This question may have been asked before, but I couldn't find it. 'Centre Stage' is one of my favourite movies, but there's always been a lingering question for me at the end of the film. Would Jody have gotten into the company had she not 'rejected them' first and why?
sharePersonally I think she wouldn't have. Jonathan, the director, probably appreciated her great performance, but her dancing and her body type was very much what it had been before, and that was not what he was looking for, certainly not in a principal dancer. That is my impression.
shareI'm not a dancer, but no, I don't think she would've. While she probably put on a great performance in Jonathon's eyes, it wasn't enough, nor was she the type of dancer for ABC. She fit in better with Cooper's company. And yeah, if she had made ABC, she would've been right, in the back of a corps, waving a rose back and forth.
sharei think she would have actually.... I think by the end of the movie jonathan realized that (as eva had said earlier) they saw something they liked in the audition.... no she may not have had perfect technique, but damn could she dance and in the end all that really matters is if you can attract people to your performances and get financial support; these supporters don't care if your dancers don't have perfect plies, they want to see a performance.... and that's what jody provided....
Katie Bryce: My head is full.
Meredith: It's called thinking. Go with it.
But she couldn't really dance. She's not that great of a dancer compared to principal dancers--you can tell the difference in the movie when you see Cathleen dance and Jody dance. Cathleen is far, far superior.
shareKathleen had also been there multiple seasons. I think Jody would have made the company, but as far as being a principal, I doubt it. My guess is she probably would have stayed in the corps. She does definitely fit better in Cooper's company, which has a more contemporary take on ballet.
I listened, as if in a dream, to the wild improvisations of his speaking guitar.
On the commentary the director said he thinks she probably didn't get in because, as Jonathon said, her body was all wrong for what they were looking for in their company.
shareI danced for 13 years, and I don't think she would have gotten in either. I think the most telling point is at the end when Jody gets the standing ovation and you see Jonathan and Kathleen sort of roll their eyes at each other and then stand with the rest of the audience.
shareI think the most telling point is at the end when Jody gets the standing ovation and you see Jonathan and Kathleen sort of roll their eyes at each other and then stand with the rest of the audience.
Actually they weren't rolling their eyes at Jody, it was at Cooper because Jonathan realized how good his ballet was and how the audience loved it. Jonathan was jealous because the press had taken interest in his piece and he realized Cooper was good and he didn't want Cooper choreographing for him at ABC, so that part had nothing to do with Jody. I still don't think she would have gotten in though. It seems like Jonathan is traditional in ballet and with his choreography you need good technique.
okay. um they rolled their eyes cause of Copper NOT JODY.
shareI think they might have asked her, but she would have remained in the chorus. She was a great edgy modernish character driven dancer, but she didn't have the long thin body type or the extreme turnout or strongly arched feet for classical dancing which relies so heavily on strict technique. She was more suited for Cooper's more modern company, and he was prepared to choreograph to her strengths.
However, I have always believed that Jonathon and Kathleen gave those looks and reluctantly joined the standing ovation because the ballet was blatantly based on Cooper and Kathleen's relationship and they saw no artistic value in say the motorcycle or the bedroom scene. They had already made up their minds to dislike the ballet, but knew the sour grapes would be obvious if they did not join the raucous approval from the audience.
I agree. I think they rolled their eyes because "the ballet was blatantly based on Cooper and Kathleen's relationship". He tried to imply that he didn't lose the girl to Jonathon.
I think she would have gotten in. Jonathon appreciated the charisma that she showed. He talked about that in Margo Fontaine. But principal? Only a new company would make a dancer fresh out of school into a principal. I'm guessing on that, but I think it's a good guess.
I don't think she was going to get in. For one thing, I think all the workshop finale was going to accomplish was to show Jonathan one last time where his decision would be. Kind of like a confirmation; perhaps it could be LOST at that point more than won. For example, I think that he might have had one particular person in mind, but they caved under the pressure of the show, which would tell him they couldn't handle the pressures of elite ballet performance. Why do you think they made a point of showing that Eric got in DESPITE his ankle injury preventing him from performing in the final performance? Jonathan already had enough faith in his selection of Eric without a need to see him in one final show.
But in Jodi's case, for example, I really doubt after closely watching her techniques and consistently trying to nudge her out of the workshop for so many months Jonathan would have been completely turned around by one fabulous performance. I'm sure it raised his respect for her ability, but she really didn't still fit what he was looking for.
She might have gotten in. The traditional ballet form was uninspiring to her, add the criticism, that could easily be the reason she performed below her level. The untraditional form free her from the constraints of traditional ballet and her true potential came through.
share^ Yes but the company was a very traditional company so they wouldn't have wanted someone who could dance modern ballet but not classical ballet.
shareI assumed she would have gotten in, but like she said, she'd be in the background. She had the opportunity to be a principle/lead in Cooper's ballet. She made the right choice.
Tomorrow's just your future yesterday!
I agree that it doesn't seem like she would have, and I have heard the director's commentary, but here's the thing that ALWAYS bugs me. In the end we know that Eva and Anna make it in, but we never know who the 3rd was. We know the dark haired girl who comes out crying doesn't get it, but even with the closing credits, we only see Eva and Anna. So, who do you think would have had the 3rd spot? Hmmm....
sharewhile i dont think Jody wouldve gotten a spot, it IS possible that she HAD stolen that third spot, and they dont show a third girl because Johnathon wouldve had to decide who was going to take Jodys place, something he and Juliette couldnt have decided by the time the movie was ending....
shareTrue. But if you watch the closing credits (when the movie is on a cable network, you usually don't see this part, but it is on the DVD) they show each of the characters in what looks like a few months in the future. Jody is warming up with Cooper's company, Maureen looks to be in college. They show Sergi and Galina in SF, etc. But when they get to ABC, they show Eva and Anna but no one else that you can recognize as being from that class. That's what I mean, you really never know who got the 3rd spot.
shareEric got the third spot.
shareThe film focused on 12, but there were others.
shareAt the beginning of the movie, JOnathon states "At bestI can take three boys and three girls..." He may not have chosen a third male and female dancer.If he didn't feel there was anyone worthy enough he may just have selected Eva, Anna, eric and Charlie.
And I dn't believe he would have changed his mind for Jody. He already did that by accepting Eva into the company, it would be beyond his roud arrogant character to do that twice.
Maybe there were only 2 selected. Earlier in the movie, Jonathon says "at best I can take 3 boys and 3 girls". He doesn't say they will definitely be taking 3.
sharewell they didn't mention the third girl to get into the company.
I think Jonathan would have accepted Jody, but since she rejected it, and went to Copper's, Maureen should get it.
AND AND AND!!!!!!!!
JONATHAN did try to speak after she said "if your not going to offer me the spot in ABC then i dont want to hear it" and then he was like "uh" and she cut him off.
SO TAKE THAT! JODY ROCKS.
execpt shes f**ucking STUUUUUUPID for not taking the role.
and then in Copper's claass, she was in the back, near the wall. so she's a total ZERO now.
Maureen did not want a spot -- one of the major points of the movie. And where Jodi is in the class room at the end has nothing to do with her status in Cooper's company -- indeed, it is usually the remedial students who are placed in the front.
shareIf you notice on the poster behind Jody in the dance studio, it is a picture of her with Cooper together, which means she is a star principal dancer with him in his ballet.
sharejcatherine....you obviously did not pay close attention to the movie. She is NOT a "zero" as you put it. She became a principal in Cooper's company, which is way more than she ever would have been if she had accepted a position in ABC.
shareNo,she wouldn't have, b/c when she says, "If you're not going to offer me a part in the company, then I don't want to hear it," they didn't say anything after that, despite having time enough to.
share[deleted]
I think she would...from the beginning Jodie is not the best dancer with the technique they required but they accepted her because there is st very charming and beautiful abt her. They would accept her into ABA again then the 'bad feet' issue will starts all over again.
On the other hand, I think she would have accepted because there is st untrustworthy about Cooper and his promises.
There may *not* have been a third girl that got into ABA.
If it *was* Jody who got the third spot, they may have just accepted Anna and Eva, while leaving Jody's spot open.
He says "at most" three girls; not that he HAS to take 3.
I've thought long and hard about this...it's really hard to say. My immediate gut says that no, she didn't get in, because she simply didn't have that flawless, graceful ballerina in her. On the other hand, Jonathan was diabolical enough to offer her a "background" spot, just because he knew she would be desperate enough to take anything that ABA offered her (which she confirmed when she said "I don't think I'd have the courage to say no"), and then he'd be taking away the star of Cooper's future company. Jonathan's definitely the kind of person who might do that just to spite Cooper....assuming, of course, that there wasn't another genuinely talented dancer like Anna and Eva who would be losing that rare spot in the company. Jonathan would never take a chance on Jody if there was someone else who was truly good, but if there wasn't anyone else he felt strongly about, maybe he would.
shareRegardless of whether or not you think she was good enough, for the movie she was going to get asked to join ABC. It goes back to Margot Fonteyn. When Jody says that Margot Fonteyn had bad feet and Jonathan says yes, but when Margot Fonteyn was on stage you couldn't take your eyes off of her, it can't be taught. It took Jody regaining her confidence and dancing as she danced, and Jonathan seeing that last performance, to realize that Jody had that quality.
Now, did she? I don't know. But, for the movie's take, that is what happened.
No, I think the movie indicates that she was not going to get in. We never get any indication of how Jonathan sees Jody after that performance. So you cannot just conclude that he changed his mind.
Expiration dates are mere suggestions! Like late fees and traffic lights.
Realistically she would not have gotten into ABC...but of course realistically she never would have made it past her audition into ABA with her body type, turn out and feet. The only reason I say this is because I get she's supposed to have an "it factor" but not once in class the entire movie does she look like she isn't struggling. That's over 8 months time...so one good performance in a ballet piece that was unconventional (and let's be real Jonathan KNEW from Cathleen how Jody got into Coopers piece as the lead)....wasn't going to secure her a spot in the company.
Late to the party but oh well. Lol
After watching this movie recently, I actually got curious as to who the 3rd slots were filled by for both the girls and guys. In the beginning of the movie Jonathan said "at best" it would 3 each. Then towards the end of the movie people were saying 3 each were going to be picked. So I think it's safe to say that 6 people were intended to be asked to go to the Company.
6 people were chosen before the workshop's performance. I believe the purposes of the workshop was to solidify their choices in a live performance with an audience, as well as having other companies attend to recruit.
Since we don't know who the last 2 (one girl, one guy) were asked to join, I think it's safe to say that we can use our imaginations.
I personally think that Jonathan and Juliette chose Maureen and Sergei, but their answers were obviously no. Sergei was asked to join the company in San Francisco and he chose it to be with his girlfriend. Maureen probably gave notice she was leaving right after the performance. This is because of the fact that no one knew she planned it out the night before with Eva to have her take her place. As to who I think were picked after these two said no... well... I like to think they didn't ask anyone else because no one else was who they wanted and thought would fit into their Company.
I strongly think that Eva would have been asked to join regardless of the fact she and Maureen nearly ruined the play by Eva taking her place. She was the best dancer of all the girls and the most natural, at least that's what the movie showed us. Her attitude sucked and they didn't like it. However, it was Juliette who knew it was a defense mechanism and did her best to get through to Eva. Once that barrier was broken, Juliette most likely told Jonathan that she deserved the spot and once chosen that attitude would stop. I think her taking Maureen's place and nailing the dance flawlessly was for the audience to see what Jonathan saw, a girl willing to let go of her attitude and shine on stage.
To answer the main question though...
I don't think Jodi was going to get in though. She wasn't a dancer they were looking for. She got in the school because one of the judges couldn't take their eyes off her, but at the school, the teachers didn't see what that judge saw. They saw a girl who had bad feet (ect) and was trying too hard, without letting it happen naturally to her. Sure her workshop performance proved she was a good enough dancer, but not for them. Jodi even realized this and accepted it. Her story was for her to realize that she was a great dancer despite her flaws, but wasn't meant to be part of that company. So her happy ending was fitting. Cooper saw that she was the right dancer for progressing ballet because he saw what the judge saw in the beginning of the movie.
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