In Center Stage By Nicholas Hytner

Martha Graham once said, “Nobody cares if you can't dance well. Just get up and dance. Great dancers are great because of their passion.” In Center Stage, a 2000 movie directed by Nicholas Hytner, the audience is taken into a journey of ambitious young dancers in hope that they will use Graham’s advice in their own career. The movie begins with an audition for a ballet company in which the judges are basing their decision off of comparison rather than skill and individuality. From that moment on, the audience follows the life of young ballerinas and their constant battle between motivational climate, social support, and burnout. Throughout the movie, it is quite hard to imagine how different the lives of the ballerinas would be with a strong and encouraging motivational climate. Word by word a teacher can tear them apart by saying “you're trying too hard” (Juliette to Jody), or “you don’t have the right body type” (Juliette to Emily). When she said this to Jody, it is safe to say that the motivational climate developed by the teacher is rather ego oriented, focused on individuals and punishing mistakes. Jody is trying to improve on her skills and techniques but is unable to proceed with her training when Juliette is tearing her every move apart.
She is praised in class everyday by her teachers and is an inspiration to her fellow peers. The favor and gratitude that is given to her is not returned to those who gave it to her. Jody looks at Maureen and sees her goal. Maureen is who she wants to be after learning from at the program. Approaching your inspiration is tough enough, but even harder when she tells Jody that she should, “rethink her decision to be here”. Maureen adds on to the, already, harsh climate for Jody which impacts other aspects of her dancing. This is yet another example of the negative motivational climate that is set by, this time, the students rather than the