Am I the only one who just noticed what infants Ethan Stiefel and Sascha Radetsky were in this movie? Center Stage you grew up so fast!

One of recent history’s best beloved-dance movies may be as old as some of your high-school students. That’s right, “Center Stage” was released on May 12, 2000, meaning it turned 15 this week. That’s old enough to get a driving permit in some states.

Aside from the cheesy acting and one-liners—“You didn’t have the feet—I don’t have the heart!”—you have to love the dance trivia and celeb-spotting in the (in)famous flick, not to mention the priceless glimpse at Y2K dancewear trends in the jazz class scene. (I think that alone qualifies the film as a dance history lesson.) Beyond American Ballet Theatre’s Sascha Radetsky and Ethan Stiefel immortalized in their youth as high-jumping, dueling love interests, there’s also Julie Kent as established prima and, if you look closely, a brief cameo of ballet master Kirk Peterson leading men’s class. Plus, the ballet where Eva makes a surprise appearance in Maureen’s role was choreographed by none other than Christopher Wheeldon. The rest of the choreo (besides clips of classics like Swan Lake and Romeo and Juliet) is courtesy of Susan Stroman.

Have your students seen the climactic closing dance sequence? We’re still trying to figure out how they pull off those costume and hair changes.

Center Stage Final Show from emajid mahjoubi on Vimeo.