One of the most ridiculous and best dance movies of all-time is turning 15 years old (and no, I'm not talking about Showgirls — that's 20 years old). The quintessential dance movie of the new millennium was Center Stage and while the movie had some of the best dancing, Center Stage had some of the best quotes too. Even as a teenager, I knew the script was lacking, but something about the nonstop cheese fest made it so endearing... and hilarious.
Like the character Sandy in Grease, ballet dancer Jody isn't really a terrific role model. Yes, she does stay true to herself in the end, but my takeaway from the film as a young teenager was that Jody slept her way to the top. And hurt a really nice guy in the process. And shunned the ballet company that had been teaching her a lesson about what it's like to be an actual working ballet dancer. But you know, Jody earned becoming a principal dancer at sleazebag Cooper Nielson's new company. (Shout-out to Ethan Stiefel for being the best dancer in the entire film.)
While you may not be headed to a competitive ballet school in New York anytime soon, it doesn't mean that Jody, Eva, Charlie, and Maureen can't teach you a less or two about feelings. Here are quotes to get you through these 14 events in your life.
For When You Have All The Feels:
"Whatever you feel, just dance it." — Charlie
For When You First Meet Someone:
"I am the best goddamn dancer in the American Ballet Academy. Who the hell are you? Nobody." — Maureen
For When You Aren't Getting What You Want:
"I want a clean double." — Juliette
For When You Overestimate Yourself:
"Sorry. I thought there was room for three. Wouldn't it be better if we all did a triple?" — Anna
For When You're Being An Independent Woman:
"I'm not dancing for them anymore, I'm dancing for me." — Eva
For When Someone Is Being A Passive-Aggressive Jerk:
"Being nice when you say something pricky is even prickier." — Eva
For When Someone You Ask Out Gives TMI:
"Hey, all I'm asking for is a date." — Jim
For When You Are Done Using The Bathroom:
"Felt like the same old shit to me." — Eva
For When You Have To Burst Someone's Bubble:
"It's your dream, and it matters more to you than anything ever did to me." — Maureen
For When Someone Is Taking A Million Selfies:
"I'd believe it more if you weren't staring at your f--king reflection when you said it." — Eva
For When You Gotta Ditch A Bad Significant Other:
"Cooper, you're an amazing dancer, and you're a great choreographer, but as a boyfriend . . . you kinda suck." — Jody
For When You Want To Know Someone's Alma Mater:
"What, did you go to a special bitch academy or something?" — Eva
For When You Decide To Do You:
"But I'm not you, and I'm not perfect. I'm just me, bad feet and all. And I'm starting to think that I like that just as much." — Jody
For Anytime You Hit The Dance Floor:
"Just dance the shit out of it!!!" — Jazz Class Teacher
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