Let me start of by saying that before I watched this movie I had not seen many dance movies. It is a genre I am very unfamiliar with and probably was a bit skeptical to as well. Ballet has never been something I was very interested in, but after finishing Center Stage that view has somewhat changed.
The movie is built similar to a high school or college flick. We follow a group of students in their daily schedule. While a lot of the focus is obviously on the ballet, the movie also includes love and relationships, ambitions and personal goals and other aspects of professional dancing like the constant focus on weight.
The story is straight forward and follows the normal curve of ups and downs. It is pretty general and you will recognize the elements from other movies. What makes this movie good is the dancing. You get a good look at ballet and at least for me I learned a great deal about it. The last dance when the group is performing is amazing and the highlight of the movie. They mix ballet with pop music and fresh ideas and turn it into something unique and very cool to watch.
Center Stage is a movie I recommend for anyone that likes dancing and especially ballet. But it will also entertain if you like movies about growing up, going to school or achieving something. I was pleasantly surprised. 7/10