I found that dance, music, and literature is how I made sense of the world... it pushed me to think of things bigger than life's daily routines... to think beyond what is immediate or convenient.
Mikhail BaryshnikovRead
No dancer can watch Fred Astaire and not know that we all should have been in another business.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote expresses admiration for Fred Astaire's unparalleled talent, suggesting that his greatness makes others feel inadequate in their own pursuits.
Mikhail Baryshnikov's quote reflects a deep appreciation for the extraordinary skill of Fred Astaire in dance. It conveys the idea that witnessing such brilliance can evoke feelings of self-doubt or inspire reflection on one's own path, implying that Astaire's artistry is so profound that it raises the bar for all dancers and performers. It speaks to the influence of exceptional talent on one’s perception of their own abilities and aspirations.
Themes
DanceTalentAdmirationPerforming ArtsInspiration
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech praising dancers at an awards ceremony.
More from Mikhail Baryshnikov
All quotes →It's weird when you see pieces of choreography that were done for you 15 or 20 years ago and now they are being done by another dance company.
Mikhail BaryshnikovRead
I miss horribly those couple of hours before the performance when you get into the theater and you see people.
Mikhail BaryshnikovRead
There comes a moment in a young artist's life when he knows he has to bring something to the stage from within himself. He has to put in something in order to be able to take something.
Mikhail BaryshnikovRead
Dancing is my obsession. My life.
Mikhail BaryshnikovRead
If your only dance experience is the Nutcracker, it will be a shock; hopefully shocking in a good way.
Mikhail BaryshnikovRead
Similar quotes
And I think that after nearly 85 years upon this planet that I have a right after working so hard at showing the desolation and the poverty, to show something beautiful for somebody as well.
Gordon ParksRead
All creative art is magic, is evocation of the unseen in forms persuasive, enlightening, familiar and surprising.
Joseph ConradRead
The system is the work of art; the visual work of art is the proof of the System. The visual aspect can't be understood without understanding the system. It isn't what it looks like but what it is that is of basic importance.
Sol LewittRead
With all the new media outlets out there, with all the noise, a voice of authority and calm like Vogue becomes more important than ever. The more eyes on fashion, the more opinions about fashion, the more exploration of fashion around the world, the better it is for Vogue. Vogue is like Nike or Coca-Cola—this huge global brand. I want to enhance it, I want to protect it, and I want it to be part of the conversation.
Anna WintourRead
It feels like a game, this work I do. It is totally heartfelt, and I love the sticky terrain, the straight-up cartoons, how the irrepressible and icky rise to the surface. But I am not just trying to call forth bugaboos and demons for the sake of it, for fun.
Kara WalkerRead
In a dancer, there is a reverence for such forgotten things as the miracle of the small beautiful bones and their delicate strength.
Martha GrahamRead