Graeme Murphy Quotes

Powerful Graeme Murphy for Daily Growth

About Graeme Murphy

Graeme Murphy (born March 18, 1945) is an acclaimed Australian dancer, choreographer, and theater director. Born in Auckland, New Zealand, he moved to Australia at the age of eight, and his early exposure to various dance styles through his childhood laid the foundation for his future career. Murphy trained as a ballet dancer with the Australian Ballet School before joining The Australian Ballet Company in 1963. His dance career spanned two decades, but it was Murphy's transition into choreography that truly showcased his artistic talent. In 1978, he created "Spartacus," which marked the beginning of a prolific choreographic career that would see him create over 60 ballets for companies worldwide. Murphy's work is known for its wit, emotional depth, and innovative storytelling. He has been heavily influenced by various art forms, including visual arts, literature, and music, which he skillfully weaves into his choreography. His adaptations of classic stories such as "Cinderella," "The Nutcracker," and "Swan Lake" are renowned for their fresh perspectives and engaging interpretations. In 1989, Murphy took over as artistic director of The Australian Ballet, a role he held until 2005. During his tenure, he introduced contemporary works to the company's repertoire and nurtured young talent. Post-directorship, Murphy continued to create ballets for companies globally, including The Royal Ballet, National Ballet of Canada, and Dutch National Ballet. Quotes by Graeme Murphy reflect his passion for dance and creativity: "Dance is the hidden language of the soul," and "The most important thing in life is to try and achieve your full potential." These quotes encapsulate Murphy's dedication to his art and his belief in personal growth. His impact on the world of dance is profound, leaving an enduring legacy for future generations of dancers and choreographers.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"Dance is the hidden language of the soul of moving being."

Graeme Murphy's quote suggests that dance is a powerful means of expression, allowing the inner feelings, emotions, and spirit of an individual to be communicated in a non-verbal manner. Dance can thus serve as a unique medium through which the soul, or one's true essence, reveals itself.


"The essence of a choreographer is the ability to create movement from an emotion."

This quote by Graeme Murphy emphasizes that the core function of a choreographer lies in their capacity to transform emotional experiences or states into physical movements, thereby conveying those emotions to the audience through dance. It highlights the intimate connection between feelings, the creative process, and the resulting artistic expression.


"Art and life are about the search for truth."

This quote by Graeme Murphy suggests that both art and life are journeys aimed at discovering truth, with each offering unique perspectives. In art, truth is often expressed through various forms of creative self-expression, allowing us to explore complex emotions, ideas, or societal issues. In life, truth can be found in our experiences, relationships, and personal growth as we learn about ourselves and the world around us. Essentially, the quote encourages us to use both artistic exploration and personal development to seek out the deeper meanings of existence.


"Ballet dancers are athletes, but they are also artists with a very special way of expressing themselves through their bodies."

This quote by Graeme Murphy highlights the dual nature of ballet dancers as both athletic performers and artistic expressionists. They possess remarkable physical prowess, demonstrated by their agility, grace, and strength, making them athletes. However, unlike most athletes who express themselves primarily through skill and competition, ballet dancers uniquely communicate their emotions, stories, and creativity through the fluidity and symbolism of their body movements. This quote encapsulates the unique blend of physical prowess and artistic expression that defines ballet as a distinct art form.


"The body remembers what the mind forgets."

This quote suggests that physical experiences, emotions, and actions, though sometimes not consciously remembered by the mind, can still leave an imprint on our bodies. The subconscious or non-verbal responses of our physique can recall events, feelings, and sensations that our conscious mind may have forgotten over time. In essence, the body serves as a silent archive of lived experiences.


It's the emotional trigger points that are important to me because I know if I could believe in the characters and try and imagine how they felt then I'd be able to do something quite honest.

- Graeme Murphy

Believe, Points, Characters, Trigger

I always figure I have this tree and there's always some green fruit that's not ready to pick or blossoms that are ready to flower; there are always some ready to drop off too.

- Graeme Murphy

Drop, Some, Always, Blossoms

We also tour nationally and internationally.

- Graeme Murphy

Tour, Also, Internationally

And currently, there are four to five new works in the pipeline for upcoming celebrations such as the Sydney 2000 Olympics, Australian Federation, my 50th Birthday, and Sydney Dance Company's 25th Anniversary.

- Graeme Murphy

Birthday, New, Federation, Celebrations

Normally our season is seven weeks in the Drama Theatre and four weeks in the Opera Theater.

- Graeme Murphy

Theatre, Drama, Weeks, Normally

Yes, Carl Vine stuck around. He's now number one composer for choreography.

- Graeme Murphy

Number, Yes, Composer, Choreography

We can't afford big symphonies but we commission works that sound rich and symphonic because of the nature of the instrumentation and the people we work with.

- Graeme Murphy

Big, Symphonies, Works, Commission

I'm thrilled at the moment because our audiences, you know, they... the demographic is 50% male.

- Graeme Murphy

Know, Because, Audiences, Thrilled

I think it requires a bit of honesty, Swan Lake.

- Graeme Murphy

Honesty, Think, I Think, Lake

We moved, and there was a golden era in the '40s when we were so conscious of who we were as Australians.

- Graeme Murphy

Era, Were, Moved, Australians

Mostly, I'm in the very enviable position that no one dictates what I do.

- Graeme Murphy

Very, Mostly, Dictates, Enviable

Sydney is a very good market for us - we have a very strong following here.

- Graeme Murphy

Here, Market, Very, Sydney

There's a line of dancers waiting to get into Sydney Dance Company.

- Graeme Murphy

Waiting, Dancers, Line, Sydney

I don't think people we'll miss the fact that SDC is way up there and that our profile is high.

- Graeme Murphy

People, Think, Fact, Profile

For me it was really important to get the essence out of the music for the story and not, sort of, press the music into the service of the whimsical telling of it.

- Graeme Murphy

Essence, Telling, Sort, Press

I wanted to give people - which is fairly bizarre considering my whole life is contemporary dance really - I wanted to give people a really fulfilling sense that they had seen a white classical ballet - in a very pure form.

- Graeme Murphy

Give, Very, Which, Considering

I'm in the position to pick the cream of the crop.

- Graeme Murphy

Position, Pick, Cream, Crop

SDC has a great reputation for putting live music on stage.

- Graeme Murphy

Music, Stage, Putting, Live Music

If the year 2000 can help us move into the future, that's fine, but I am afraid that people see it as a full stop and that one can take a big breath afterwards - you can't.

- Graeme Murphy

Big, Year, See, Breath

But I also wanted to give them an intelligent emotional journey, without having to suspend reality - to be able to look at those characters and see reasons for the relationships and why what happens happens.

- Graeme Murphy

Give, Suspend, Having, Happens

I think the Olympics could help us reach more people.

- Graeme Murphy

Help, Think, I Think, Olympics

And dance is wonderful because dance is so immediate.

- Graeme Murphy

Wonderful, Immediate, Dance

I mean, I think in the early days we were pretty... pretty British in our entertainment leads.

- Graeme Murphy

Think, Pretty, Early Days, Leads

Dance is so joyous.

- Graeme Murphy

Dance, Joyous

I look at the dancers and I get the inspiration for the work from them.

- Graeme Murphy

Work, Dancers, Get, Inspiration

I actually build my dreams around the dancers I've got in my company.

- Graeme Murphy

Dreams, Build, Actually, Dancers

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