Center Stage

[danceguy]

Hi all,

I'm most certainly a dolt when it comes to movies, but I just saw a movie on late night TV called "Center Stage"...it was about ballet dancers but I actually thought it was pretty good! It had a scene in a Salsa club that was pretty funny...had me up doing some moves in my living room at least. :roll:

Anyone else seen this movie and have any thoughts? I'm not a fan of ballet personally, although I greatly respect the physical ability of those who do it. I fell head over heels in love with a ballet dancer once...probably the only reason I watched this movie....ah memories.... :o

Best,

SG

[SDsalsaguy]

Yup, I know this movie well…had a copy but a friend borrowed it a while back and I haven't seen it in over a year! :shock: :(

On the whole I actually really like this movie…much more then I'd actually expected to. I find the salsa scene hysterical though…as one of my other friends put it, "I'm not exactly sure what they're doing but it ain't salsa!"

I also found it telling that salsa was used to symbolize dancing from the heart and for the sheer enjoyment of it – a dynamic mirrored in Dance With Me.

[danceguy]

On the whole I actually really like this movie…much more then I'd actually expected to. I find the salsa scene hysterical though…as one of my other friends put it, "I'm not exactly sure what they're doing but it ain't salsa!"

Thank you for saying this! I was sitting there watching them dance thinking "they sure are spinning a lot, and moving all around which doesn't seem possible in most crowded floors...my god is this what I'll run into in a typical Salsa club? I better take some more lessons!"

As I was doing my basic to the beat of the song...I didn't think that the dancers in the movie were actually grooving to it...but then again I'm still new to this stuff so what do I know???

That was supposed to be in a NY club, right? I wonder what borikensalsero thinks of that scene. :)

[dancersdreamland]

I absolutely LOVE Center Stage. It's the reason I became a dancer...the passion and love for dance that Jodie Sawyer (played by Amanda Schull) display in the movie. I wanted to experience that same joy and let it radiate in all that I do.

There are literarlly TONS of dance movies. I've begun compiling a list of movies with a basic film info in the Movies section of my website - www.dancersdreamland.com. Take some time to check out a few more dance movies and please let me know if you know of others I don't have on the site.

Enjoy!

[danceguy]

DDD,

That movie is very inspirational...I can't wait until I bump into my ballet dancing friend so I can chat with her about it...it gave me a window into her world that I had never really thought about. :)

One of the best pieces of advice any dance teacher gave me was when one of my teachers told us to go and watch Dirty Dancing. Oddly enough, I had never watched it...since when I came out in my teenage years it was a "chick flick"...and I'd had enough of seeing posters of Patrick Swayze in my sister's room. :shock:

So I go out and by the DVD...now its one of my personal favorites. Such a great movie!'

I remember a movie that came out when I was in high school called "Salsa"...but I don't recall if it was any good or not. Another I've been trying to find is the Mambo Kings...I've read that it had some really famous people in it (Tito Puente and others)...but I have not been able to find that movie for sale ANYWHERE. It supposed to have some good dancing in it...have you seen it?

Cool stuff! :)

SG

[salsachinita]

Yes SG. Seen both movies and LOOOVE both...! Especially 'Salsa' :P

This movie is the reason why I learn salsa, eventhough I have loved the music before the movie came out, I never really believe that I could actually learn to dance it :notworth: (I'm not worthy, I'm not worthy...)

Ok, the story is a bit on the silly side :roll: but I love the dancing (mostly choreographed though)! I fell in love with Robby Rosa (which still has a profound effect on me today :roll: as I tend to get attracted to that type!) & his character. (hey, I was in high school, ok?)

'Mambo Kings' is fantastic. I am reading the book too. As for the dancing, can anyone out there tell me if THAT was Palladium style (Power 2)? Or it was just created for the movie (and not the way peopl dance in clubs)? :?

[dancersdreamland]

I, unfortunately, have not seen Salsa or Mambo Kings. They're on my movie rental list and I hope to watch them some time soon. In addition to Center Stage and Dirty Dancing, here are a few more of my favorite dance movies (my apologies if the list gets long...they're just too many to choose from):

Billy Elliot (ballet)
Bring It On (cheerleading, hip hop)
Burn the Floor (ballroom, latin)
Dance with Me (latin)
Fame (ballet, hip hop)
Flashdance (hip hop)
Footloose (ballet, hip hop)
From Justin to Kelly (hip hop, little latin) - plot is only ok, but dancing is fun
Gotta Kick It Up (cheerleading, hip hop, jazz)
Girls Just Want To Have Fun (jazz)
Satin Rouge (belly)
Save the Last Dance (ballet, hip hop)
Sing (jazz, hip hop)
Stepping Out (tap)
Strictly Ballroom (ballroom, latin) - plot is so,so
Tap (tap)

Don't miss these dance films which are coming to theaters over the next couple of months:

A Time For Dancing (ballet, jazz) - to be shown on Showtime in late 2004
The Company (ballet) - end of December 2003
Havana Nights - Dirty Dancing 2 (ballroom, latin) - February 13, 2004
Honey (hip hop) - December 5, 2003
Shall We Dance (ballroom) - remake of 96 Japanese film - August 2004
Swing (swing) - early to mid 2004
You Got Served (hip hop, breakdance) - January 30, 2004

[dancer_of_god]

CENTER STAGE KICKS MAJOR BUTT! I love that movie to death! I also really like SINGING IN THE RAIN, but who doesn't like Gene Kelly. (If you don't, you are still entitled to you opinion. Even so, I think you need to see a docter or something.)

[MadamSamba]

It's a fabulous movie, the kind that can inspire you to dance if you aren't already addicted!!! In fact, I seem to recall that some time in the week before I started ballroom I saw Centre Stage again...I can't remember fully, but I think (in addition to a couple of other events) it was one of the catalysts that got me dancing... GREAT movie...you should read about Ethan Stiefel (http://www.danceart.com/barreside/Ethan_Stiefel.htm) who plays Cooper Nielson. He's quite amazing (and a spunk to boot).