--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The modern dance is no dance in the first…" description: "\"The modern dance is no dance in the first place, and when you've finally learned it, it's not modern any more.\" — Evan Esar" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c2e/evan-esar-1689_dance_the-modern-dance-is-no-dance-in-the-firs_2396003.jpg" --- # The modern dance is no dance in the first place, and when… ![“The modern dance is no dance in the first place, and when you've finally learned it, it's not modern any more.” quote by Evan Esar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c2e/evan-esar-1689_dance_the-modern-dance-is-no-dance-in-the-firs_2396003.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c2e/evan-esar-1689_dance_the-modern-dance-is-no-dance-in-the-firs_2396003.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c2e/evan-esar-1689_dance_the-modern-dance-is-no-dance-in-the-firs_2396003.jpg) > “The modern dance is no dance in the first place, and when you've finally learned it, it's not modern any more.” [Evan Esar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-esar/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Modern dance loses its novelty once learned, becoming conventional. **In simple terms:** Learning erodes novelty. Key Takeaway Embrace change. Themes art culture innovation Mood playful reflective Type humorous philosophical When to use this quote - dance classes - creative projects - trend analysis Key Concepts aesthetic theory trend cycles Questions to Reflect On - Is novelty essential for art? - How do you keep traditions fresh? A Different Perspective Some may argue tradition adds value. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Dance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dance/) [First place](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/first-place/) [Modern dance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/modern-dance/) ## Related quotes > [When all is ready, the leaders walk out to the dance place.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-mooney/when-all-is-ready-the-leaders-walk-out-to-the-dance-place/) [James Mooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-mooney/) > [You seem to have their number look they are dancing still but I don't wanna dance dance with you baby nomore.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddy-grant/you-seem-to-have-their-number-look-they-are-dancing-still-but-i-don-t/) [Eddy Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddy-grant/) > [“They will find whatever button will make you dance, and dance you will, no matter how hideous the tune.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-shusterman/they-will-find-whatever-button-will-make-you-dance-and-dance-you-will/) [Neal Shusterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-shusterman/) > [You dance because you have to. Dance is an essential part of life that has always been with me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-dunham/you-dance-because-you-have-to-dance-is-an-essential-part-of-life-that/) [Katherine Dunham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-dunham/) > [I'm gonna dance, dance all over your face, I'm gonna dance all over your face.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kiss/i-m-gonna-dance-dance-all-over-your-face-i-m-gonna-dance-all-over/) [KISS](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kiss/) > [“In Paris, the dance was everything. The dance of romance was what a man could remember in his old age. Didn’t all young Americans…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peggy-kopman-owens/in-paris-the-dance-was-everything-the-dance-of-romance-was-what-a-man/) [Peggy Kopman-Owens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peggy-kopman-owens/) > [I love to dance. I have always been the first on the dance floor, but I'm not teachable. I couldn't learn 'five, six, seven,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sia/i-love-to-dance-i-have-always-been-the-first-on-the-dance-floor-but-i/) [Sia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sia/) > [“We can learn the universal, generic pattern of life's dance from the 12 Steps. But in our individual dance of life, we must choose…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-cleveland/we-can-learn-the-universal-generic-pattern-of-life-s-dance-from-the/) Martha Cleveland > [We're fools whether we dance or not, so we might as well dance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/japanese-proverb/we-re-fools-whether-we-dance-or-not-so-we-might-as-well-dance/) Japanese Proverb > [At the still point of the turning world. Neither flesh nor fleshless; Neither from nor towards; at the still point, there the dance is,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/at-the-still-point-of-the-turning-world-neither-flesh-nor-fleshless/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Ky, this a dance and at a dance you do this thing called dancing."-Isaac”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/micalea-smeltzer/ky-this-a-dance-and-at-a-dance-you-do-this-thing-called-dancing-isaac/) [Micalea Smeltzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/micalea-smeltzer/) > [I wasn't a ballet baby. My first dance class was in an outdoor pavilion when I was three. It was called 'creative movement.' The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrie-ann-inaba/i-wasn-t-a-ballet-baby-my-first-dance-class-was-in-an-outdoor/) [Carrie Ann Inaba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrie-ann-inaba/) > [We dance, we dance. You hold the thread of my soul. You spin, you spin. And you unravel the part from the whole. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggie-stiefvater/we-dance-we-dance-you-hold-the-thread-of-my-soul-you-spin-you-spin/) [Maggie Stiefvater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie-stiefvater/) > [Do you know what it is sir? Do you know what the Dance Dance Revolution is? It's not an actual revolution, so you don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-peters/do-you-know-what-it-is-sir-do-you-know-what-the-dance-dance/) [Russell Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-peters/) > [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/) ## More by Evan Esar > [Life is a battle of wits, and many people have to fight it unarmed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evan-esar/life-is-a-battle-of-wits-and-many-people-have-to-fight-it-unarmed/) [Evan Esar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-esar/) > [A vacation is like love - anticipated with pleasure, experienced with discomfort, and remembered with nostalgia.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evan-esar/a-vacation-is-like-love-anticipated-with-pleasure-experienced-with/) [Evan Esar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-esar/) > [Las Vegas is a resort whose two chief sources of income are seven and eleven.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evan-esar/las-vegas-is-a-resort-whose-two-chief-sources-of-income-are-seven-and/) [Evan Esar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-esar/) > [It's not the loss of life that makes the death bitter -- it's the obituaries.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evan-esar/it-s-not-the-loss-of-life-that-makes-the-death-bitter-it-s-the/) [Evan Esar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-esar/) > [“Let those who want to, arrive Let those who want to, leave Let those who want to, stay With out harm to me or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evan-esar/let-those-who-want-to-arrive-let-those-who-want-to-leave-let-those/) [Evan Esar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-esar/) > [The only medicine that needs no prescription, has no unpleasant taste, and costs no money is laughter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evan-esar/the-only-medicine-that-needs-no-prescription-has-no-unpleasant-taste/) [Evan Esar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-esar/) > [The word impossible is peculiar because if you examine it closely, you'll find that most of it is possible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evan-esar/the-word-impossible-is-peculiar-because-if-you-examine-it-closely-you/) [Evan Esar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-esar/) > [Walking isn't a lost art: one must, by some means, get to the garage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evan-esar/walking-isn-t-a-lost-art-one-must-by-some-means-get-to-the-garage/) [Evan Esar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-esar/) > [There are two kinds of leaders: those who are interested in the flock, and those who are interested in the fleece.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evan-esar/there-are-two-kinds-of-leaders-those-who-are-interested-in-the-flock/) [Evan Esar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-esar/) > [The man who avoids debt doesn't have to worry about avoiding his creditors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evan-esar/the-man-who-avoids-debt-doesn-t-have-to-worry-about-avoiding-his/) [Evan Esar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-esar/) > [The diamond is the hardest stone -- to get.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evan-esar/the-diamond-is-the-hardest-stone-to-get/) [Evan Esar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-esar/) > [The lecturer who is full of his subject is usually very slow in emptying himself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evan-esar/the-lecturer-who-is-full-of-his-subject-is-usually-very-slow-in/) [Evan Esar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-esar/) > [Etymology: from Latin ad-, "to" + visum, past participle of videre, "to see". Advice is what you get from your parents when you are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evan-esar/etymology-from-latin-ad-to-visum-past-participle-of-videre-to-see/) [Evan Esar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-esar/) > [A husband may forget where he went on his honeymoon, but he never forgets why.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evan-esar/a-husband-may-forget-where-he-went-on-his-honeymoon-but-he-never/) [Evan Esar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-esar/) > [You can always tell the golfer who's winning: he's the one who keeps telling his opponent that it's only a game.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evan-esar/you-can-always-tell-the-golfer-who-s-winning-he-s-the-one-who-keeps/) [Evan Esar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-esar/) [Explore all 215 Evan Esar quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-esar/) ## 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": "The modern dance is no dance in the first place, and when you've finally learned it, it's not modern any more.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Evan Esar" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evan-esar/the-modern-dance-is-no-dance-in-the-first-place-and-when-you-ve/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Dance" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evan-esar/the-modern-dance-is-no-dance-in-the-first-place-and-when-you-ve/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c2e/evan-esar-1689_dance_the-modern-dance-is-no-dance-in-the-firs_2396003.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c2e/evan-esar-1689_dance_the-modern-dance-is-no-dance-in-the-firs_2396003.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c2e/evan-esar-1689_dance_the-modern-dance-is-no-dance-in-the-firs_2396003.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The modern dance is no dance in the first place, and when you've finally learned it, it's not modern any more.” — Evan Esar", "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": "Evan Esar", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-esar/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The modern dance is no dance...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evan-esar/the-modern-dance-is-no-dance-in-the-first-place-and-when-you-ve/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evan-esar/the-modern-dance-is-no-dance-in-the-first-place-and-when-you-ve/#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 } } ] } ```