Ninette De Valois Quotes

Powerful Ninette De Valois for Daily Growth

About Ninette De Valois

**Ninette de Valois:** *A Pioneer in British Ballet* Born on November 18, 1898, in County Wexford, Ireland, Ninette de Valois is a pivotal figure in the history of British ballet. Her birth name was Edris Stannus, but she would later adopt the stage name Ninette de Valois, reflecting her admiration for the French ballet tradition. Raised in Dublin, De Valois showed an early interest in dance and began training under the tutelage of Lydia Kyasht. In 1914, she moved to London to further her studies at the Royal Academy of Dance, where she was particularly influenced by the teaching methods of Adolf Bolm and Anna Pavlova. De Valois' professional career began in 1918 when she joined the Diaghilev Ballet Russe as a choreographer and dancer. However, her career was cut short due to an injury that forced her retirement from dancing in 1926. Undeterred, she focused on choreography and teaching. In 1930, de Valois founded the Vic-Wells Ballet (later known as the Royal Ballet), which was a groundbreaking move as it aimed to make ballet accessible to a wider audience in Britain. De Valois served as the company's first director and is credited with shaping its distinctive style, combining classical technique with a strong emphasis on character development. Throughout her career, de Valois choreographed numerous works, many of which have become classics, such as "Checkmate," "Job," and "The Rake's Progress." She also trained generations of dancers, including Margot Fonteyn and Antoinette Sibley. De Valois was appointed a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) in 1958 for her services to dance. She continued to work and contribute to the world of ballet until her death on August 12, 2001. Her legacy continues to influence the British ballet scene and beyond.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"Dance is the hidden language of the soul of a people."

This quote by Ninette De Valois suggests that dance serves as an expression of the deepest, most fundamental emotions and cultural identity of a society or group of people. In essence, it's a unique form of communication, revealing the collective spirit, history, and values of a community through movement and rhythm. Dance thus becomes a universal language that transcends borders and spoken languages, allowing individuals to connect and understand one another at an emotional level.

"In dance, as in life, balance is everything."

This quote by Ninette De Valois emphasizes the importance of equilibrium, harmony, and poise in both dance and life. Balance in dance refers to the physical alignment of body parts and the rhythmic flow of movements, which contributes to gracefulness and elegance. In a broader sense, it suggests that finding balance is crucial for personal growth and success in life. It implies the need for finding equilibrium between work and leisure, ambition and contentment, self-expression and consideration for others, among other aspects of life. Balance enables us to navigate through life's challenges with grace, resilience, and poise, just as it does in dance.

"Ballet is not a pretty girly frolic. It's a real profession for strong people."

This quote emphasizes that ballet, contrary to common misconceptions, is a rigorous and demanding profession suitable for individuals of strength and dedication. Ninette De Valois challenges the notion that ballet should be perceived as a 'girly frolic', suggesting instead that it requires physical and mental fortitude akin to other professional careers. Her statement underscores the importance of recognizing the technical skill, discipline, and resilience essential in the field of dance, particularly in ballet.

"Art has to be free or it ceases to be art."

This quote emphasizes the importance of artistic freedom in the creative process. By "free," Ninette de Valois suggests that artists should not be bound by rigid rules, conventions, or expectations in order for their work to truly be considered 'art.' Such constraints can hinder originality and imagination, potentially stifling the authentic expression of ideas and emotions essential to art. Ultimately, artistic freedom allows for innovation, growth, and the creation of meaningful works that resonate with audiences.

"The secret of great art lies in the close relationship between the artist and his audience."

This quote by Ninette De Valois emphasizes that a deep connection between an artist and their audience is crucial to creating great art. The success of a work of art depends not only on the creativity and skill of the artist but also on how well the audience relates to it. A strong bond allows the audience to fully appreciate, understand, and emotionally resonate with the art, making it impactful and memorable. In this sense, the audience serves as a conduit through which the art gains its full potential and meaning.

And then you have the classical ballerinas, they're like sopranos. Applied to the dance.

- Ninette de Valois

Like, Applied, Classical, Sopranos

Hardly any generation wants to take the whole of the last generation, it just wants to take its best bits.

- Ninette de Valois

Generation, Last, Take, Hardly

As time goes on, all schools only get left alive if they have found something special themselves.

- Ninette de Valois

Alive, Goes, Something, Something Special

Exactly the same with dancing, you can't dance until you've learnt steps, the things your feet can do.

- Ninette de Valois

Feet, Dancing, Your, Learnt

First of all, the most important, that is to learn everything good that has survived from other times, and carefully to watch the bad - and throw it out.

- Ninette de Valois

The Most Important, Other, First Of All

Oh yes, technique has definitely advanced. But you never advance without losing something en passant, and you lose it because you're paying so much attention to the new thing.

- Ninette de Valois

New, Yes, Advanced, Much Attention

There's nothing in the world that isn't good, bad, and indifferent.

- Ninette de Valois

World, Bad, Nothing, Indifferent

It's either not good enough and dies altogether, or it develops.

- Ninette de Valois

Not Good Enough, Either, Dies

Somebody must always be doing something new, or life would get very dull.

- Ninette de Valois

New, Always, Very, Dull

Also, if you have an accident, you can't start to dance again at the top, you're too weak; you start with the easy things - the way you did them when you were young, and come up up up, the way you did then.

- Ninette de Valois

Start, Young, Again, Accident

Well, I mean, we are developing the other parts, and we can't give quite all our attention to the upper part, but soon the lower parts will be developed, and the upper part and the lower part will become partners, that will be wonderful.

- Ninette de Valois

Give, Will, Other, Partners

All the children in the school should learn the steps of everything, before they learn the thing, then they know which step they're doing better, because your voice is in certain steps and has to do most of the things that have been composed in those steps.

- Ninette de Valois

Voice, Doing, Been, Composed

God gave us all exactly the same fingers, arms, legs, and feet, but in our different countries we divided them all a little differently as we feel it, do you understand?

- Ninette de Valois

Feet, Understand, Divided, Different Countries

The best way to study is to go to the Cecchetti method for about a year and draw onto all the highest points and then put that into the general method.

- Ninette de Valois

Best Way, About A Year, Points

Classical ballet will never die.

- Ninette de Valois

Die, Never, Will, Ballet

There would never have been a British Ballet without Diaghilev. He had a wonderful influence.

- Ninette de Valois

Never, Been, Would, Ballet

You can't stop what comes into a country, you can be influenced, but you can't stop it, you shouldn't, because it makes all the others interesting, we all get muddled up together, and produce something that belongs to everyone.

- Ninette de Valois

Country, Everyone, Influenced

Nearly everything in life goes in threes and fours.

- Ninette de Valois

Life, Everything, Goes, Nearly

Oh yes, after the war, and we were all starving - we had no proper food or anything - no proper shoes.

- Ninette de Valois

Yes, Starving, Were, Shoes

So it takes years to make a solid company.

- Ninette de Valois

Company, Takes, Make, Solid

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