Darcey Bussell Quotes

Powerful Darcey Bussell for Daily Growth

About Darcey Bussell

Darcey Bussell, born on April 27, 1969, in Worcestershire, England, is a celebrated British ballerina who graced the world of dance with her exceptional grace, power, and artistry. Raised in Solihull, she began ballet lessons at the age of three under the tutelage of Yvonne Lomas, a former dancer with the Royal Ballet. Bussell joined the Royal Ballet School at the age of eleven and quickly rose through its ranks. At fifteen, she became a member of the Royal Ballet Company, where her exceptional talent was recognized by the late Sir Anthony Dowell who offered her the role of the Sugar Plum Fairy in The Nutcracker when she was just seventeen. Bussell's repertoire spans some of ballet's most iconic roles, including Odette/Odile in Swan Lake, Giselle in Giselle, Juliet in Romeo and Juliet, and the title role in Manon. Her unique style, characterized by her dramatic expression, musicality, and emotional depth, earned her widespread acclaim. In 2007, Bussell retired from performing to focus on her family and other ventures. She has since served as a judge on BBC's Strictly Come Dancing and is the Ambassador for National Children's Ballet. Her autobiography, 'Promise Me, Darcey', published in 2013, offers insights into her personal life and career. Bussell's influence extends beyond ballet. She is a patron of several charities, including the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) and the Royal Ballet School. Her quotes often inspire dancers and non-dancers alike with their insightful wisdom about life, dance, and personal growth.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"Dance is the hidden language of the soul of the body."

This quote emphasizes that dance serves as an expression of one's deepest emotions, thoughts, and feelings. It suggests that the human spirit has a unique and profound way of communicating through movement, beyond the limitations of spoken or written language. Essentially, when we dance, we allow our bodies to convey what words often struggle to express.


"I always say that dance chooses dancers. It doesn't matter how tall, short, big or small you are - if it's in your heart and you have the passion for it, it will take over."

Darcey Bussell's quote suggests that one's inherent aptitude and enthusiasm for dance are more crucial than physical attributes in becoming a dancer. She implies that dance is not exclusive to any particular body type or size; instead, if an individual has a genuine passion for it, the art form will naturally resonate with them, guiding and embracing their journey towards mastery.


"The stage is not just a place to perform but a canvas on which to paint our dreams."

Darcey Bussell's quote implies that the stage, or any performance platform, serves as a medium for individuals to express their creative visions and bring their dreams to life. By performing, artists are not just entertaining an audience but also sharing and materializing their inner aspirations, which can be seen as a beautiful artistic manifestation of their dreams. This quote suggests that the stage is a powerful tool for self-expression and personal growth, making it more than just a place to perform; it's a canvas for transforming dreams into reality.


"Dance is about expressing myself through movement, and that's how I deal with things in life - by expressing myself."

This quote by Darcey Bussell suggests that for her, dance serves as a means of self-expression and coping mechanism for life's challenges. When she dances, she is able to communicate her feelings and emotions in a unique and powerful way that goes beyond words, allowing her to process and navigate through various aspects of life.


"To dance is to be out of yourself. Larger, more beautiful than you are, than anything anyone has ever seen before."

This quote by Darcey Bussell suggests that dancing transcends one's personal boundaries and limitations, allowing the individual to tap into a higher level of self-expression and beauty. Through dance, an artist can momentarily escape their ordinary self and transform into something extraordinary, captivating audiences with the power and grace of their performance. It emphasizes that dancing is not just about physical movements; it's a way to connect with one's inner creativity and express oneself in a larger-than-life manner.


I was pretty rubbish when I first started dancing. I didn't understand the discipline of working on one step over and over again. If you look at it from the outside, you'd think, 'Why would anybody want to do that?' But you just want to get it perfect. It is that constant inner striving that you fall in love with.

- Darcey Bussell

Love, Dancing, Constant, Striving

I did ballet from the age of five, but what I loved was my gymnastics. I kept the ballet going because of the gymnastics, then found I was going to be too tall.

- Darcey Bussell

Going, Ballet, Then, Gymnastics

I loved gymnastics, and my gymnastics teacher said ballet was essential to help my dance routines in competitions. I only really went because my friends were going as well. It wasn't this kind of hidden love. Then, slowly, my friends stopped going and I thought, 'I like this. I am going to stay.'

- Darcey Bussell

Love, Thought, Hidden, Gymnastics

I was incredibly supple and did gymnastics as well. So half of my injuries are because I am over-supple and the joints could always go that little bit further. But I was happy to push, and I have no regrets. That is important to say.

- Darcey Bussell

Injuries, No Regrets, Half, Gymnastics

The jogging machine makes me go insane with boredom.

- Darcey Bussell

Boredom, Machine, Makes, Jogging

My 'new' knee now feels like a bionic knee compared with my old one.

- Darcey Bussell

New, Knee, Feels, Old One

Diets don't come into it. You need variety and to have a good source of greens, protein, and nutrition. It is about health rather than looking right.

- Darcey Bussell

Need, Rather, About, Diets

I never imagined I'd be a presenter on television, but I'm happy to put myself out of my comfort zone.

- Darcey Bussell

Happy, Television, Presenter, Comfort Zone

As a little girl, I didn't dream of being a ballet dancer; I dreamt of being a movie star like Ginger Rogers and dancing with Fred Astaire. I used to watch the Sunday double-bills on TV and Iong to be part of what seemed a perfect Disneyland world. Astaire was a genius.

- Darcey Bussell

Dancing, Movie, TV, Fred

Keeping off wheat helps my energy levels.

- Darcey Bussell

Off, Keeping, Helps, Wheat

I didn't worry too much about staying in shape once I'd stopped dancing. You get to the point where you just burn out and have to give your body a chance to heal.

- Darcey Bussell

Dancing, About, Staying, Heal

I can't imagine leaving the theatre altogether. My dressing room has become a home from home.

- Darcey Bussell

Home, Room, Imagine, Dressing Room

Ever since I've given up dancing, every physiotherapist or Pilates teacher has said you have to keep moving. If I don't, I'll have a hundred times more injuries because you get weak areas on your body.

- Darcey Bussell

Dancing, Injuries, Hundred, Pilates

I hate throwing personal things away, especially my cards. As I know I won't be dancing for ever, these are the things that I will look back on.

- Darcey Bussell

Dancing, Cards, Away, Personal Things

Now I'm on television, I'm far more conscious of my skin than I used to be - I would often leave the theatre with layers of pancake make-up still on my face, but on a medium such as TV, I have to be more fastidious.

- Darcey Bussell

Make-Up, Still, TV, Fastidious

When I started on 'Strictly,' I was terrified. Live television seemed like the most daunting thing in the world.

- Darcey Bussell

Like, Terrified, Seemed, Daunting

When I started, there was a very strong image of what the ballerina was supposed to be in her tights and her costume, and then I started doing photo shoots in bomber boots, and it wasn't seen as the done thing.

- Darcey Bussell

Strong, Image, Very, Boots

I've got that personality where I've always been determined. As a dancer, I was constantly improving and perfecting. I guess it's innate.

- Darcey Bussell

Always, Been, Innate, Perfecting

Classical ballet is very extreme. You're doing it six days a week, and it's a kind of obsession of perfecting a move. So every muscle in your body has been stretched and tightened, stretched and tightened.

- Darcey Bussell

Doing, Move, Very, Perfecting

Dancers are working their bodies just like a marathon runner would, and you have to eat to make it through a three-hour performance. Dancers put their bodies through incredible strain.

- Darcey Bussell

Marathon, Through, Strain, Runner

I do feel blessed to have small ears - I've never felt self-conscious when my hair is swept back. My feet are a different story - I grew up being painfully aware of them because they are so long.

- Darcey Bussell

Feet, Small, Feel, Painfully

For me, in my life, dyslexia has been a little bit of a blessing. It helped me find my strength and directed me towards what I really wanted to do.

- Darcey Bussell

My Life, Been, Directed, Blessing

I've always been quite conscious of it, though I don't know why. I would never overspend, and I have to know exactly what I've got so that I avoid going into overdraft. I watch my pennies, and I'm quite thrifty.

- Darcey Bussell

Why, Been, Got, Pennies

I worked very hard to be a diva. But it never worked.

- Darcey Bussell

Never, Very, Worked, Diva

I dye my hair, and I use teeth whitening strips. Unless I burnt myself or damaged my skin, I wouldn't have cosmetic surgery.

- Darcey Bussell

Myself, Skin, Use, Burnt

When I was a teenager, I used to watch the 'Making Michael Jackson's 'Thriller'' video and try to follow the steps and do the 'Thriller' moves in my bedroom. That was the most incredible dance sequence.

- Darcey Bussell

Incredible, Making, Used, Teenager

I do a Zumba class at least twice a week, which entertains me and keeps me fit, and I have two dogs that I walk regularly.

- Darcey Bussell

Week, Which, Least, Twice A Week

I joined the Royal Ballet School when I was 13. Before then, I'd done ballet twice a week after school. The rest of my class had started aged 11, so I'd missed two years and was really far behind.

- Darcey Bussell

Week, Behind, Before, Twice A Week

I danced so intensely, I learned the hard way that sometimes you can push your body too far.

- Darcey Bussell

Sometimes, Your, Learned, Hard Way

I've achieved everything I've wanted to achieve, so I'm not scared of failure. I never gave up, however bad the injuries got.

- Darcey Bussell

Injuries, Bad, However, Scared

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