Suzanne Farrell Quotes

Powerful Suzanne Farrell for Daily Growth

About Suzanne Farrell

Suzanne Farrell (born June 29, 1945) is an American ballet dancer, choreographer, and teacher who has made significant contributions to the world of dance, particularly in the realm of George Balanchine's work. Born in Cincinnati, Ohio, Farrell showed an early aptitude for dance, starting her training at age six with a local studio. At 15, she was offered a scholarship to study at the School of American Ballet (SAB), the official school of New York City Ballet (NYCB). In 1960, Farrell joined NYCB, becoming one of Balanchine's most beloved muses and interpreters of his choreography. Over her illustrious 27-year career with the company, she danced principal roles in numerous ballets, including "Serenade," "Agon," "Stars and Stripes," "Who Cares?", "The Nutcracker," and "A Midsummer Night's Dream." In 1965, Balanchine created the role of Odette-Odile in "Swan Lake" specifically for Farrell. Farrell retired from performing in 1989 and returned to SAB as a teacher and artistic advisor. In 1990, she became the Artistic Director of the George Balanchine's The New York City Ballet, serving until 2005. She continues her work as an artist-in-residence at SAB, where she is known for preserving and promoting Balanchine's legacy. Throughout her career, Farrell has been honored with numerous awards, including the Kennedy Center Honors in 1989 and a National Medal of Arts in 2015. Her life and work continue to inspire dancers worldwide, making her an enduring figure in the world of ballet.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"Dance is a way to find yourself and lose yourself at the same time."

This quote emphasizes the dual nature of dance as an art form. On one hand, dance allows individuals to express their innermost feelings, discover who they are, and connect with their emotions, thereby finding themselves. On the other hand, dance provides a means of escape or transcendence from everyday life, allowing dancers to immerse themselves fully in the moment and lose themselves in the rhythm, movement, and creativity of dance, creating a sense of freedom and liberation. In essence, through dance, one can explore both their inner selves and the boundless possibilities of artistic expression.


"I think dancing has helped me to be very disciplined in all areas of my life."

This quote suggests that Suzanne Farrell, a renowned ballet dancer, has found a way for her dance training to permeate into other aspects of her life, instilling discipline as a core personal value. The implication is that the rigorous practice and dedication required in dance have fostered a commitment to orderliness, punctuality, and focus across various domains, thereby enhancing her overall quality of life.


"The more you know about dance, the more mystery there is."

This quote suggests that as one delves deeper into the art of dance, they may find a greater appreciation for its complexity, nuance, and elusive beauty. The intricacies of dance—its movements, rhythms, emotions, and symbolism—often defy simple explanation or understanding, adding to its allure and mystique. It underscores the idea that mastering dance is a lifelong pursuit, as the more one learns, the more they realize how much there is yet to discover and explore within this captivating art form.


"If you don't have any passion for what you do, then you're wasting your time."

This quote underscores the importance of finding purpose and passion in one's work or pursuits. It suggests that if an individual lacks enthusiasm or motivation towards their activities, they might be expending their efforts on something unfulfilling or meaningless to them. The message encourages people to pursue what they love, as doing so will lead to a more rewarding and satisfying life experience.


"There are no small parts, only small dancers." (This quote is often attributed to Suzanne Farrell, but it was originally said by Faye Dunaway.)

This quote emphasizes that every role or task, regardless of its perceived importance, is significant in shaping one's overall development. In the context of dance, it suggests that no dancer should consider their role as insignificant or minor because each role contributes to honing their skills and building their career. The sentiment applies broadly to all fields, stressing the value of each opportunity and effort put forth in personal growth and professional development.


I had two sisters, and we would love to get dressed up and pretend that we were chic, sophisticated ladies. And I think that was a great sort of preparation, in a way.

- Suzanne Farrell

Love, Think, I Think, Sophisticated

That the work involved, the willingness to take chances, the commitment, the opportunity to get on stage and make people happy, was more important than becoming famous, or even what I was dancing.

- Suzanne Farrell

Dancing, Famous, Becoming, Chances

I like dramatic ballets, particularly if they're ballets in which I have a chance to go from one extreme of style or characterization to another.

- Suzanne Farrell

Chance, Which, Particularly, Ballets

The body can do amazing things in a situation when it is really called for.

- Suzanne Farrell

Amazing, Body, Things, Amazing Things

I had a wonderful childhood, coming from Cincinnati, and I think that it was great going into the life that I was going to have, where you have to start young as a dancer.

- Suzanne Farrell

Childhood, Think, I Think, Cincinnati

I didn't care too much for ballet, because you had to be more disciplined, and you sort of looked like everyone else. It required a certain kind of conformity that I didn't feel like I wanted to do.

- Suzanne Farrell

Disciplined, Everyone Else, Conformity

I liked Latin, I like languages, I liked all the myths, and the Roman tales that we were required to translate in Latin, and all these interesting people who were never quite what they thought they would be or seemed to be.

- Suzanne Farrell

Thought, Like, Languages, Tales

Once I started dancing, I was not the spoiled brat or the rebellious child that I was as a child.

- Suzanne Farrell

Dancing, Rebellious, Once, Brat

When you are on stage, you don't see faces. The lights are in your eyes and you see just this black void out in front of you. And yet you know there is life out there, and you have to get your message across.

- Suzanne Farrell

Black, Your, Void, Lights

I liked tap, because I liked hearing the results of my movements.

- Suzanne Farrell

Because, Tap, Movements, Hearing

The steps must be second nature to me, so that the music seems to be drawing the steps out of me and I don't look as if I'm struggling to fit the steps to the music.

- Suzanne Farrell

Nature, Look, Steps, Second Nature

In fact, ballet companies did not exist in the Midwest when I was a child.

- Suzanne Farrell

Fact, Exist, Companies, Midwest

As soon as I hear music, something in me starts to vibrate.

- Suzanne Farrell

Music, Me, Vibrate, Hear Music

It's ungrateful to be wishing you were doing something else at the moment you are living. You haven't lived in the moment that you are really living, you are wishing you were somewhere else.

- Suzanne Farrell

Doing, Living, Wishing

You don't learn from a situation where you do something well. You enjoy it and you give yourself credit, but you don't really learn from that. You learn from trial and error, trial and error, all the time.

- Suzanne Farrell

Enjoy, Learn, Give, Credit

Even though I am a professional, and I know what the steps are, I don't quite know how I'm going to do them, because I haven't lived that moment yet. I always feel very insecure and I get very excited.

- Suzanne Farrell

Professional, Feel, Very, Insecure

I used to love to play dress-up, where you get your mother's or your grandmother's dresses and high heels.

- Suzanne Farrell

Love, Play, Grandmother, To Love

I learned to love dance for its own sake.

- Suzanne Farrell

Love, Own, Learned, To Love

But what was my motivation was music, and the fact that I love to move around. I'm always moving around.

- Suzanne Farrell

Love, Always, Move, Moving

I could work out a lot of my emotions by going to class and dancing.

- Suzanne Farrell

Dancing, Emotions, Lot, Work Out

And I just thought, this is what I want to be. And I knew that dancing would be my chosen profession.

- Suzanne Farrell

Dancing, Thought, Profession, Chosen

The particular ballet was not so important as the fact that I was physically healthy, and capable of getting out there and dancing as often as possible.

- Suzanne Farrell

Dancing, Fact, Particular, Ballet

On the other hand, I think it is wonderful for everyone to take ballet classes, at any age. It gives you a discipline, it gives you a place to go. It gives you some control in your life.

- Suzanne Farrell

Think, Some, Other, Ballet

I was very much of a tomboy.

- Suzanne Farrell

Very, Much, Tomboy

I loved tests because it was another form of competing, a healthy competition.

- Suzanne Farrell

Loved, Competing, Form, Tests

When you get on stage, you can be anything. You are removed from reality in a way, the real world.

- Suzanne Farrell

Real, Anything, Way, The Real World

I didn't have any doubts about my choice of career, but I had constant doubts about my ability, yes.

- Suzanne Farrell

Career, Yes, Constant, Doubts

I can't read a note. I have lots of discipline, but I can't sit still at any instrument.

- Suzanne Farrell

Still, Lots, Note, Instrument

I'm thought of as a cool, unemotional dancer, but inside I'm not.

- Suzanne Farrell

Cool, Thought, Inside, Dancer

I liked to read but, being a dancer, I didn't have a lot of time to read.

- Suzanne Farrell

Being, Lot, Read, Dancer

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