Center Stage is so much more than a dance movie. Following the lives of several ballet students in New York City, this film touches on everything from heartbreak to eating disorders to breaking out of the mold and owning your individuality. That’s why it’s still as popular as ever, even after all this time.
As much as Center Stage has our respect and loyalty, we can’t help but notice that there are still a few lingering issues that don’t make much sense. They confused us back when the film was first released and they confuse us now. Keep reading to find out what they are!
10 Jody’s Costume Change
The one moment in Center Stage that is still confusing to viewers 20 years after the film’s initial release is the point in the final performance when Jody is dancing Cooper’s ballet. One second, she’s wearing a blue leotard and pink pointe shoes with her hair down. The next, she’s in an all-red costume with red pointe shoes and her hair up in braids.
Some fans have speculated that there was really an interval between the costume changes and we, the audience, just don’t get to see it. But when you consider the positioning of Jody’s feet, and her fellow dancers, it’s pretty clear that nobody has moved and nothing has changed—except Jody’s costume.
9 How Jody Was Admitted Into The American Ballet Academy In The First Place
Jody Sawyer is the central character of Center Stage, and the main tension in her story is that she just doesn’t possess the style and ability that Jonathan is looking for in the American Ballet Company. This makes for an interesting plot: can she rise against the odds and become the dancer everyone needs her to be, or should she find her own path and embrace her individuality? But it doesn’t make a whole lot of sense.
In real life, if Jody is so unsuitable for the American Ballet Company, to the point where someone brings it up in every class, how on earth did she even get admitted into the American Ballet Academy?
8 Why Erik’s Understudy Isn't Good Enough
What teen flick would be complete without a love triangle? Jody is romantically interested in both Charlie and Cooper, so it serves as the ultimate climax when the three of them dance together in Cooper’s ballet at the final workshop performance. The only problem is this isn’t realistic.
Originally, Charlie and Erik are cast as Jody’s dance partners, while Cooper is the teacher. But when Erik hurts his leg, Cooper has to take his place because Erik’s understudy isn’t good enough. Isn’t that the point of an understudy? That they take the place of the original cast member of they can’t perform?
7 Charlie Being Cast In Cooper’s Ballet
That’s not the only thing that confuses us about Cooper’s ballet. It’s made very clear throughout the film that the best roles in the final workshop performance are given to the best students at the American Ballet Academy. And we constantly see how Charlie is one of the best male dancers and a favorite of the teachers. So we’re confused as to why Charlie is cast in Cooper’s ballet and not in Jonathan’s?
The two performances are very different styles, so it might be unlikely that Charlie would want to give up a place in Jonathan’s ballet, which would ultimately lead to a place in the American Ballet Company, just to dance for Cooper.
6 Jonathan Having Time To Teach Classes
Jonathan doesn’t teach as some of the other teachers at the American Ballet Academy, but we do see him teaching and preparing the students for their final performance. This seems a little farfetched, considering he is the director of the company.
He doesn’t just have the American Ballet Academy students to worry about. He’s also in charge of the company so it’s hard to understand how he has the time to teach classes, especially at the beginning of the company rehearsal season.
5 Eva Being Able To Take Maureen’s Role
One of the most beloved and endearing moments in the film is when Maureen decides that she does not want to be a ballet dancer and Eva takes her place in the workshop performance. While this is certainly a triumphant moment for Eva, who is at odds with most of the teachers for the majority of the film, it is hard to believe.
For one thing, did Maureen’s understudy just allow Eva to take her place and give up her chance of impressing Jonathan and possibly winning a place in the American Ballet Company? And, although Eva danced beautifully, one would think there would be repercussions for a move like that.
4 The Fact That Some Students Have Been With The ABA For Years
While most of the main characters are new students at the American Ballet Academy, we’re also told that several have been there for four years, among them Maureen and Anna. It’s a little confusing that despite the fact that students like Maureen and Anna have been with the school for longer, Jody and the other new students are placed in their class.
It also seems odd that it’s only the final year at the school which really makes a difference to whether or not the dancers will be accepted into the American Ballet Company when some students have been working hard for a lot longer.
3 The Students Seeming To Have Unlimited Backstage Access
This is only a minor detail, but it still left us feeling a tad confused. Jody and the other student dancers seem to have unlimited backstage access during their time at the American Ballet Academy. You can see this when they practice their steps on the empty stage after watching Cooper and Kathleen’s performance, and when Jody visits Cooper during his performance before he snubs her off.
It’s not totally implausible that they’d be allowed access to these areas as students, but it is surprising considering they have no involvement in these shows.
2 The Amount Of Background Dancers In Cooper’s Show
Most fans of the film agree that Cooper’s ballet is a little more entertaining than Jonathan’s. The performance that mirrors the love triangle between Cooper, Jonathan, and Kathleen is full of action and passion, as well as several background dancers.
This is hard to believe because that means that a significant amount of American Ballet Academy students were rejected from Jonathan’s ballet and placed in Cooper’s instead (which is known as the performance for those with less-than-perfect technique). And if there really were so many poor students, then Jody wouldn’t have felt so self-conscious.
1 Cooper Wanting To Date Jody Again
We can definitely understand why someone would want to date Jody Sawyer. She’s immensely talented, kind, and sweet. But Cooper makes it clear that he’s not interested in her after they share their night together. She even comes to watch one of his performances and he leaves with another girl. Why, then, does he try to kiss her after their final performance?
It’s possibly because he realized how much chemistry they have on stage, or due to the adrenaline from the show. It might also be because he sees that Charlie is interested in her too. But being such a successful dancer with the world as his oyster, Cooper could really have anybody. This move just makes him seem a little too fickle.
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