The cast of the beloved 2000 dance movie, Center Stage, featured some of the most talented and skilled dancers from across the United States. The film follows a group of young dancers as they journey to New York City in pursuit of their dreams. Led by professional dancer Amanda Schull from San Francisco Ballet, the cast also includes Ethan Stiefel from the American Ballet Theatre, Julie Kent and Sascha Radetsky. Zoe Saldana and Ilia Kulik were also part of the cast, having trained in dance and figure skating respectively.
Amanda Schull is an American actress and former professional ballet dancer who is best known for her lead role in Center Stage. Her dancing career has spanned more than 20 years and she has performed with many prestigious companies including San Francisco Ballet. She has also had recurring roles on One Tree Hill and Pretty Little Liars.
Ethan Stiefel was a principal dancer at ABT from 1995-2008 before becoming a director at The Royal New Zealand Ballet in 2011. In 2021, he became the artistic director of American Repertory Ballet in New Jersey where he continues to promote classical ballet technique while encouraging innovation and creativity within the artform.
Julie Kent was also part of ABT when she joined Center Stage’s cast as an experienced ballet dancer since 1993. She was a long-time principal dancer at ABT until her retirement in 2015 when she made her directorial debut at Washington Ballet as its Artistic Director.
Sascha Radetsky began his career as a soloist with American Ballet Theatre when he was just 19 years old where he went on to become one of its principal dancers for more than 15 years before retiring from performing in 2013 to focus on teaching, choreography and acting instead.
Zoe Saldana started training for dance at ECOS Espacio de Danza Academy when she was younger which prepared her for her role in Center Stage as Eva Rodriguez—the ambitious Puerto Rican street dancer from Washington Heights trying to make it big on stage despite all odds stacked agaist her.
Lastly, Ilia Kulik who portrayed Cooper Nielson was an Olympic gold medalist figure skater having won gold at Nagano Winter Olympics 1998 before transitioning into acting with his role in Center Stage as Cooper Nielson—the rich kid/tap dancing prodigy who quickly falls head over heels with Eva Rodriguez despite his parents’ objections due to class differences between them.
Overall, this talented cast brought immense enthusiasm and skill to the film that continues to be celebrated today!
Are the Actors in ‘Center Stage’ Professional Dancers?
Yes, the actors in Center Stage are real dancers. Most of them have significant experience in dance and many have trained in ballet, jazz, and contemporary styles. Some of the main characters have trained with some of the world’s most renowned dance schools, such as the School of American Ballet, The Juilliard School, and The American Ballet Theatre. Additionally, some of the cast members have ther own choreography credits and have even created works for professional companies such as Alvin Ailey Dance Theater and Complexions Contemporary Ballet. All in all, the cast of Center Stage is composed of real dancers who bring their talent to life on stage.
Dancer Who Performed for Zoe Saldana in ‘Center Stage’ Revealed
For Zoe Saldana’s role in the 2000 film Center Stage, the professional dancers cast were Amanda Schull from San Francisco Ballet, Ethan Stiefel and Julie Kent from American Ballet Theatre and Sascha Radetsky from American Ballet Theatre. Zoe Saldana had trained in her youth at ECOS Espacio de Danza Academy and Ilia Kulik was a gold-medal-winning Olympian in figure skating. All four of these professional dancers worked with Saldana to choreograph and perform the ballet sequences in the movie.
Who Portrayed Emily in ‘Center Stage’?
Amanda Schull played the role of Emily in the 2000 film Center Stage. Emily is a talented but insecure ballerina who attends the American Ballet Academy in New York City. She is determined to succeed and eventually makes it into the prestigious company, despite her fears and doubts about her abilities. Schull’s performance was praised by critics, who noted her natural grace and ability to convey emotion through dance.
What Has Become of Ethan Stiefel?
Ethan Stiefel is currently the artistic director of American Repertory Ballet in New Brunswick, New Jersey. In 2021, he accepted the role and is now responsible for overseeing all artistic aspects of the company. He has already implemented changes such as introducing a new repetoire and providing more opportunities for dancers to collaborate with choreographers from around the world. Additionally, he is currently working on creating educational programming for children and adults to gain an appreciation for dance.
Is Natalie Portman a Dancer in Real Life?
No, Natalie Portman is not a dancer in real life. Although she studied ballet as a child and had a year of intensive training for the film Black Swan, this does not make her a professional ballerina. The dancing scenes in the movie were mosly performed by professional dancers, with some of Portman’s own movements mixed into the choreography. It’s also rumored that her face was digitally superimposed onto a body double for certain shots. To achieve the look of a professional dancer, Portman worked with renowned choreographers and dance coaches to prepare for her role in Black Swan. However, as impressive as her performance was, she is not considered to be an experienced dancer.
Is Kelly Ripa a Dancer?
Kelly Ripa has not made any professional performances as a dancer, but she has taken dance lessons in the past. She reportedly took lessons in ballroom dancing and salsa when she was younger and still enjoys taking classes. In 2019, she posted a video of herself dancing with her son to Instagram, showing off her impressive moves. While Kelly Ripa is not a professional dancer or choreographer, it’s clear that she loves to move around and express herself through dance.
Does Jane Krakowski Have Dance Experience?
Yes, Jane Krakowski is a trained Broadway dancer. She began her career as a dancer at the age of 12, performing in various musicals and ballets. She went on to become one of the most renowned dancers on Broadway, performing in shows such as Grand Hotel and Once Upon a Mattress. She is also an Emmy Award nominee for her role in 30 Rock and has won a Tony Award for her performance in Nine. Krakowski continues to perform on stage and can be seen dancing at various events around the world.
Does Zoe Saldana Use a Stunt Double in ‘Center Stage’?
Yes, Zoe Saldana did have a stunt double in Center Stage. Her double was Aesha Ash, a NYCB corps de ballet member. Ash was used for the more difficult dance scenes, such as Saldana’s plot-twist appearance in Jonathan’s ballet. While most of the other dancers were professionals, the producers felt that Saldana and her co-star Channing Tatum needed doubles to ensure that their performances were flawless.
Starring Dancer in ‘Center Stage On Pointe’
The film Center Stage: On Pointe stars Nicole Muñoz, Barton Cowperthwaite, Maude Green, Chloe Lukasiak, Kenny Wormald and Peter Gallagher. Nicole Muñoz stars as the lead protagonist, Kate Parker, a talented young dancer who is accepted in the American Ballet Academy’s summer intensive program. Barton Cowperthwaite plays Tommy Anderson, an aspiring hip-hop dancer who joins the program to learn technique. Maude Green plays Gwen Parker, Kate’s younger sister who follows in her footsteps and begins ballet lessons. Chloe Lukasiak stars as Allegra, Kate’s new friend and dance partner at the Academy. Kenny Wormald takes on the role of Cooper Nielson, a fomer professional ballet dancer and teacher at the Academy. Finally, Peter Gallagher stars as Jonathan Reeves, the artistic director of the American Ballet Academy.
What Became of Jody After Center Stage?
After her breakout performance in Center Stage, Amanda Schull went on to star in a variety of television shows and films. She had guest spots in notable series such as One Tree Hill and Pretty Little Liars, before becoming a series regular in Syfy’s 12 Monkeys. She then landed the role of Katrina Bennett on Suits and bcame a series regular during its final season following Meghan Markle’s departure. In 2022, she appeared on an episode of NCIS. Additionally, Schull has also appeared in films such as Take the Lead, Crazy Rich Asians, and Small Town Crime. She currently stars in the Hulu drama series The Great.
Is Amanda Schull a Professional Dancer?
Yes, Amanda Schull is a real dancer. She began her dance training at the age of ten at the San Francisco Ballet School and later attended summer courses at the School of American Ballet in New York City. After graduating from high school, she trained with Pacific Northwest Ballet in Seattle and then joined the corps de ballet of San Francisco Ballet.
Schull has performed in numerous ballets, most notably George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker, Robert Joffrey’s Cinderella, and Mark Morris’ Drink to Me Only with Thine Eyes. She also appeared as a guest artist with Miami City Ballet in ther production of La Sylphide. In addition to her career as a professional ballet dancer, Schull has had many notable film and television roles.
Age of Jodie in Center Stage
Jodie is eighteen years old in the movie Center Stage. At the beginning of the movie, Jodie is seen celebrating her eighteenth birthday with her family. Later in the movie, when she and Cooper become romantically involved, it is established that Cooper is an adult, highlighting the fact that Jodie is only eighteen.
The Retirement of Ethan Stiefel
Ethan Stiefel retired after carefully considering the immense time and energy needed to successfully balance the responsibilities of being a principal dancer and another job. After reflecting on this for a few years, he concluded that it was too difficult to manage both roles effectively. As a result, he chose to focus solely on his dancing career and retire from his other job.
Conclusion
The cast of Center Stage is comprised of professional dancers and actors that have made a lasting impact in the film, television, and dance world. Amanda Schull is an American actress and forer professional ballet dancer who starred in the 2000 film as well as other television series. Ethan Stiefel is a former principal dancer for American Ballet Theatre and 2021 artistic director of American Repertory Ballet. Julie Kent and Sascha Radetsky were also from the American Ballet Theatre. Zoe Saldana trained at ECOS Espacio de Danza Academy while Ilia Kulik was an Olympic figure skater. Together, these talented artists created an unforgettable movie that will remain a classic for years to come.
