--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Tap was against everything I had learned…" description: "\"Tap was against everything I had learned to do. I was pulled up as a ballet dancer, and I wasn't used to pounding the floor with bent knees.\" — Cyd Cha..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ed1/cyd-charisse-7227_ballet_tap-was-against-everything-i-had-learned_1543463.jpg" --- # Tap was against everything I had learned to do. I was… ![“Tap was against everything I had learned to do. I was pulled up as a ballet dancer, and I wasn't used to pounding the floor with bent knees.” quote by Cyd Charisse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ed1/cyd-charisse-7227_ballet_tap-was-against-everything-i-had-learned_1543463.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ed1/cyd-charisse-7227_ballet_tap-was-against-everything-i-had-learned_1543463.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ed1/cyd-charisse-7227_ballet_tap-was-against-everything-i-had-learned_1543463.jpg) > “Tap was against everything I had learned to do. I was pulled up as a ballet dancer, and I wasn't used to pounding the floor with bent knees.” [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 struggled with a new dance style that conflicted with her ballet training. **In simple terms:** Adapting to new challenges can be uncomfortable. Key Takeaway Embrace flexibility in learning. Themes adaptation art discipline Mood reflective determined Type personal inspirational When to use this quote - career transition - teaching - personal growth Key Concepts ballet modern dance muscle memory Questions to Reflect On - What fears arise when trying something unfamiliar? - How can one balance old skills with new demands? A Different Perspective Changing styles may cause injury risk. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ballet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ballet/) [Ballet dance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ballet-dance/) [Ballet dancer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ballet-dancer/) [Bent Knees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bent-knees-4338742/) [Dance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dance/) [Dancer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dancer/) [Dancer Wasn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dancer-wasn-3777208/) [Everything](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/everything/) [Pounding Floor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pounding-floor-5753493/) [Pulled Ballet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pulled-ballet-5753491/) [Tap Learned](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tap-learned-5753492/) [Up](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/up/) [Used](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/used/) ## Related quotes > [“You will tell me of this anger that burns within you, eh?” “As if you don’t know!” He propped his elbows on his bent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-anderson/you-will-tell-me-of-this-anger-that-burns-within-you-eh-as-if-you-don-2/) [Catherine Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-anderson/) > [I was a freestyle dancer; I wasn't trained.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrea-arnold/i-was-a-freestyle-dancer-i-wasn-t-trained/) [Andrea Arnold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrea-arnold/) > ['The Company' was interesting. 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Otherwise the whole…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-nicholls/the-problem-with-telling-people-that-they-can-do-anything-they-want/) [David Nicholls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-nicholls/) > [In order to dance professionally, you have to start at a young age. No matter what, your muscle structure and your bones have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-chen/in-order-to-dance-professionally-you-have-to-start-at-a-young-age-no/) [Joan Chen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-chen/) > [Dance till the stars come down from the rafters Dance, Dance, Dance 'till you drop.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-h-auden/dance-till-the-stars-come-down-from-the-rafters-dance-dance-dance/) [W. H. Auden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-h-auden/) > [Ballet, dance, movement, performance - it is the bedrock of why I love to perform.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lily-gladstone/ballet-dance-movement-performance-it-is-the-bedrock-of-why-i-love-to/) [Lily Gladstone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lily-gladstone/) > [I went to 'The Nutcracker' every year with my grandma and aunt. Then, in my early teen years, I thought I wanted to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jinkx-monsoon/i-went-to-the-nutcracker-every-year-with-my-grandma-and-aunt-then-in/) [Jinkx Monsoon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jinkx-monsoon/) > [No matter what people tell you, you should focus on your goals and you should do what you want to do, especially if you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michaela-deprince/no-matter-what-people-tell-you-you-should-focus-on-your-goals-and-you/) [Michaela DePrince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michaela-deprince/) > [I always wanted to be an actor. I was one of those lucky kids - or cursed kids - who always knew what he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-matheson/i-always-wanted-to-be-an-actor-i-was-one-of-those-lucky-kids-or/) [Tim Matheson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-matheson/) > [How can you live the high life if you do not wear high heels? I don't understand why women wear these ballet pumps. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonia-rykiel/how-can-you-live-the-high-life-if-you-do-not-wear-high-heels-i-don-t/) [Sonia Rykiel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonia-rykiel/) > [For ballet dancers, style is about melding personal expression with physical form.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-helen-bowers/for-ballet-dancers-style-is-about-melding-personal-expression-with/) [Mary Helen Bowers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-helen-bowers/) > [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/) > [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/) ## 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 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](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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": "Tap was against everything I had learned to do. 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