--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I initially told people I wanted to be a…" description: "\"I initially told people I wanted to be a dancer and ultimately a \"Rockette.\" I didn't really know what a musical theatre performer was other than the S..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/982/erica-schroeder-28345_dance_i-initially-told-people-i-wanted-to-be-a_610833.jpg" --- # I initially told people I wanted to be a dancer and… ![“I initially told people I wanted to be a dancer and ultimately a "Rockette." I didn't really know what a musical theatre performer was other than the Shirley Temple type.” quote by Erica Schroeder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/982/erica-schroeder-28345_dance_i-initially-told-people-i-wanted-to-be-a_610833.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/982/erica-schroeder-28345_dance_i-initially-told-people-i-wanted-to-be-a_610833.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/982/erica-schroeder-28345_dance_i-initially-told-people-i-wanted-to-be-a_610833.jpg) > “I initially told people I wanted to be a dancer and ultimately a "Rockette." I didn't really know what a musical theatre performer was other than the Shirley Temple type.” [Erica Schroeder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erica-schroeder/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. She aspired to dance and imagined a glamorous career, but lacked clear understanding of the field. **In simple terms:** She wanted to be a dancer but didn’t know the details. Key Takeaway Clarify goals before pursuing them. Themes aspiration career self‑discovery Mood hopeful curious Type personal motivational When to use this quote - choosing a career - seeking mentorship - exploring training programs Key Concepts identity role models goal setting Questions to Reflect On - What concrete steps can you take to learn about a desired profession? - How does early uncertainty shape later choices? A Different Perspective Dreams can be vague without research. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Dance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dance/) [Dancer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dancer/) [Musical theatre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/musical-theatre/) [Old people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/old-people/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Performers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/performers/) [Temples](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/temples/) [Theatre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theatre/) ## Related quotes > [I didn't go to drama school to be a musical theatre performer. I enjoyed it, but I didn't go to do that; I went…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taron-egerton/i-didn-t-go-to-drama-school-to-be-a-musical-theatre-performer-i/) [Taron Egerton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taron-egerton/) > [Shirley Temple opens doors for Shirley Temple Black.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-temple/shirley-temple-opens-doors-for-shirley-temple-black/) [Shirley Temple](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-temple/) > [I remember feeling enormous pressure because I didn't want to be Shirley Temple. Shirley Temple was Shirley Temple, and I didn't ever feel like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mara-wilson/i-remember-feeling-enormous-pressure-because-i-didn-t-want-to-be/) [Mara Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mara-wilson/) > [I've been so blessed. If someone asked me whom I would choose to be if I could come back in another life, I would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-temple/i-ve-been-so-blessed-if-someone-asked-me-whom-i-would-choose-to-be-if/) [Shirley Temple](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-temple/) > [Growing up, I watched a lot of Shirley Temple movies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-louderman/growing-up-i-watched-a-lot-of-shirley-temple-movies/) [Taylor Louderman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-louderman/) > [That's what the movies do. They don't entertain us, they don't send the message: 'We care.' They give us lines to say, they assign…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/connie-willis/that-s-what-the-movies-do-they-don-t-entertain-us-they-don-t-send-the/) [Connie Willis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/connie-willis/) > [Ever since I was a little child, I refused to see movies of books that I loved. Because you already know what Heidi looks…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fran-lebowitz/ever-since-i-was-a-little-child-i-refused-to-see-movies-of-books-that/) [Fran Lebowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fran-lebowitz/) > [I was a little tomboy, growing up, but we had to go to the library every weekend if we wanted some form of entertainment.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isabela-moner/i-was-a-little-tomboy-growing-up-but-we-had-to-go-to-the-library/) [Isabela Moner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isabela-moner/) > [I absolutely love Shirley Temples. I don't know why, but ever since I was young, it's always been my favorite thing to drink!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-olusola/i-absolutely-love-shirley-temples-i-don-t-know-why-but-ever-since-i/) [Kevin Olusola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-olusola/) > [I'd watch old movies with Judy Garland, Shirley Temple and Bette Davis and long to be part of that glamorous world. A lot of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/imelda-may/i-d-watch-old-movies-with-judy-garland-shirley-temple-and-bette-davis/) [Imelda May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/imelda-may/) > [“Cute kid. Dimples, curls, he’s like a male Shirley Temple.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-martinez/cute-kid-dimples-curls-he-s-like-a-male-shirley-temple/) [Jessica Martinez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-martinez/) > [I've always hate child stars, starting from way back when, when I was a child. The first child star I saw was Shirley Temple.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-rivers/i-ve-always-hate-child-stars-starting-from-way-back-when-when-i-was-a/) [Joan Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-rivers/) > [My family was musical on both sides. My father's family had a famous flautist and a classical pianist. My mother won a contest to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gloria-estefan/my-family-was-musical-on-both-sides-my-father-s-family-had-a-famous/) [Gloria Estefan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gloria-estefan/) > [Popular culture entered my life as Shirley Temple, who was exactly my age and wrotea letter in the newspapers telling how her mother fixed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrienne-rich/popular-culture-entered-my-life-as-shirley-temple-who-was-exactly-my/) [Adrienne Rich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrienne-rich/) > [There's been periods of broadcasts in the past where you could see all ages of entertainers, ranging from George Burns to Shirley Temple. That's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/merle-haggard/there-s-been-periods-of-broadcasts-in-the-past-where-you-could-see/) [Merle Haggard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/merle-haggard/) ## More by Erica Schroeder > [I love performing in a good straight play as well and I'm a crossover actor, I crossover from plays to musicals, musicals to plays.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erica-schroeder/i-love-performing-in-a-good-straight-play-as-well-and-i-m-a-crossover/) [Erica Schroeder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erica-schroeder/) > [I definitely appreciated '60s music. My uncle and I used to take long road trips to visit my grandmother when I was going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erica-schroeder/i-definitely-appreciated-60s-music-my-uncle-and-i-used-to-take-long/) [Erica Schroeder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erica-schroeder/) > [My favorite thing to do is transform. The further the character is away from me the more I enjoy it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erica-schroeder/my-favorite-thing-to-do-is-transform-the-further-the-character-is/) [Erica Schroeder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erica-schroeder/) > [When you don't get a role, it wasn't meant to be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erica-schroeder/when-you-don-t-get-a-role-it-wasn-t-meant-to-be/) [Erica Schroeder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erica-schroeder/) > [Think of every audition as a chance to perform and you will have fun doing it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erica-schroeder/think-of-every-audition-as-a-chance-to-perform-and-you-will-have-fun/) [Erica Schroeder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erica-schroeder/) > [My advice to aspiring performers is trust your instincts, 9 times out of 10 they are perfect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erica-schroeder/my-advice-to-aspiring-performers-is-trust-your-instincts-9-times-out/) [Erica Schroeder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erica-schroeder/) > [There are definite vocal trends for every generation as well as accents and I'm not talking about regionalisms.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erica-schroeder/there-are-definite-vocal-trends-for-every-generation-as-well-as/) [Erica Schroeder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erica-schroeder/) > [I was use to wearing things that accentuated and flattered my bust and waist (just shakin' what my mama gave me) and definitely not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erica-schroeder/i-was-use-to-wearing-things-that-accentuated-and-flattered-my-bust/) [Erica Schroeder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erica-schroeder/) > [I can't say what my greatest strength between acting and singing is...I'll leave that to the critics. Maybe my best strength is performance itself,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erica-schroeder/i-can-t-say-what-my-greatest-strength-between-acting-and-singing-is-i/) [Erica Schroeder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erica-schroeder/) > [Try not be resentful or jealous of other people's success. Know that your path as a performer is going to be very different than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erica-schroeder/try-not-be-resentful-or-jealous-of-other-people-s-success-know-that/) [Erica Schroeder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erica-schroeder/) > [I have mentored two young aspiring actors and I wish that I had known I could look for a mentor because it would have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erica-schroeder/i-have-mentored-two-young-aspiring-actors-and-i-wish-that-i-had-known/) [Erica Schroeder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erica-schroeder/) > [I think any good singer needs to be a good actor. You have to be able to tell the story.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erica-schroeder/i-think-any-good-singer-needs-to-be-a-good-actor-you-have-to-be-able/) [Erica Schroeder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erica-schroeder/) > [Every decade has a completely different sound not just musically but vocally.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erica-schroeder/every-decade-has-a-completely-different-sound-not-just-musically-but/) [Erica Schroeder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erica-schroeder/) > [As far as the fashion of mod 60's goes...I've always loved it. I bought a mod dress while still in college for an audition…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erica-schroeder/as-far-as-the-fashion-of-mod-60-s-goes-i-ve-always-loved-it-i-bought/) [Erica Schroeder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erica-schroeder/) > [What better motivation is there to get in better shape than imagining your thighs exposed, watusyin' and a shimmyin' all over the stage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erica-schroeder/what-better-motivation-is-there-to-get-in-better-shape-than-imagining/) [Erica Schroeder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erica-schroeder/) [Explore all 19 Erica Schroeder quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erica-schroeder/) ## 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 initially told people I wanted to be a dancer and ultimately a \"Rockette.\" I didn't really know what a musical theatre performer was other than the Shirley Temple type.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Erica Schroeder" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erica-schroeder/i-initially-told-people-i-wanted-to-be-a-dancer-and-ultimately-a/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Dance" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erica-schroeder/i-initially-told-people-i-wanted-to-be-a-dancer-and-ultimately-a/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/982/erica-schroeder-28345_dance_i-initially-told-people-i-wanted-to-be-a_610833.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/982/erica-schroeder-28345_dance_i-initially-told-people-i-wanted-to-be-a_610833.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/982/erica-schroeder-28345_dance_i-initially-told-people-i-wanted-to-be-a_610833.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I initially told people I wanted to be a dancer and ultimately a \"Rockette.\" I didn't really know what a…” — Erica Schroeder", "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": "Erica Schroeder", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erica-schroeder/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I initially told people I wanted...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erica-schroeder/i-initially-told-people-i-wanted-to-be-a-dancer-and-ultimately-a/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erica-schroeder/i-initially-told-people-i-wanted-to-be-a-dancer-and-ultimately-a/#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 } } ] } ```