Author

In the beginning, he taught you how to hold your fingers, use your head, hold your shoulders, how you glissade, bourre - the exact way he wanted you to do the steps. It was relearning the whole Balanchine technique.

From Patricia McBride

Mr. Balanchine wanted me to be myself. He didn't want me to look like anyone else. I love teaching our company dancers the Balanchine ballets. I try to give them what was passed down to me and what I learned from him. They dance it so beautifully. It also keeps me close to Mr. Balanchine. He's with me every single day.

From Patricia McBride

Breathe through your movements.

From Patricia McBride

I felt that Balanchine was my father towards me. He was the person I most admired and looked up to.

From Patricia McBride

I was determined to dance. That's why I lasted so long.

From Patricia McBride

Most ballets are more interesting than most men.

From Patricia McBride

I used to say I didn't want to teach. I was still excited about dancing. It's hard to do both. It's as exhausting teaching as it is to dance.

From Patricia McBride

I danced with Jacques d'Amboise. At that time, he was the tallest man in the company. So it was a different kind of choreography. It was lyrical.

From Patricia McBride

I remember my dreams when I was a junior soloist. 'Oh, I hope I don't end here,' I thought. 'I want to do the ballerina in 'Scotch Symphony.' I don't want to be the little Scotch girl.' And I actually went beyond my wildest dreams. I worked with Balanchine. I had ballets choreographed for me.

From Patricia McBride

The ballets you do make you into the final product you are. And I had extraordinary partners.

From Patricia McBride

Patricia McBride

Notable Quotes

Authors with Similar Views

Misty Copeland

Mikhail Baryshnikov

Twyla Tharp

Amy Sherman-Palladino

Margaret Qualley

Authors with Opposing Views

Twyla Tharp

Carmen Dell'Orefice

Kate Walsh

Margaret Qualley

Mark McKinnon