Center Stage
Center Stage ★★ 2000 (PG-13)
How familar does this sound? Newcomers enrolled at the American Ballet Academy vie for places in the professional company. Meanwhile, former dancer/company director Jonathan (Gallagher) has to contend with his insolent star dancer Cooper (Stiefel), whose ambitions are growing by leaps and bounds. There's also the usual love connections to be made (and unmade). The professional dancers in the cast have limited acting ability and aren't served particularly well by most of the choreography. 116m/C VHS, DVD . Peter Gallagher, Ethan Stiefel, Amanda Schull, Sascha Radetsky, Susan May Pratt, Ilia Kulik, Donna Murphy, Zoe Saldana, Debra Monk, Julie Kent, Eion Bailey, Shakiem Evans, Victor Anthony, Elizabeth Hubbard, Priscilla Lopez; D: Nicholas Hytner; W: Carol Heikkinen; C: Geoffrey Simpson; M: George Fenton.