--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I was a dancer, not an actress." description: "\"I was a dancer, not an actress.\" — Cyd Charisse" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a7/cyd-charisse-7227_actress_i-was-a-dancer-not-an-actress-1239481_1239481.jpg" --- # I was a dancer, not an actress. ![“I was a dancer, not an actress.” quote by Cyd Charisse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a7/cyd-charisse-7227_actress_i-was-a-dancer-not-an-actress-1239481_1239481.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a7/cyd-charisse-7227_actress_i-was-a-dancer-not-an-actress-1239481_1239481.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a7/cyd-charisse-7227_actress_i-was-a-dancer-not-an-actress-1239481_1239481.jpg) > “I was a dancer, not an actress.” [Cyd Charisse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cyd-charisse/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. She identifies primarily as a dancer, not as an actress. **In simple terms:** Self-identifies as dancer over actress. Key Takeaway Embrace your true artistic identity. Themes identity art self Mood confident assertive Type personal professional When to use this quote - dance training - artistic branding - career decisions - personal branding Key Concepts performance career focus Questions to Reflect On - What defines your artistic identity? - How do you balance multiple talents? A Different Perspective May limit opportunities in other fields. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Actress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actress/) [Dance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dance/) [Dancer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dancer/) [Dancer Actress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dancer-actress-3111591/) ## Related quotes > [When I started out in this business, dance was not at the height it is now. It was almost like, you're either a dancer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenna-dewan/when-i-started-out-in-this-business-dance-was-not-at-the-height-it-is/) [Jenna Dewan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenna-dewan/) > [I am a foodie at heart and dancer/actress by choice. For me, being fit is a priority.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mouni-roy/i-am-a-foodie-at-heart-and-dancer-actress-by-choice-for-me-being-fit/) [Mouni Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mouni-roy/) > [I was a dancer before I was an actress, so I've always been someone who likes to communicate from my body and movement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caity-lotz/i-was-a-dancer-before-i-was-an-actress-so-i-ve-always-been-someone/) [Caity Lotz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caity-lotz/) > [If I have any strength as a dancer, I got it all from Nijinska. Her barre was tough, and there were very difficult combinations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cyd-charisse/if-i-have-any-strength-as-a-dancer-i-got-it-all-from-nijinska-her/) [Cyd Charisse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cyd-charisse/) > [I'm a dancer and when I walk off stage there isn't a dry spot on me. This means my hair has to be put…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cyd-charisse/i-m-a-dancer-and-when-i-walk-off-stage-there-isn-t-a-dry-spot-on-me/) [Cyd Charisse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cyd-charisse/) > [I was embarrassed that I even wanted to become an actress because coming from L.A., with two older sisters in the business and a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-olsen/i-was-embarrassed-that-i-even-wanted-to-become-an-actress-because/) [Elizabeth Olsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-olsen/) > [To join or not to join films was the biggest choice I had to make. I'd done two years of biogenetic engineering, was an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amisha-patel/to-join-or-not-to-join-films-was-the-biggest-choice-i-had-to-make-i-d/) [Amisha Patel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amisha-patel/) > [“You have to find fun in everything you do.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaliyah/you-have-to-find-fun-in-everything-you-do/) [Aaliyah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaliyah/) > [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/) > [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/) > [There's no thinking involved in my choreography... I don't work through images or ideas. I work through the body... If the dancer dances, which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/merce-cunningham/there-s-no-thinking-involved-in-my-choreography-i-don-t-work-through/) [Merce Cunningham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/merce-cunningham/) > [To chase the glowing hours with flying feet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-byron/to-chase-the-glowing-hours-with-flying-feet/) [Lord Byron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-byron/) > [I have always wanted to tell stories. Even as a classical dancer, I revel in telling stories through my dance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sobhita-dhulipala/i-have-always-wanted-to-tell-stories-even-as-a-classical-dancer-i/) [Sobhita Dhulipala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sobhita-dhulipala/) > [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/) ## More by Cyd Charisse > [I think, however, that Astaire's coordination is better than Kelly's... his sense of rhythm is uncanny. Kelly, on the other hand, is the stronger…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cyd-charisse/i-think-however-that-astaire-s-coordination-is-better-than-kelly-s/) [Cyd Charisse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cyd-charisse/) > [The music changed. We had Irving Berlin and Gershwin and Lerner and Loewe and Cole Porter. Great music. Now we have 'Rent.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cyd-charisse/the-music-changed-we-had-irving-berlin-and-gershwin-and-lerner-and/) [Cyd Charisse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cyd-charisse/) > [Well, I don't like hats, never wear 'em.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cyd-charisse/well-i-don-t-like-hats-never-wear-em/) [Cyd Charisse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cyd-charisse/) > [People who think they're making a fool of themselves on the dance floor usually do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cyd-charisse/people-who-think-they-re-making-a-fool-of-themselves-on-the-dance/) [Cyd Charisse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cyd-charisse/) > [I dance every day and my legs are in good shape.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cyd-charisse/i-dance-every-day-and-my-legs-are-in-good-shape/) [Cyd Charisse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cyd-charisse/) > [Unless you have the right legs, these mini-skirts are ungainly and uncomfortable. They're just a fad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cyd-charisse/unless-you-have-the-right-legs-these-mini-skirts-are-ungainly-and/) [Cyd Charisse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cyd-charisse/) > [Everybody can learn to dance. If they can walk, they can dance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cyd-charisse/everybody-can-learn-to-dance-if-they-can-walk-they-can-dance/) [Cyd Charisse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cyd-charisse/) > [I'm a dancer and when I walk off stage there isn't a dry spot on me. This means my hair has to be put…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cyd-charisse/i-m-a-dancer-and-when-i-walk-off-stage-there-isn-t-a-dry-spot-on-me/) [Cyd Charisse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cyd-charisse/) > [The Roman goddess Diana, you know, is usually shown with a bow and arrow. Every first-year Latin student knows that. I still remember the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cyd-charisse/the-roman-goddess-diana-you-know-is-usually-shown-with-a-bow-and/) [Cyd Charisse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cyd-charisse/) > [I'll stay with movies as long as they keep me in Hollywood.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cyd-charisse/i-ll-stay-with-movies-as-long-as-they-keep-me-in-hollywood/) [Cyd Charisse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cyd-charisse/) > [To make a man happy, treat him like a dog - plenty of affection and a loose leash.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cyd-charisse/to-make-a-man-happy-treat-him-like-a-dog-plenty-of-affection-and-a/) [Cyd Charisse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cyd-charisse/) > [I danced with the Ballet Russe in Paris when I was 16 and did not need a companion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cyd-charisse/i-danced-with-the-ballet-russe-in-paris-when-i-was-16-and-did-not/) [Cyd Charisse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cyd-charisse/) > [I have never been extroverted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cyd-charisse/i-have-never-been-extroverted/) [Cyd Charisse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cyd-charisse/) > [When I dance, people are watching for a slight mistake. I don't want them to see any.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cyd-charisse/when-i-dance-people-are-watching-for-a-slight-mistake-i-don-t-want/) [Cyd Charisse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cyd-charisse/) > [If I have any strength as a dancer, I got it all from Nijinska. Her barre was tough, and there were very difficult combinations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cyd-charisse/if-i-have-any-strength-as-a-dancer-i-got-it-all-from-nijinska-her/) [Cyd Charisse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cyd-charisse/) [Explore all 93 Cyd Charisse quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cyd-charisse/) ## More Actress quotes > [Sigourney Weaver is a wonderful person. I was so lucky to have the opportunity to meet and work with such an amazing actress. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrie-henn/sigourney-weaver-is-a-wonderful-person-i-was-so-lucky-to-have-the/) [Carrie Henn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrie-henn/) > [People forget I'm an actress.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joey-heatherton/people-forget-i-m-an-actress/) [Joey Heatherton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joey-heatherton/) > [I adore Kelly Bishop as a human being and as an actress.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-gunn/i-adore-kelly-bishop-as-a-human-being-and-as-an-actress/) [Sean Gunn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-gunn/) > [I've been told before, and I tend to believe it, I'm not like most actresses out there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moira-kelly/i-ve-been-told-before-and-i-tend-to-believe-it-i-m-not-like-most/) [Moira Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moira-kelly/) > [Marilyn was a great actress, not a dumb blond bombshell. She was very smart, very astute and a good businesswoman.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-schiller/marilyn-was-a-great-actress-not-a-dumb-blond-bombshell-she-was-very/) [Lawrence Schiller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-schiller/) > [I'm an actress, not a pin-up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francesca-annis/i-m-an-actress-not-a-pin-up/) [Francesca Annis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francesca-annis/) > [My father was a GP; my mother was a teacher and amateur actress. My father was a bit of a storyteller, but the acting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ciaran-hinds/my-father-was-a-gp-my-mother-was-a-teacher-and-amateur-actress-my/) [Ciaran Hinds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ciaran-hinds/) > [I never wished that I was a superstar. Hell, I never even wished that I was an actress.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-lane/i-never-wished-that-i-was-a-superstar-hell-i-never-even-wished-that-i/) [Diane Lane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-lane/) > [Many of the heroines from outside Karnataka have worked in my films, but the attitude and adjusting nature of top South Indian actress Nayantara…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rockline-venkatesh/many-of-the-heroines-from-outside-karnataka-have-worked-in-my-films/) [Rockline Venkatesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rockline-venkatesh/) > [There are a lot of great actresses out there. You learn to appreciate each one for what they offer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-pratt/there-are-a-lot-of-great-actresses-out-there-you-learn-to-appreciate/) [Victoria Pratt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victoria-pratt/) > [There's certain things I try to avoid, as an actress, just to keep my world from being as narrow as it could be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/famke-janssen/there-s-certain-things-i-try-to-avoid-as-an-actress-just-to-keep-my/) [Famke Janssen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/famke-janssen/) > [I never wanted to be an opera singer. I wanted to be an actress, maybe a rock singer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristine-opolais/i-never-wanted-to-be-an-opera-singer-i-wanted-to-be-an-actress-maybe/) [Kristine Opolais](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristine-opolais/) > [When an actor charges high fees, nobody says anything. But when an actress does the same, it becomes news.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vijayashanti/when-an-actor-charges-high-fees-nobody-says-anything-but-when-an/) [Vijayashanti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vijayashanti/) > [I am going to be a great actress.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vivien-leigh/i-am-going-to-be-a-great-actress/) [Vivien Leigh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vivien-leigh/) > [As a black actress you've got to work doubly hard. But it doesn't ever get me to the point where I give up on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naturi-naughton/as-a-black-actress-you-ve-got-to-work-doubly-hard-but-it-doesn-t-ever/) [Naturi Naughton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naturi-naughton/) [Browse all 2,244 Actress quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actress/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I was a dancer, not an actress.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Cyd Charisse" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cyd-charisse/i-was-a-dancer-not-an-actress/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Actress" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cyd-charisse/i-was-a-dancer-not-an-actress/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a7/cyd-charisse-7227_actress_i-was-a-dancer-not-an-actress-1239481_1239481.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a7/cyd-charisse-7227_actress_i-was-a-dancer-not-an-actress-1239481_1239481.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a7/cyd-charisse-7227_actress_i-was-a-dancer-not-an-actress-1239481_1239481.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I was a dancer, not an actress.” — Cyd Charisse", "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": "Cyd Charisse", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cyd-charisse/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I was a dancer, not an...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cyd-charisse/i-was-a-dancer-not-an-actress/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cyd-charisse/i-was-a-dancer-not-an-actress/#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 } } ] } ```