Gelsey Kirkland Quotes

Powerful Gelsey Kirkland for Daily Growth

About Gelsey Kirkland

Gelsey Kirkland, born on March 27, 1952, in New York City, is an acclaimed American ballet dancer, choreographer, actress, and author, renowned for her remarkable talent and turbulent personal life. Raised by her Jewish mother in a primarily Catholic neighborhood, Kirkland showed exceptional promise in dance from an early age. She joined the School of American Ballet at 12, where she was handpicked by George Balanchine to join the New York City Ballet (NYCB) at 15. Her career flourished with the company, gaining fame for her emotional intensity and technical precision. In 1970, Kirkland was promoted to soloist, becoming the youngest in the NYCB's history. However, personal struggles began to overshadow her success. A series of injuries, combined with her tumultuous romantic relationships, led to a departure from the ballet world in 1976. Kirkland's life took a new direction when she met actor Christopher Reeve. Their relationship, which ended tragically in 1983, served as the foundation for her first book, "Dancing on My Grave" (1984). This semi-autobiographical novel detailed her struggles with drugs and mental health issues during her ballet career. After a brief return to dance with the American Ballet Theatre, Kirkland retired from performing in 1985. She shifted her focus to choreography and acting, earning acclaim for her work on Broadway and in film. In 1996, she published "Riding the Waves: A Spiritual Journey into the Heart of Mindfulness Meditation," a book that explores her spiritual journey through meditation and mindfulness. Today, Kirkland continues to teach dance and meditation, sharing her unique blend of artistic and spiritual wisdom with students around the world. Her legacy as a groundbreaking ballet dancer and influential author endures, leaving an indelible mark on the worlds of dance, literature, and spirituality.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

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

The quote by Gelsey Kirkland suggests that dance is a unique and profound form of expression, one that transcends verbal communication to reveal the deepest emotions and sentiments buried within an individual's psyche. It asserts that just as spoken language allows us to articulate thoughts and ideas, dance serves as the silent yet powerful means by which our souls communicate through bodily movements. Essentially, dance is seen as a universal and eloquent medium for expressing the complexities of human emotion and spirit.


"The art of dance is not to change the movement of the body but the movement of the heart."

This quote by Gelsey Kirkland emphasizes that the essence of dance lies not in physical movements, but in the emotional transformation it brings about. The true purpose of dance is to stir emotions within the dancer and audience, creating a connection through the expression of feelings rather than just mechanical movements. It's about channeling one's heartfelt expressions into artistic form, making dance more about human emotion than technical skill.


"Great dancers are not great because of their technique, they are great because of their passion."

Gelsey Kirkland's quote suggests that what truly sets exceptional dancers apart is not just their technical skills, but the depth of their passion for dance. In other words, a dancer with a burning passion for dance can surpass those who have superior technique but lack the emotional investment and dedication required to truly excel in their art form. Passion fuels the drive to continuously learn, innovate, and perform at the highest level, making it an essential ingredient for greatness in any artistic pursuit.


"Each dance is a little separate world, and in each of these worlds I am reborn."

This quote by Gelsey Kirkland signifies the transformative power of dance. For her, every dance she performs creates a unique realm where she experiences rebirth, suggesting that through dance, she finds renewal and fresh opportunities to express herself, connect with an audience, and explore emotions and stories embodied in each piece. Essentially, dance for Kirkland is not just a performance but also a journey of personal growth and self-discovery.


"The art of dance is the joy of motion."

This quote by Gelsey Kirkland encapsulates the essence of dance as a creative and expressive form, imbued with feelings of exuberance and delight. It suggests that the true artistry in dancing lies not just in the technical skill or precision, but also in capturing the raw emotion and pleasure derived from the fluidity and freedom of movement. The joy of motion is the soulful essence that makes dance more than a physical activity; it's an emotive outlet that transcends barriers, connects people, and allows them to experience beauty in its most dynamic form.


Often, when you've reached a very high level of achievement, you almost become paralyzed by the idea that anything you might do might be imperfect. Perfection is just the striving, the effort, the struggle, but it's hard to remember that.

- Gelsey Kirkland

Level, Very, High Level, Striving

I danced with passion to spite the music.

- Gelsey Kirkland

Music, Passion, Danced, Spite

I know my body. What happened is that I got so caught up in the applause I forgot how I should dance. All my life I've been what others wanted - in dancing and in life. Now I'm doing it my way.

- Gelsey Kirkland

Dancing, My Life, Caught, Forgot

You've got to break through this idea of being light as a ballerina. The heavier you'll feel, the lighter you'll look.

- Gelsey Kirkland

Through, Break, Ballerina, Lighter

The voices of moral authority in the theatre demanded only punctuality and physical performance. In the light of continuing pressure and stress, the occasional lip service paid to moderation was meaningless. Starvation and poisoning were not excesses, but measures taken to stay within the norm.

- Gelsey Kirkland

Moral, Occasional, Norm, Moral Authority

At this stage of my life I would rather try and have some small impact within a company and suffer through those things than make such a big stink that nobody can trust to work with you. It's very important in an environment of a big institution that people don't feel threatened that you're going to expose them in any way.

- Gelsey Kirkland

Trust, Small, Through, Stink

The first year with ABT I learned 13 new roles. Most were lengthy ballets, more complicated than I was used to. I have suffered from tendinitis since I was 13, and it flared up again until the pain was paralyzing. There were times I prayed I'd be sick so I wouldn't have to go on.

- Gelsey Kirkland

Year, Roles, Prayed, Ballets

There was a stage when Balanchine and I didn't talk. I was trying to develop my classical technique as opposed to the fast-track technique that he was pushing. We were very quiet with each other. But after two years he saw what I was doing and sent messages through other people that, yes, this is good.

- Gelsey Kirkland

Through, Other, Very, Messages

As soon as you become afraid to make a fool of yourself, you're in trouble. I decided I may as well just see if I can live with myself making millions of mistakes and learn something from it.

- Gelsey Kirkland

Learn, Making, May, Fool

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