Center Stage

And one.

Heel forward.

Good.

That's right. Shoulders down.

And brush.

- Do you know how many they take?

- Usually no more than 12.

- Twelve? Out of this class?

- Out of the whole planet.

In the middle. Number 15.

Not enough turnout. Bad feet.

But look at her.

- Excuse me!

- You're excused.

Here we go.

Am I a bad mother

if I hope she doesn't get it?

Don't ask me.

I was against this from the start.

- Mom!

- Jody!

Mom, I got in.

- I made it.

- Wonderful, honey.

Can you believe it? I'm going to New York.

What happened?

- They didn't take you?

- No.

No? Those bastards.

Not, "No, they didn't". No, they did.

Do you know who went there?

Everyone who matters in American ballet.

The school feeds right into the company.

But there's no guarantee

you'll make the company, right?

And you could still dance in college, honey.

Indiana has a great dance program.

This is the best thing

that's ever happened to me.

I don't think it would kill you

to at least pretend to be happy.

It's a scholarship. Everybody gets one.

It's the only way they can get people to go.

- When are you going to start?

- I don't know. Maybe I won't go.

What are you saying?

What are you going to do instead?

I could work at the new Hooters.

- As what?

- You do not have the rack.

I'll get implants!

- You need a hand?

- No.

- No?

- I mean, no, thank you.

Okay.

Idiot.

I'm Eva Rodriguez. How you doing?

- Jody Sawyer. Fine. I'm new here.

- Me, too. I took the top.

This is good.

- You know who I saw on my way in?

- Who?

Cooper Nielson.

Yeah? Did he seem as cocky

in person as he is on TV?

It freaks me out that we'll be seeing

people like him around all the time.

You get used to it.

I'm Maureen. I guess I'm living with you.

Don't sound so excited.

I'm Jody.

- Nice to meet you.

- This is Eva.

What are you doing?

I'm knitting a sweater.

If you want to smoke,

you have to go outside.

Fine. I'll go outside. Are you coming?

- Bye, Maureen.

- Bye.

- Erik Jones.

- How you doing, Erik?

My stage name is Erik O. Jones,

after Oprah. She's my idol.

Eva Rodriguez, after no one.

An individual. I like it.

I'm Jody Sawyer.

We were going to smoke. Want to come?

Come downstairs. It's Marlboro Country.

- So, Serge...

- Sergei, Sergei.

Who's the babe?

- It's my girlfriend, Galina.

- Don't get him started.

She was here all four years with me

and now dances with San Francisco Ballet.

- You've been here for four years?

- Yeah.

So you know this Maureen chick

we're living with?

You're living with Maureen?

- Well, good luck.

- Big-time bitch?

Biggest time. And of course,

she has the best technique in the school.

She's been here since she was nine.

Is this the right room?

If it's not, I'm staying anyways.

No argument here, baby.

- You're Charlie? You're in the right place.

- Excellent.

That's Sergei, Jody, Eva,

I'm Erik, and you're cute.

- Long trip?

- From Seattle.

My girlfriend dumped me

for leaving her there.

Morning.

Would the new students

raise your hands, please?

Which of you was the best dancer

in the last class he or she took?

Come on.

It's a heady thing, isn't it? Being the best.

Teachers dote on you.

Other students ask for your help.

And an aura builds

and then you get accepted into ABA.

And whether or not you admit it,

you start thinking...

...soon you'll be doing Giselle

before packed houses at Lincoln Center.

For most of you, that will never happen.

I say this to help you clarify

your expectations for the year ahead.

If you work harder every day

than you've ever worked in your life...

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