--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I always knew I wanted to dance and when…" description: "\"I always knew I wanted to dance and when I was eight, I started ballet lessons at a church hall. They all wore pink ballet shoes but I wore green, as t..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c7b/arlene-phillips-5593_ballet-shoes_i-always-knew-i-wanted-to-dance-and-when_1159809.jpg" --- # I always knew I wanted to dance and when I was eight, I… ![“I always knew I wanted to dance and when I was eight, I started ballet lessons at a church hall. They all wore pink ballet shoes but I wore green, as they were cheap, and I remember everyone staring at me.” quote by Arlene Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c7b/arlene-phillips-5593_ballet-shoes_i-always-knew-i-wanted-to-dance-and-when_1159809.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c7b/arlene-phillips-5593_ballet-shoes_i-always-knew-i-wanted-to-dance-and-when_1159809.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c7b/arlene-phillips-5593_ballet-shoes_i-always-knew-i-wanted-to-dance-and-when_1159809.jpg) > “I always knew I wanted to dance and when I was eight, I started ballet lessons at a church hall. They all wore pink ballet shoes but I wore green, as they were cheap, and I remember everyone staring at me.” [Arlene Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arlene-phillips/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Early passion for dance can clash with expectations, yet personal choice and resourcefulness shape identity despite scrutiny. **In simple terms:** Choosing a different path shows individuality despite judgment. Key Takeaway Embrace your unique choices. Themes identity creativity self‑expression Mood inspired defiant Type motivational personal When to use this quote - dance training - school projects - career decisions - personal branding Key Concepts personal agency social perception resourcefulness Questions to Reflect On - What does your “green shoes” moment teach about authenticity? - How do you turn perceived differences into strengths? A Different Perspective External judgments can limit confidence if internalized. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ballet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ballet/) [Ballet shoes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ballet-shoes/) [Church](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/church/) [Dance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dance/) ## Related quotes > [I trained in every form of dance - started as a tap dancer when I was a kid, then contemporary, ballet, ballroom, everything. Russian,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nigel-lythgoe/i-trained-in-every-form-of-dance-started-as-a-tap-dancer-when-i-was-a/) [Nigel Lythgoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nigel-lythgoe/) > [I was very much a tomboy. I just couldn't do the pink ballet tutus.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-wagner/i-was-very-much-a-tomboy-i-just-couldn-t-do-the-pink-ballet-tutus/) [Ashley Wagner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-wagner/) > [I wanted to be a dancer from when I was about nine or something like that and started ballet. I used to really like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mia-wasikowska/i-wanted-to-be-a-dancer-from-when-i-was-about-nine-or-something-like/) [Mia Wasikowska](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mia-wasikowska/) > [I started taking ballet lessons when I was three and a half and I still take dance classes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oksana-baiul/i-started-taking-ballet-lessons-when-i-was-three-and-a-half-and-i/) [Oksana Baiul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oksana-baiul/) > [Since babyhood, I've always evolved from one thing to another. My mother gave me ballet lessons at 6 as part of her enthusiasm for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-jamison/since-babyhood-i-ve-always-evolved-from-one-thing-to-another-my/) [Judith Jamison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-jamison/) > [I found at a young age that emotions aren't always handled with talking and other emotions. I started ballet, seriously around fourteen, and let…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-adam-hamilton/i-found-at-a-young-age-that-emotions-aren-t-always-handled-with/) [Michael Adam Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-adam-hamilton/) > [I started ballet in my early 20s. I studied for about ten years. Ballet is probably the one of the hardest things I've done,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herschel-walker/i-started-ballet-in-my-early-20s-i-studied-for-about-ten-years-ballet/) [Herschel Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herschel-walker/) > [I never thought of myself as special or particularly good at anything. But once I started ballet, suddenly I had a new identity: prodigy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/misty-copeland/i-never-thought-of-myself-as-special-or-particularly-good-at-anything/) [Misty Copeland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/misty-copeland/) > [When I was young, I took classical ballet lessons, but I wasn't very good at it. It was really frustrating because I wanted to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-and-the-queens/when-i-was-young-i-took-classical-ballet-lessons-but-i-wasn-t-very/) [Christine and the Queens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-and-the-queens/) > [“It was seven-thirty. The dance started in half an hour. And I was buck-naked. Which probably would have made an interesting night, but the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-walker/it-was-seven-thirty-the-dance-started-in-half-an-hour-and-i-was-buck/) [Kristin Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-walker/) > [I had to do a tango with Raft and I learned to dance in ballet shoes with my knees bent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-windsor/i-had-to-do-a-tango-with-raft-and-i-learned-to-dance-in-ballet-shoes/) [Marie Windsor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-windsor/) > [I was a very rotund child with short hair, and for some reason, I always had black ballet shoes. I was like the Wednesday…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felicity-jones/i-was-a-very-rotund-child-with-short-hair-and-for-some-reason-i/) [Felicity Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felicity-jones/) > [The highest heels I do are six-inch heels - but mostly only dancers can wear them, since they are used to being on point…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-louboutin/the-highest-heels-i-do-are-six-inch-heels-but-mostly-only-dancers-can/) [Christian Louboutin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-louboutin/) > [I was a massive fan of Amy Winehouse growing up. I decided it would be a good idea to become Amy Winehouse with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mia-goth/i-was-a-massive-fan-of-amy-winehouse-growing-up-i-decided-it-would-be/) [Mia Goth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mia-goth/) > [You can imagine me as a kid growing up in redneck Texas with ballet shoes, tucking the violin under my arm. I had to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-swayze/you-can-imagine-me-as-a-kid-growing-up-in-redneck-texas-with-ballet/) [Patrick Swayze](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-swayze/) ## More by Arlene Phillips > [I'm tough. I do what I want to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arlene-phillips/i-m-tough-i-do-what-i-want-to-do/) [Arlene Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arlene-phillips/) > [I think dancing always took me to a different place. It was hard and it was a struggle, but it took me to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arlene-phillips/i-think-dancing-always-took-me-to-a-different-place-it-was-hard-and/) [Arlene Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arlene-phillips/) > [It doesn't matter how old you are, with determination you can make your life what you want it to be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arlene-phillips/it-doesn-t-matter-how-old-you-are-with-determination-you-can-make/) [Arlene Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arlene-phillips/) > [I know many people who have open relationships.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arlene-phillips/i-know-many-people-who-have-open-relationships/) [Arlene Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arlene-phillips/) > [Certainly after 'Strictly' I was in a very vulnerable situation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arlene-phillips/certainly-after-strictly-i-was-in-a-very-vulnerable-situation/) [Arlene Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arlene-phillips/) > [I used to dance all day, every day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arlene-phillips/i-used-to-dance-all-day-every-day/) [Arlene Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arlene-phillips/) > [We'd grown up without any money. I mean, everything was a struggle; our lives were a struggle, and dancing changed all of that. Nothing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arlene-phillips/we-d-grown-up-without-any-money-i-mean-everything-was-a-struggle-our/) [Arlene Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arlene-phillips/) > [The Paddy Stone dancers were all upwards of 5ft 6in and stunningly beautiful. I was stocky, tough-looking and 5ft 3in. So I became determined…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arlene-phillips/the-paddy-stone-dancers-were-all-upwards-of-5ft-6in-and-stunningly/) [Arlene Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arlene-phillips/) > [I travel light obsessively. I take hardly any clothes or shoes because I think that all I need is a couple of work outfits,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arlene-phillips/i-travel-light-obsessively-i-take-hardly-any-clothes-or-shoes-because/) [Arlene Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arlene-phillips/) > [I'm short, stocky and have a big bum.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arlene-phillips/i-m-short-stocky-and-have-a-big-bum/) [Arlene Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arlene-phillips/) > [I haven't let people take me down a negative path, because apart from dance I don't have an addictive personality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arlene-phillips/i-haven-t-let-people-take-me-down-a-negative-path-because-apart-from/) [Arlene Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arlene-phillips/) > [When I was teaching I'd go to some schools where no one wanted to dance - when they came into the room it was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arlene-phillips/when-i-was-teaching-i-d-go-to-some-schools-where-no-one-wanted-to/) [Arlene Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arlene-phillips/) > [If you're in the arts, or anything that requires great discipline, the only way to achieve it is to put in the hours.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arlene-phillips/if-you-re-in-the-arts-or-anything-that-requires-great-discipline-the/) [Arlene Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arlene-phillips/) > [My career has just been fantastic - but most importantly, I have an amazing family.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arlene-phillips/my-career-has-just-been-fantastic-but-most-importantly-i-have-an/) [Arlene Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arlene-phillips/) > [In the 1960s everybody knew about Christine Keeler and Mandy Rice-Davies. No matter what class people belonged to, they were talking about these two…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arlene-phillips/in-the-1960s-everybody-knew-about-christine-keeler-and-mandy-rice/) [Arlene Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arlene-phillips/) [Explore all 100 Arlene Phillips quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arlene-phillips/) ## More Ballet quotes > [“Afterwards Isabelle often wondered if the moments themselves were greater or the memory of them. At least the memory did not pass, while the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toni-bentley/afterwards-isabelle-often-wondered-if-the-moments-themselves-were/) [Toni Bentley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toni-bentley/) > [One can be a great artist without being a great technician. There have been many famous ballet stars who did not have the ideal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fernando-bujones/one-can-be-a-great-artist-without-being-a-great-technician-there-have/) Fernando Bujones > [So I'm studying ballet every day and really training so people will see me as a ballet dancer, which no one's seen before.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sutton-foster/so-i-m-studying-ballet-every-day-and-really-training-so-people-will/) [Sutton Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sutton-foster/) > [No matter the style, the farther one goes the more obstacles increase, and the more distant appears the object it is desired to attain.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-georges-noverre/no-matter-the-style-the-farther-one-goes-the-more-obstacles-increase/) [Jean-Georges Noverre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-georges-noverre/) > [What I love most about ballet is being able to express my emotions through dance, and to be able to bring others joy through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michaela-deprince/what-i-love-most-about-ballet-is-being-able-to-express-my-emotions/) [Michaela DePrince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michaela-deprince/) > [It is not a question of who dances but of who or what does not dance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-st-denis/it-is-not-a-question-of-who-dances-but-of-who-or-what-does-not-dance/) [Ruth St. Denis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-st-denis/) > [Ballet is pure and demands that you serve something larger than yourself, whether it be beauty or art, or a combination of both. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-martins/ballet-is-pure-and-demands-that-you-serve-something-larger-than/) Peter Martins > [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…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-farrell/even-though-i-am-a-professional-and-i-know-what-the-steps-are-i-don-t/) [Suzanne Farrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-farrell/) > [I'd rather be a guy that can build a house or fix a car than be able to walk like a ballet dancer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/travis-fimmel/i-d-rather-be-a-guy-that-can-build-a-house-or-fix-a-car-than-be-able/) [Travis Fimmel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/travis-fimmel/) > [When I was 16, I moved to Torrance, California to train at a more advanced studio, and by 19, I joined the American Ballet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/misty-copeland/when-i-was-16-i-moved-to-torrance-california-to-train-at-a-more/) [Misty Copeland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/misty-copeland/) > [Bob's work gleaned from hoofing, from vaudeville, from ballet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-reinking/bob-s-work-gleaned-from-hoofing-from-vaudeville-from-ballet/) [Ann Reinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-reinking/) > [You can imagine me as a kid growing up in redneck Texas with ballet shoes, tucking the violin under my arm. I had to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-swayze/you-can-imagine-me-as-a-kid-growing-up-in-redneck-texas-with-ballet/) [Patrick Swayze](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-swayze/) > [I only started writing in the latter days of Spandau Ballet. I didnt know I could write because all had our roles within the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-hadley/i-only-started-writing-in-the-latter-days-of-spandau-ballet-i-didnt/) [Tony Hadley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-hadley/) > [All ballet, all reading, all music. That was my world, my inner world,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalia-makarova/all-ballet-all-reading-all-music-that-was-my-world-my-inner-world/) [Natalia Makarova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalia-makarova/) > [I can dance. I like hip hop and stuff and jazz movements, but I'm horrible in ballet. I tried.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keke-palmer/i-can-dance-i-like-hip-hop-and-stuff-and-jazz-movements-but-i-m/) [Keke Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keke-palmer/) [Browse all 1,227 Ballet quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ballet/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I always knew I wanted to dance and when I was eight, I started ballet lessons at a church hall. 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