My Favorite Dance Movie: Stephanie Santiago
From Billy Elliot to Black Swan, dance has provided an intense backdrop to some of the big screen’s most emotional stories. Dancers, in turn, are inspired by films which revolve on their chosen calling. In this series, the artists of Ballet Manila share their thoughts on the dance movies that made an impact on them, that they relate to and which they have grown to love.
Center Stage is a teen drama depicting the struggles of young dancers in handling the intense physical and mental pressures of ballet.
Asked about her favorite dance movie, Ballet Manila principal dancer Stephanie Santiago instantly has an answer: “Of course it has to be the one and only, the singular… Center Stage!”
She attests that it is a must-watch especially for those like her who have dipped their toes in ballet, describing Center Stage like this: “It’s an ‘If you’re a dancer, you have to watch this movie’ kind of movie. It really depicts the accuracy of company life and the different kinds of personalities a company can have.”
Released in 2000 and directed by Nicholas Hytner, Center Stage is a teen dance drama about a group of aspiring dancers from diverse backgrounds enrolled in the fictional American Ballet Academy in New York City. It depicts their struggles in handling the intense physical and mental pressures of ballet, leading to a final workshop performance where only a handful will be selected to join the elite American Ballet Company.
The protagonist is Jody Sawyer (Amanda Schull) who does not have the ideal body type for ballet, but whose joy for dancing comes through in her performance. She is the character that viewers root for, to fulfill her ballerina dreams against the odds – since there are others around her who are more gifted physically, started training at an early age, and are extra motivated to get that coveted spot in the company.
It’s not Jody, however, that Stephanie most relates to in the movie’s cast of characters. “Honestly, I felt very close to Eva (Zoe Saldaña) and Maureen (Susan May Pratt), both polar opposites. Eva, who is very free spirited, and Maureen, who can be entrapped by the pressure of the industry. I feel them both,” she admits.
But of course, it’s still Jody that gets to say the line that Stephanie loves in Center Stage. “‘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.’ It’s accepting individuality and how special each dancer can be, and it’s something I always tell myself and younger dancers. There can only be one YOU. SINGULAR. Live up to that.”
Stephanie, who actually re-watched Center Stage so she could accurately share what she likes about it picks one scene that she particularly enjoys with every viewing. “The iconic Jody Sawyer section!” she points out.
Apart from including the lines already quoted above, the scene is pivotal as Jody pre-empts her teacher’s decision on whether or not she had gotten into the ballet company by saying: “…If you’re not going to offer me a place in the company, then I don’t want to hear it. And if you are… I might not have the strength to say no. And then I’d be spending my best dancing years in the back of the corps waving a rose back and forth… and I’m better than that. So, thank you, Jonathan, for turning me into the best dancer I can be. I appreciate it more than I can say, really, because the best dancer I can be is a principal in Cooper Nielson’s new company.”
“Like, hello! Diva all the way!” Stephanie underscores laughingly.
Center Stage echoes how she feels about ballet, through her own personal struggles and the challenging experiences she continues to face as a dancer. “Honestly, how this industry can give you so much life and also can break you and shatter your heart. It really shows how tough our industry is and passion and love for the art is really what pushes you to keep dancing.”
Principal dancer Stephanie Santiago debuts as the Lilac Fairy in Lisa Macuja Elizalde’s Sleeping Beauty (2026). Photo by Missy Macuja Elizalde
