Judith Jamison Quotes

The life of a dancer is tragically short. What is remarkable about the New York City Ballet is that it makes us forget that. Because it keeps the ballet alive.

I was a dancer, and my father was a dancer, so I really grew up in that environment.

Every company has its own texture, vocabulary, and singular place in dance history, and I have always wanted to share my perspective of these world renowned institutions.

When you dance, it takes a lot of stamina, but it never seemed like work 'cause I was doing something that I so loved doing. It was always a joy. And you know, to have beautiful ballets made specially for you is such an honor. I always said it was better than diamonds.

Adam Shankman has got such love and passion for dance.

I watched 'Fame,' and I just love the choreography. It just gives me a place to be in another zone.

There are certainly some artists in New York that I would love to work with. One is Sarah Michelson.

Part of the reason I fell in love with dance so early was because of people like Janet Jackson, Michael Jackson, and Britney Spears. When they would dance onstage and in their videos, that was huge for me. I lived for that.

Dance and I are synonymous, and nobody can take away dance from my life. Also, I cannot look at dance in an inert way; it's my passion, and I get keen on being part of any show or film that has dance!

Having trained as a dancer growing up, I love any dance related events.

I say over and over again that I am just standing on the shoulders of so many who have set this path for me, and they may not be seen or recognized or have been given an opportunity to have a voice, but I'm here representing all of those dancers. Dance Theatre of Harlem Virginia Johnson, Tai Jimenez, Lauren Anderson.

Among my classical dances, I loved my 'Mrig Trishna' dance. People should try that on stage. I don't know why they don't. It's beautifully written.

The world of dance is a charmed place. Some people like to inhabit it, others to behold it; either way it is rewarding.

I would love to be able to tap dance.

I wanted to be a professional dancer for a period of time, and I did a lot of dancing and choreography and got paid for it.

I've been dancing my entire life. Jazz, hip hop, ballet. And then there's tap dancing. I love to tap.

I'm not interested in seeing dance die. It's not to my advantage. Nor is it to our culture's advantage or anybody else's.

'The Leaves Are Fading' had something of a vogue when Antony Tudor made it in 1975, largely because of Gelsey Kirkland's ravishing performance.

Dance is not endangered - it will always find a way to express itself.

I'm very smart when it comes to choosing dancers and trying to show the world that there's a whole lot of dancing going on.

Growing up in Niagara Falls, Ontario, I took classes as a young girl and became very serious about ballet, and also performed with a local company, although it wasn't a professional company.

I found I loved musicals as much or more than the pure dance world. I also think I became tired of dancing for other dancers.

I frequently go to the ballet, but I don't miss it in the sense that I wish I were still dancing.

I still study dance, and it's definitely something I want to incorporate in the future. It's always been my first love.

I was always the kid down the street who got the other kids to put on a show. But it was only when I was 19, and discovered ballet and contemporary dance, that I got interested in the fact that you could have a whole evening of dance - rather than just waiting for the dancers in a musical.