Center Stage (DVD 2001)

Center Stage 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 the ABA, and follow through with the dream she has had since she was a child. Once there, Jody becomes close friends with roommate Eva (Zoe Saldana), also freshly chosen for the Academy, who has what it takes to be a professional dancer, but has an overly direct attitude problem that defers her chance of working her way onto the good sides of her instructors. Their third, and final, roommate is Maureen (Susan May Pratt), a highly talented ballerina who has been at the Academy since age 9, but who doesn't even want to be a dancer, instead trying to fulfill her mother's (Debra Monk) wishes and dreams.

Center Stage is an exceptional film in more ways than one. Most notably, the dance sequences, which include ballet, rock dance, and salsa, are showstopping, alive with astonishing energy and genuine excitement. There is great music, with the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Mandy Moore, Michael Jackson, Jamiroquai, and sever others. You will enjoy this movie from the time you put it on till the very end!