Deborah Bull Quotes

Powerful Deborah Bull for Daily Growth

About Deborah Bull

Deborah Bull (born 1959) is a renowned British ballerina, choreographer, and author, best known for her exceptional dance career with the Royal Ballet and her literary contributions on art, leadership, and personal development. Born in Leicester, England, Bull showed an early affinity for dance. She trained at the Royal Ballet School from 1973 to 1978 before joining the company as a professional dancer. Her career spanned over two decades, during which she performed principal roles in numerous ballets, including Swan Lake, Giselle, and Cinderella. Bull's dance career was marked by her versatility and expressive quality. She was particularly celebrated for her interpretation of the role of Juliet in Kenneth MacMillan's Romeo and Juliet. In 1995, she was appointed Artistic Director of The Royal Opera House's dance program, a position she held until 2001. In addition to her dancing career, Bull is an accomplished author. Her first book, "A dancer's world: the social and spiritual life of ballet" (1996), offers insights into the world of ballet from a dancer's perspective. This was followed by "Think like a dancer: how to reinvent your body, your mind, and your life" (2005), which draws on her experiences in dance to explore themes of leadership, resilience, and personal growth. Bull's influence extends beyond the world of ballet. She is a sought-after speaker and has been appointed as a visiting professor at various universities, including Cambridge and Oxford. Her unique blend of artistic insight and practical wisdom continues to inspire readers and audiences alike.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"The real lesson in dancing is that if you step out onto the floor, you can dance."

This quote suggests that the key to overcoming fear or hesitation in any situation lies in taking a step forward. Just as a dancer must step onto the dancefloor to dance, one must take the first step in life's opportunities or challenges to fully participate and make progress. It encourages the reader to embrace new experiences, trust themselves, and believe that they have the ability to move forward and achieve whatever they set their mind to.


"Dance like no one is watching; life like there's nothing to lose."

This quote by Deborah Bull encourages freedom of expression and living authentically. In dance, it means to move with abandon and enjoy the moment without fear or self-consciousness. In life, it suggests taking risks and embracing experiences wholeheartedly, regardless of the potential outcomes or what others may think. It's a call to live passionately, boldly, and without hesitation, just as one might dance when nobody is watching.


"Dancing is just discovering the depths of your soul through movement."

This quote by Deborah Bull suggests that dance serves as a profound, expressive medium for exploring one's inner self. By moving, we can delve deeper into our emotions, thoughts, and feelings, thereby uncovering layers of our soul that are otherwise hidden or inaccessible. Dance, in this perspective, is not merely an artistic form but a powerful tool for self-discovery and emotional expression.


"Everyone dances from rhythm first, then from memory."

This quote by Deborah Bull suggests that human actions, particularly creative ones like dancing, are initially driven by an inherent sense of rhythm or beat, which is a natural and instinctive response to the world around us. As we engage in these activities repeatedly, we internalize them, forming memories of movement patterns. Over time, we dance not just from the immediate sensation of rhythm, but also from our accumulated experiences and learned habits (memory). This quote emphasizes the importance of both spontaneity and practice in creative expression and personal development.


"A dancer's body is a living sculpture, always in progress."

This quote by Deborah Bull highlights the dynamic and evolving nature of a dancer's physical form. Unlike traditional sculptures that are static, a dancer's body constantly changes as they learn, grow, and perform. This transformation is not just physical but also represents the continuous refinement of their skill, artistry, and expression over time. It emphasizes that a dancer's journey is never truly finished, encouraging growth, resilience, and a lifelong dedication to the craft.


It's not about weight, it's about fitness, and one component of being fit is to have relatively low body fat, because fat is not very efficient, whereas muscle is.

- Deborah Bull

Fitness, Very, Efficient, Relatively

Body language is a very powerful tool. We had body language before we had speech, and apparently, 80% of what you understand in a conversation is read through the body, not the words.

- Deborah Bull

Through, Very, Read, Conversation

I always recommend a sensible diet, including lots of carbohydrates and avoiding too much fat. Dancers don't need different fuel from other people - they just need more of it because they use more energy.

- Deborah Bull

Fuel, Other, Dancers, Sensible

You increase muscle bulk by training against resistance. For example, weights. And in ballet, this isn't the case.

- Deborah Bull

Training, Against, Ballet, Weights

Young dancers are training at a very vulnerable time in their lives, through adolescence, and while they are trying to work out who they are as people, never mind as a dancer. So train the whole person, not just the dancer.

- Deborah Bull

Young, Through, Very, Train

I get to the theatre in plenty of time; I prepare my shoes in advance; I eat and drink the right things at the right time. The rest you have to leave to luck!

- Deborah Bull

Luck, Rest, Prepare, Right Time

At the moment I'm enjoying a new challenge at the Royal Opera House, but I'm also keen to pursue my interest in television and particularly in science.

- Deborah Bull

New, Opera, Particularly, New Challenge

I do take class because I still dance, and yes, I do slip into class with the Royal Ballet from time to time.

- Deborah Bull

Yes, Ballet, Still, From Time To Time

I think it's useful to experience other types of dance and other cultures, and the life of a classical dancer these days is certainly not all tutus! So experience of other dance forms is a good idea.

- Deborah Bull

Think, Other, Certainly, Forms

Dancing's not always stressful, but I always make sure that I'm prepared as I can be, both physically, mentally, and practically.

- Deborah Bull

Dancing, Always, Sure, Stressful

As you get older, the physical abilities decrease, which is particularly frustrating because your brain gets so good! So as you are becoming less technically or physically able, younger dancers are emerging who need the space to perform.

- Deborah Bull

Dancers, Becoming, Your, Emerging

It's not magic! It's physics. The speed of the turn is what keeps you upright. It's like a spinning top.

- Deborah Bull

Magic, Top, Like, Spinning

Dancing is a tough career, but I'm glad I spent it at the Royal Ballet.

- Deborah Bull

Dancing, Career, Spent, Royal

People often argue about this. Obviously one of the skills in performance is acting, and you can't expect every Romeo to really be in love with their Juliet!

- Deborah Bull

Love, About, Romeo, Juliet

It's another myth that dancing distorts or destroys your feet. If you have the right shaped foot to start and a good, strong technique, your feet should be fine.

- Deborah Bull

Strong, Feet, Dancing, Destroys

Because muscle is heavier than fat, dancers weigh more than you might think, but they are usually very lean.

- Deborah Bull

Think, Very, Weigh, Muscle

But you do have to start young as a dancer if you're going to achieve the physical skills necessary.

- Deborah Bull

Skills, Necessary, Dancer, Physical

I've always believed that the facts about dancing are more interesting than the myths, and this was a great chance for me to explore how the human body does such incredible things.

- Deborah Bull

Chance, Dancing, Always, Facts

I have lots of interests, but it's true that dancing is a very full-time job.

- Deborah Bull

Dancing, Very, Lots, Full-Time

A good dancer is an educated one, so don't abandon school.

- Deborah Bull

School, Educated, Abandon, Dancer

I think the shape of our bodies has as much to do with the shape of our parents as it does with training.

- Deborah Bull

Think, Shape, I Think, Bodies

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