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.

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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

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

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Center Stage: Official Clip - Dance of Love

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

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Center Stage: Official Clip - Battling Ballet Dancers

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Center Stage: Official Clip - Mirror Cleaning Duty

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Center Stage: Official Clip - Eva's Review

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Center Stage: Official Clip - Dance What You Feel

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Center Stage: Official Clip - She Heard You!

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

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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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