--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I don't know how my parents ever paid for…" description: "\"I don't know how my parents ever paid for my dance classes when I was little. We even had to line our shoes with newspaper when there were holes in the..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d2d/arlene-phillips-5593_dance_i-don-t-know-how-my-parents-ever-paid-fo_832330.jpg" --- # I don't know how my parents ever paid for my dance classes… ![“I don't know how my parents ever paid for my dance classes when I was little. We even had to line our shoes with newspaper when there were holes in them because we couldn't afford to get them soled.” quote by Arlene Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d2d/arlene-phillips-5593_dance_i-don-t-know-how-my-parents-ever-paid-fo_832330.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d2d/arlene-phillips-5593_dance_i-don-t-know-how-my-parents-ever-paid-fo_832330.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d2d/arlene-phillips-5593_dance_i-don-t-know-how-my-parents-ever-paid-fo_832330.jpg) > “I don't know how my parents ever paid for my dance classes when I was little. We even had to line our shoes with newspaper when there were holes in them because we couldn't afford to get them soled.” [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. The speaker recalls childhood poverty that made dance lessons a financial strain, highlighting resilience. **In simple terms:** She grew up poor but still pursued dance. Key Takeaway Persevere despite financial obstacles. Themes poverty determination art resilience Mood hopeful determined Type inspirational personal When to use this quote - dance school - scholarships - community programs Key Concepts socio‑economic barriers personal growth Questions to Reflect On - How can communities support talented youth? - What sacrifices are worth making for passion? A Different Perspective Financial strain can limit access to training. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Afford Soled](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/afford-soled-570212/) [Couldn Afford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/couldn-afford/) [Dance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dance/) [How](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/how/) [Newspaper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/newspaper/) [Paid Dance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/paid-dance-570211/) [Parenting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parenting/) [Parents](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parents/) [Parents Paid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parents-paid-570210/) [Shoes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shoes/) ## Related quotes > [If the federal government is so concerned with why people are deciding against having kids, maybe they should consider how little support and protection…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ana-kasparian/if-the-federal-government-is-so-concerned-with-why-people-are/) [Ana Kasparian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ana-kasparian/) > [I went to Marymount College in New York City with a lot of kids whose parents paid their way, and I wouldn't even have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moira-kelly/i-went-to-marymount-college-in-new-york-city-with-a-lot-of-kids-whose/) [Moira Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moira-kelly/) > [My parents paid me small amounts for cleaning my room or cleaning the dishes and stuff, but I never really had a real job…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caroline-wozniacki/my-parents-paid-me-small-amounts-for-cleaning-my-room-or-cleaning-the/) [Caroline Wozniacki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-wozniacki/) > [I have a slightly bourgeois upbringing, I guess. My parents paid for me to go to school, which is nice, but I haven't gotten…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-wareham/i-have-a-slightly-bourgeois-upbringing-i-guess-my-parents-paid-for-me/) [Dean Wareham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-wareham/) > [I remember my dad, who coached football, would buy some of his players football shoes when they couldn't afford it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chaske-spencer/i-remember-my-dad-who-coached-football-would-buy-some-of-his-players/) [Chaske Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chaske-spencer/) > [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 knew that I couldn't afford to go wrong with the music of 'Karzzz.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/himesh-reshammiya/i-knew-that-i-couldn-t-afford-to-go-wrong-with-the-music-of-karzzz/) [Himesh Reshammiya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/himesh-reshammiya/) > [I lived by the candlelight for two years because I couldn't afford power. It was nice and romantic at the time, but if you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-renner/i-lived-by-the-candlelight-for-two-years-because-i-couldn-t-afford/) [Jeremy Renner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-renner/) > [ I may yet move \[from Nashville\], and where would I move if not Texas or New Mexico? I couldn't afford a home in California.… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-young/i-may-yet-move-from-nashville-and-where-would-i-move-if-not-texas-or/) [Steve Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-young/) > [I never had holidays when I was a kid, because my parents couldn't afford them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-galetti/i-never-had-holidays-when-i-was-a-kid-because-my-parents-couldn-t/) [Monica Galetti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-galetti/) > [“When my dad died suddenly, my widowed mom couldn’t afford my college tuition, so Morrie and his friend Jake Garber, my dad’s boss, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-l-friedman/when-my-dad-died-suddenly-my-widowed-mom-couldn-t-afford-my-college/) [Thomas L. Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-l-friedman/) > [The Royal Ballet was good to me. They gave me everything I asked for. It's just... I felt tricked. I became a principal and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sergei-polunin/the-royal-ballet-was-good-to-me-they-gave-me-everything-i-asked-for/) [Sergei Polunin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sergei-polunin/) > [I thought I couldn't afford to take her out and smoke as well. So I gave up cigarettes. Then I took her out and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benny-hill/i-thought-i-couldn-t-afford-to-take-her-out-and-smoke-as-well-so-i/) [Benny Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benny-hill/) > [Ask any woman who has gone through a divorce and had her standard of living decline substantially. Ask any woman who's been fired or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sallie-krawcheck/ask-any-woman-who-has-gone-through-a-divorce-and-had-her-standard-of/) [Sallie Krawcheck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sallie-krawcheck/) > [To some degree I'm tied to the budgets I can raise. And that starts to very much affect you... originally I always shot outside…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-reichardt/to-some-degree-i-m-tied-to-the-budgets-i-can-raise-and-that-starts-to/) [Kelly Reichardt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-reichardt/) ## 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 Dance quotes > [When you go to a club it's not about being black or white or heavy or thick. I'm shaking my ass because I want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miley-cyrus/when-you-go-to-a-club-it-s-not-about-being-black-or-white-or-heavy-or/) [Miley Cyrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miley-cyrus/) > [Sing like no one's listening, love like you've never been hurt, dance like nobody's watching, and live like its heaven on earth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/sing-like-no-one-s-listening-love-like-you-ve-never-been-hurt-dance/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [I make dance music because I love to dance. But I want to think at the same time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stromae/i-make-dance-music-because-i-love-to-dance-but-i-want-to-think-at-the/) [Stromae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stromae/) > [I studied all kinds of dance, all types of music. I got good grades. I started hitting the recording studio around 13.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-derulo/i-studied-all-kinds-of-dance-all-types-of-music-i-got-good-grades-i/) [Jason Derulo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-derulo/) > [I like Sam Smith and Taylor Swift. I love pop music, but I also like Sam Smith's slow songs. That would be more to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maddie-ziegler/i-like-sam-smith-and-taylor-swift-i-love-pop-music-but-i-also-like/) [Maddie Ziegler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maddie-ziegler/) > [I think it's useful to experience other types of dance and other cultures, and the life of a classical dancer these days is certainly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-bull/i-think-it-s-useful-to-experience-other-types-of-dance-and-other/) [Deborah Bull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-bull/) > [Everything in dancing is style, allusion, the essence of many thoughts and feelings. The abstraction of many moments.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alvin-ailey/everything-in-dancing-is-style-allusion-the-essence-of-many-thoughts/) [Alvin Ailey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alvin-ailey/) > [I worked a lot in Chicago's theater scene as a fight choreographer. And so I do have a lot of experience in stage combat…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-offerman/i-worked-a-lot-in-chicago-s-theater-scene-as-a-fight-choreographer/) [Nick Offerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-offerman/) > [“dances with mine as if we’ve been doing this our whole”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corinne-michaels/dances-with-mine-as-if-we-ve-been-doing-this-our-whole/) [Corinne Michaels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corinne-michaels/) > [My body was so instrumental to how I took pictures: it was practically a dance. I used to use my legs a lot; now…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-leibovitz/my-body-was-so-instrumental-to-how-i-took-pictures-it-was-practically/) [Annie Leibovitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-leibovitz/) > [I would rather learn from one bird how to sing than to teach 10,000 stars how not to dance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-e-cummings/i-would-rather-learn-from-one-bird-how-to-sing-than-to-teach-10-000/) [e. e. cummings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-e-cummings/) > [If you dance, you dance because you have to. Every dancer hurts, you know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-dunham/if-you-dance-you-dance-because-you-have-to-every-dancer-hurts-you-know/) [Katherine Dunham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-dunham/) > [I'm not a dancer. Never took a dance class.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chrishell-stause/i-m-not-a-dancer-never-took-a-dance-class/) [Chrishell Stause](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chrishell-stause/) > [Being fit is the easiest part of being a dance professional. I used to just throw on a backpack full of rocks and run…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anton-du-beke/being-fit-is-the-easiest-part-of-being-a-dance-professional-i-used-to/) [Anton du Beke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anton-du-beke/) > [I'm a horrible dancer, but I wanted to record songs that made me want to dance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-lane/i-m-a-horrible-dancer-but-i-wanted-to-record-songs-that-made-me-want/) [Chris Lane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-lane/) [Browse all 9,682 Dance quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dance/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I don't know how my parents ever paid for my dance classes when I was little. We even had to line our shoes with newspaper when there were holes in them because we couldn't afford to get them soled.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Arlene Phillips" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arlene-phillips/i-don-t-know-how-my-parents-ever-paid-for-my-dance-classes-when-i-was/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Dance" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arlene-phillips/i-don-t-know-how-my-parents-ever-paid-for-my-dance-classes-when-i-was/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d2d/arlene-phillips-5593_dance_i-don-t-know-how-my-parents-ever-paid-fo_832330.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d2d/arlene-phillips-5593_dance_i-don-t-know-how-my-parents-ever-paid-fo_832330.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d2d/arlene-phillips-5593_dance_i-don-t-know-how-my-parents-ever-paid-fo_832330.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I don't know how my parents ever paid for my dance classes when I was little. We even had to line our shoes…” — Arlene Phillips", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Arlene Phillips", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arlene-phillips/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I don't know how my parents...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arlene-phillips/i-don-t-know-how-my-parents-ever-paid-for-my-dance-classes-when-i-was/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arlene-phillips/i-don-t-know-how-my-parents-ever-paid-for-my-dance-classes-when-i-was/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```