"Center Stage" Analysis

"Center Stage" takes the audience into the world of dance, not only of ballet, but also of salsa, modern, and jazz. The movie is focused on classical ballet, and begins with a select group of young dancers being chosen to move to New York City to practice at the prestigious American Ballet Academy, where only three men and three women will eventually be picked at the close of the year to become members of the American Ballet Company. Jody Sawyer (Amanda Schull) is a wide-eyed 17-year-old who decides to put college on hold in order to go to ABA, and follow through with her dream of becoming a professional dancer. Once there, Jody becomes close friends with roommate Eva (Zoe Saldana), also recently chosen for the Academy, who has what it takes to be a professional dancer, but has an attitude problem whose manner virtually challenges the director to throw her out. Their third roommate is Maureen (Susan May Pratt), a highly talented ballerina who has been at the Academy since age nine, but who is unhappy and in a career chosen for her by her mother.…