Center Stage: Turn it Up came and went without any fanfare. Here’s everything you need to to know before Center Stage: On Pointe premieres.

Center Stage brought the American Ballet Company and its ruthless audition process for the classical ballet company to the world. Somewhere in between the 2000 release of Center Stage and the Lifetime original movie, Center Stage: On Pointe, another Center Stage movie was released under the radar. It even featured some of the original cast members!

It was not great. It tried too hard to be more Step Up and lost what made Center Stage so enjoyable. But it did lay some of the groundwork for the third Center Stage film and therefore, we watched it so you don’t have to. Here is everything you need to know from Center Stage: Turn it Up before you watch Center Stage: On Pointe.

Meet Kate Parker

Center Stage: Turn it Up deviated from the structure of the first movie, starting with ABC director, Jonathan Reeves, denying Kate Parker admission to the Company. As you can probably guess, this proves to be a mistake on Jonathan’s part. Why can’t he realize that if you “can’t take your eyes off of a dancer” you should just ignore everything else like technique and body type?

Cooper Nielson loses his company

Who saw this coming? Everyone? Great. At the close of Center Stage, Jodie Sawyer left her spot at ABC to join Cooper Nielson’s new company. Cooper returns to ABC after he runs out of financing for his company. Guess Cooper could not find an endless supply of old widows with money to spare.

Tommy and Kate 4eva

When Kate does not get a spot at ABC her pride keeps her from returning home. Instead she decides to make it work in New York City and forms a friendship with Tommy Anderson, played by Kenny Wormald (aka the new hot dancer from the also ill-fated revival of Footloose). Kate and Tommy both auditioned for ABC and reunite outside of the company at a nightclub where Kate impresses Tommy and his friend, the owner of the club. She gets a job dancing there, while also helping Tommy perfect his ballet for the company on the side.

They fall in love, make out, break up, and with Tommy’s insistence that she never give up on dancing, Kate finds her big break! Kate eventually goes on to become the best dancer in the world. Seriously, this is a legitimate plot point, and line, that comes up in Center Stage: On Pointe.

Bella is an important character

Center Stage: On Pointe follows Bella Parker who is trying to emerge from her sister’s shadow as a professional dancer and try out for the ABC’s new modern dance department in a summer trial camp. In the prequel, Bella and Tommy meet up in New York, while Bella is visiting and she convinces her sister to try out for a Broadway ballet version of Cinderella. Posters, conversations with Jonathan and Tommy all mention these events.

What to look forward to in ‘Center Stage: On Pointe’

Center Stage: On Pointe is the guilty pleasure we deserve as Center Stage fans. There are cat fights, torn ligaments, backstabbing, amazing choreography, Jonathan and Cooper battle, Charlie returns (!!!), and so, so many great inspiring speeches about dance. It tries to update certain plot points to reflect the changing times of the past 16 years (YouTube hits are better than ticket sales!) and relies heavily on Top 40 hits.

Center Stage: On Pointe gives fans everything Center Stage: Turn it Up tried, but failed to deliver.

Are you looking forward to ‘Center Stage: On Pointe’ on Lifetime?

Be sure to catch Center Stage: On Pointe Saturday, June 25 at 8:00 p.m. ET on Lifetime.