"Remember that there is something unique about you that brought you to dance in the first place. It is more than worth your time to explore why." -
Masha Dashkina Maddux, Principal dancer, Martha Graham Dance Company
Principal, American Ballet Theatre
"My biggest mishap in a performance was years ago when I did Lysander in Balanchine's "A Midsummer Night's Dream" and my sword got caught in the front cloth in the lovers scene. I had to stand there for a full minute untangling it!"
Principal dancer, Mariinsky Ballet
Soloist, Martha Graham Dance Company
"When you go on stage, you're giving emotions to the world, you can express your inner world, become a goddess, die and then kill, transform yourself over and over again. I would say don't be afraid to throw your soul to your audience, if you want to become a dancer."
"Ever since I can remember, I always had a passion for dance. As a child, I made up my own choreography to songs by Madonna. It was in my DNA to dance. When I was five, I watched my sister's musical theatre class and asked to join in." - Marcelo Gomes, Principal dancer, American Ballet Theatre.
Indiana Woodward, Soloist, New York City Ballet
Christine Shevchenko, Principal dancer, American Ballet Theatre
Principal dancer, Bolshoi Ballet
"I believe that art has no boundaries! Our American tour was a mission of sorts: it was important to show that we, the Russian people, have the same sorrows and joys, that we are capable of strong emotions and high art, can expose the beauty of what we have inside us and are willing and eager to share it with the world."
“I wish I knew how to take care of my body when I started dancing. Dance is an extremely physically demanding career and it is really important to be good to your body because it is your instrument.” - Tiler Peck, Principal dancer, New York City Ballet
Principal dancer, American Ballet Theatre
"I think that if you grasp at happiness, it can be particularily elusive, so my idea of perfect happiness is to take pleasure in simple moments and gestures and to spend time with my loved ones."
Olga Smirnova, Principal dancer, Bolshoi Ballet
New York City Ballet
"Having confidence in yourself will help you become a stronger dancer. It's not about being conceited or worrying about whether you are good enough, but feeling focused and confident about your dancing. This will improve your artistry and presence and help you stand out more. Also, having confidence allows you to take more risks and realize your full potential."
Paul Taylor Dance Company
"If I could have a coffee with anyone (dead or alive), it would be Fred Astaire, as he was such an influence on the way I live. His life, and the era he was alive and working, are fascinating to me."
"The most rewarding part of being a dancer is being on stage, because it allows you to be someone else for a few hours. The curtain comes up and and you have an out of body experience." - Chase Finlay, Principal dancer, New York City Ballet
"The best thing you can do if you want to dance, it just concentrate on yourself and keep striving for your own personal best." - Principal, Royal Danish Ballet
Principal dancer, American Ballet Theatre. Dancing with Alexandre Hammoudi, Principal with American Ballet Theatre
"After dancing Swan Lake, you feel like you can conquer the world."
"Dance is very much in the flow, in the moment. Each performance on stage is unique and it will not repeat itself. That's why I love photography so much, because you can remember the moment. Photography freezes a moment in time, especially as it's very different than the fleeting work that dancers do, that's very ephemeral." - Daniil Simkin, Principal dancer, American Ballet Theatre
Robbie Fairchild, Principal, New York City Ballet and lead in "An American in Paris", Broadway with Tiler Peck, Principal, New York City Ballet
Pennsylvania Ballet
"If I could chose to dance with anyone, I would choose to dance with Sterling Baca from American Ballet Theatr. He is not only my friend, but he is a true artist in my eyes, a great partner and a great person."
"I don't get nervous as much anymore. I feel like the day Peter Martins promoted me to soloist was the day I found what I needed. It was someone telling me, I am validating you as you are for who you are as an artist - and that's enough. It gave me confidence because it made me feel like I could be myself, and I don't have to look like anybody else. I can just be Lauren, and that's enough." - Lauren Lovette, Principal dancer, New York City Ballet
Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre
"If I could be any animal, I would chose a bird. They experience lit from two different points of view: above or below us. I want to be able to fly and also be grounded."
Principal dancer, Martha Graham Dance Company, with dancer Lloyd Mayor
"My happiness comes from seeing my husband and daughter happy and healthy and also still be able to do the thing I love the most - dancing!"
Artistic Director, Martha Graham Dance Company
"It's been really exciting to discover that the new works for the Martha Graham Dance Company resonate and frame the Graham classics and the Graham classics bring context and a new way of looking at the old works."
Michael Jackson Jr and Sean Carmon
Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre
Principal dancer, American Ballet Theatre
American Ballet Theatre meets New York City Ballet
"Give it all or don't do it" - Celine Cassone, Les Ballets Jazz de Montreal
"I wish I would have known how to be patient when I first started dance. Sometimes we put so much pressure on ourselves to 'get there', that we forget to enjoy the process." - Sebastian Vinet, Soloist, Compañía Ballet de Santiago
Former Danseuse Étoile with Paris Opera Ballet, with partner, Lloyd Knight, Principal with Martha Graham Dance Company
"I believe that ballet is not just about the number of pirouettes you can do or how high you can kick your leg. Ballet is an art and there is no age limit to express yourself. Just accept who you are and who you have become. Your age and your limits. Use your life experiences to bring something new to your art."
Principal, American Ballet Theatre
“I think some people think of ballerinas almost the same way they think of vampires. Like they think we are a weird mythological creature or something, not like a real person that exists in society"
Artistic Director, Pacific Northwest Ballet
"There is absolutely a balance of maintaining the traditional ballets and bringing in new works. We keep an eye on innovation, but you can't recognize that something new is innovative unless you know what came before and let's face it, Swan Lake is still beautiful."
Soloist, The Royal Ballet
"Watch and learn. Learn what to do and what not to do." I think about those words daily. I watch rehearsals and performances and am always learning. Everyday we can learn, and it may be surprising who you can gain the most knowledge from."
"My family didn't have a background in dance, but somehow they supported and trusted the 12 year old me 100 percent of the way when I decided to put dance first in my life." - Cassandra Trenary, Soloist, American Ballet Theatre
"If I could be any animal, I would an eagle. I have always had long arms which often made me embarrassed and self conscious. Dance taught me to embrace and use them to speak the worlds I could not say." - Michael Jackson Jr, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater
Principal, New York City Ballet
"My greatest indulgence is riding my motorcycle with no set destination."
Principal, American Ballet Theatre
"I have no memories of life before dance... it was simply always there. I will never forget the joyful discovery in my first performance of expressing myself without words. For a shy child, with a full imagination, this was a gift. The lights, the silence, except for the music and the applause, left an impression on me that lasts to this day."
Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre
"If I could be an animal, I would be a Blue Morpho Butterfly from French Guiana. The Blue Morphos are amongst the largest butterflies in the world and live the tropical forests. Humans most commonly see Morphos in clearings and along streams and rivers where their bright blue wings are most visible. It’s an animal that never goes unnoticed."
Xin Ying, Principal, Martha Graham Dance Company
Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre
"When I learned Alvin Ailey's Pas De Duke, I truly learned what Mr. Ailey mean when he said he wanted dancers with "a modern top and a ballet bottom". To be able to embody that statement, moving and undulating the spine and the arms while staying connected and grounded in the legs is something I have always admired and something I am still learning."
Principal dancer with Houston Ballet
"Gene Kelly is the reason I started dancing. He makes being a male dancer look like the coolest thing ever."
"I think there are a lot of good dancers out there who have good technique and presence but the ones who inspire me are the assured dancers. You can see they dance for themselves and the audience. They don't dance out of fear, they dance to share..." - Daniel Ulbricht, Principal dancer, New York City Ballet
Principal dancer, American Ballet Theatre
"When I was young, I danced in my room to an old recording of Swan Lake. This was my first introduction to dance. "
Artistic Director and choreographer, Lar Lubovitch Dance Company
"The creative process is no different whatever the vernacular: seeing something with the inner eye, taking the leap to make it manifest so that others may see it as well. Though high minded people may be found in every field of performance, there are few that match the incredible integrity of dancers."
Principal Dancer, American Ballet Theatre
"If a child told me they wanted to be a dancer, I would tell them to work with determination and grit. Every day endeavor to reach your full potential. If you are not successful on a particular day, be proud of trying, and then get back in the saddle again the next day. And cross train."
First Soloist, Mikhailovsky Theatre
"I grew up in Montana in the mountains, I first started dancing in our driveway! My inspiration was my sisters and the ABT DVD "Born to Be Wild."
Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre
"I wish more people knew what it felt like to actually dance. I'm not referring to the difficulty of learning a technique or a combination. I mean the part that comes after everything clicks. When your most focused mind, your most moldable body, and your truest spirit all intertwine at their highest level. That point will look different for everyone, of course, but I wish everyone could attempt to reach it at least once. It can literally feel like flying."
Lloyd Knight and Abdiel Cedric Jacobsen, Principal dancers with Martha Graham Dance Company
"The focus needs to be on the artistry of ballet. I know that people might I am a very technical dancer, but I never focus on technique. I always focused on keeping my face alive and sharing my emotions, I relied on my technical background to do the rest."
Jenelle Figgins, Dance Theatre of Harlem and Samantha Figgins, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre
"The best part about having a twin sister in the dance world is that you have a constant source of inspiration and motivation"
Calvin Royal, Soloist, American Ballet Theatre
"To be able to dance for a living is a pretty special gift"
"My mother used to tell me to keep working at dance as long as it is fun. If it stops being fun, then you don't have to do it anymore. I think it is so important to recognize and remember the joy in dance." - Devon Teuscher, Principal, American Ballet Theatre
Principal dancer, Boston Ballet
"Being a dancer is a such a rewarding profession, but it does not come without a lot of hard work. So f you really love it, then go for it. Try to take inspiration from all around you and never stop learning and growing. Being a dancer is not just about the physical accomplishments, but about what you can share with the audiences."
Principal dancer, Houston Ballet
"Japan is my favorite country to tour to! You might think - but that is where you are from - but since I left home at a very young age, I did't get to spend lots of time there. Now that I'm older, I am discovering and appreciating a lot more about my own country."
Principal dancer, Martha Graham Dance Company
Principal, Boston Ballet
"Everyday I come in to the ballet studio and do pretty much the same set of steps. The exercises are very similar and yet everyday feels completely different from the day before. Different intention, energy of the body, emotion and state of mind. As an artist I think it's an incredible gift to be able to come in to work and express yourself, channeling my emotions without any spoken word and exploring that everyday." - Kleber Rebello, Principal dancer, Miami City Ballet
Principal dancer, Royal Danish Ballet
"My favorite animal has always been the cheetah. They are so beautiful and lithe, with an incredible strength. When you see a cheetah run, it is pure perfection."
Lar Lubovitch Dance Company
"In all the dancer with whom I work, I look for an intuitive, poetic spark. It's something with which certain dancers automatically imbue their movement. Of course, my work requires extreme technical ability as well. But dance is, as I see it, a form of poetry for which physical prowness is merely a means but surely not an end. Dancers who get stuck emphasizing only the athletic aspect of dance seem to have only one note they strike repeatedly. They appear to be shouting all of the time. it's the difference between yelling and singing. Barton sings. It's a choice." - Lar Lubovitch, Artistic Director, Lar Lubovitch Dance Company
Former Principal dancer with Pacific Northwest Ballet
"If a child told me they wanted to be a dancer, I would share with them my glorious and not-so-glorious experiences so they could have an insider's view of what a dancer's life is really like behind all the beautiful tiaras and tutus!"
Complexions Contemporary Ballet
"The training we put our body through as a professional dancer is just as enduring as a football player training on the field."
“I started my own company because I wanted to see how I could experience this art, my art form, in different ways, on my own terms.” - Michele Wiles, Artistic Director, Ballet Next and former ABT Principal
“Dance is a reflection of life; there will be many moments of excitement, fear, great joy and great pain, but as in life each moment brings its own blessings…. so does dance.” - Abdiel Cedric Jacobsen, Principal, Martha Graham Dance Company
Alvin Ailey dancers - Michael Jackson Jr, Daniel Harder and Sean Carmon
“My biggest fear is getting injured and not being able to dance the same way, even though I’ve had major injuries before. I’m the only dancer in the world who’s missing an ACL, which is basically impossible. I remember going to the doctor and I could hear these residents watching videos of me on YouTube and they were like, ‘How do you do this?’ I’m a medical anomaly.” - Ashley Bouder, Principal dancer, New York City Ballet
"Everyone in my family is pretty shy and a little reserved, unless asked upon to open up. Dancing was a way to skip past all of our shyness and hesitation and just go out there and enjoy what it means to be human in it's purest form." - Emily Bromberg, Soloist, Miami City Ballet
"When you're hungry, eat. When you're tired, sleep. When you hear music, dance." Garen Scribner, Broadway star, An American in Paris
"Don't get wrapped in the negativity that so often surrounds you in dance. Try to block out criticism and stay away from gossip. Keep your personal integrity! Put your head down, work harder than you thought possible and have a clear vision of the dancer you want to become. Everyone has an opinion and everyone gives it and everyone finds ways to tell you what you should be doing differently.... if you listen to everyone, you'll no longer be yourself. You'll end up frustrated and confused."
