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
What do dancers think of Fred Astaire? It's no secret. We hate him. He gives us a complex because he's too perfect. His perfection is an absurdity. It's too hard to face.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote reflects the complex feelings artists may have towards perfection and competition.
Mikhail Baryshnikov's quote expresses the mixed emotions that dancers experience when considering the legendary dancer Fred Astaire. His exceptional talent and seemingly flawless performances create feelings of inadequacy among other dancers, illustrating how the pursuit of perfection can lead to complex emotions of envy and admiration within the artistic community.
Themes
PerfectionEnvyDanceArtistryCompetitionEmotions
In practice
Example use cases
This quote could be used in a dance class discussion about the pressures of perfection.
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.
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I miss horribly those couple of hours before the performance when you get into the theater and you see people.
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No dancer can watch Fred Astaire and not know that we all should have been in another business.
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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.
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Dancing is my obsession. My life.
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