**I apologize for the poor formatting, I don't know what is going on with Blogger tonight...

I cannot believe no one else has picked up on this. 
 
Perhaps I've just seen Center Stage a few times too many (very possible) but as I was watching Black Swan I couldn't help but notice some major similarities. Of course the endings are quite different but as Black Swan was getting started I found some things pretty interesting....

• One of the main characters being an uptight, fearful of imperfection, innocent ballerina who is the most talented member of her respected company/school

• Nina in BS and Maureen in CS
• Because of the pressure to be perfect, this character is extremely skinny and has an active eating disorder  

• This character's mother is a single mom who had to give up on her own dream of being a successful ballerina.

• The character who is a somewhat rebellious ballerina that doesn't follow the rules but is extremely talented and respected as a dancer.

• Lily in BS and Eva in CS
• Both of these characters light up a cigarette in a building where they're not supposed to and are told to put it out by the Nina/Maureen character 

• The heroin having a weird love interest in a superior. This man teaches them about sex and its importance to their role portrayal on stage.
• Jody with Cooper in CS  and Nina with Thomas in BS

• The ballet directors being referred to specifically as a "prick"
• Thomas in BS and Jonathan in CS

• The first montage of the film being one of getting ballet shoes ready...Stripping them down, wearing them in with a knife, wetting the front of the foot. Then a pretty little shot of some blistery feet thanks to point-shoes.

I'm just sayin...