“Dance, one of the oldest forms of artistic expression, requires only the human body for its realization.” Quote by Igor Youskevitch
“If one had to define one essential gift with which a dancer needs to be endowed, there might be a rush of answers. A beautiful body, grace of line, graciousness of spirit, joy in the work, ability to please, unswerving integrity, relentless ambition towards some abstract perfection. Certainly all these factors determine a dancer's character, and every element exists in some combination within the performing artist's presence.” IfsNeedsCharacterBodyMightBeautifulJoySpiritArtistLinesAbilityAnswersGraceIntegrityPleaseEssentialsElementsAmbitionPerfectionDanceDetermineFactorsCombinationPerformingAbstractDancerBalletRelentlessGraciousnessPerforming ArtsBeautiful BodyPerforming Artist Author:Lincoln Kirstein
“So many dancers rely on some sort of magic happening on the stage. They never, for various reasons, work full out in rehearsal. That's very uncreative. They don't discover the kinds of things that add up to a remarkable performance.” KindReasonMagicStageHappeningsPerformancesAddDanceVariousRelyDancerRemarkableBalletRehearsalDance Performance Author:Benjamin Harkarvy
“I would like to tell all dancers to forget themselves and the desire for self display. They must become completely absorbed in the dance. Even in a classical variation there should never be any thought of a dancer doing a variation--he should become identified with it.” ShouldSelfDesireForgetDanceDancerBalletDisplayVariation Author:Antony Tudor
“I will make an average man into an average dancer, provided he be passably well made. I will teach him how to move his arms and legs, to turn his head. I will give him steadiness, brilliancy and speed; but I cannot endow him with that fire and intelligence, those graces and that expression of feeling which is the soul of true pantomime.” MenGivingWellsMadeSoulFeelingsMovingTurnsTeachFireGraceExpressionArmsDanceAverageLegsSpeedDancerAverage ManArms And LegsSteadinessPantomimeDance MovesExpression Of Feeling Author:Jean-Georges Noverre
“The choreographer cannot deliberately make a ballet to appeal to an audience, he has to start from personal inspirations. He has to trust the ballet, to let it stand on its own strengths or fall on its weaknesses. If it reaches the audience, then he is lucky that round!” IfsInspirationalInspirationFallAudienceLuckyWeaknessDancingDanceRoundsAppealsBalletChoreographyChoreographersGreat Dance Author:Gerald Arpino
“I'm very excited about dance and love it with a deep passion. I also struggle, tire and become discouraged. But what has always revived me...has been the rebirth of energy each time the creative process is awakened and artistic activity begins to unfold even in some infinitesimal measure.” Has BeensPassionEnergyProcessStruggleCreativeActivityAnd LoveDanceExcitedArtisticCreative ProcessRebirthTireDiscouragedAwakenedDeep Passion Author:Anna Halprin
“One is born to be a dancer. No teacher can work miracles, nor will years of training make a good dancer of an untalented pupil. One may be able to acquire a certain technical facility, but no one can ever 'acquire an exceptional talent.' I have never prided myself on having an unusually gifted pupil. A Pavlova is no one's pupil but God's.” YearsMayAbleCertainBornTeacherTalentTrainingMiracleDanceAcquireDancerGiftedExceptionalFacilityPupilsMusic And DanceUntalentedGood Dance Author:George Balanchine
“When I dance I am really meditating rather then performing for an audience. I am completely absorbed by the music and the steps I choose to respond to the music.” StepsAudienceDancePerformingMeditating Author:Agnes de Mille
“A good education is usually harmful to a dancer. A good calf is better than a good head.” DanceDancerBalletGood EducationCalves Author:Agnes de Mille