--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I fell through a stage once. I was doing…" description: "\"I fell through a stage once. I was doing a truly African dance, and all of a sudden, I hit the ground with my foot and went straight through the stage...." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/758/forest-whitaker-3022_dance_i-fell-through-a-stage-once-i-was-doing_2902173.jpg" --- # I fell through a stage once. I was doing a truly African… ![“I fell through a stage once. I was doing a truly African dance, and all of a sudden, I hit the ground with my foot and went straight through the stage. I guess they didn't have much money, so the floor was kind of rotting.” quote by Forest Whitaker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/758/forest-whitaker-3022_dance_i-fell-through-a-stage-once-i-was-doing_2902173.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/758/forest-whitaker-3022_dance_i-fell-through-a-stage-once-i-was-doing_2902173.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/758/forest-whitaker-3022_dance_i-fell-through-a-stage-once-i-was-doing_2902173.jpg) > “I fell through a stage once. I was doing a truly African dance, and all of a sudden, I hit the ground with my foot and went straight through the stage. I guess they didn't have much money, so the floor was kind of rotting.” [Forest Whitaker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/forest-whitaker/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A humorous anecdote about a stage collapse due to poor construction, highlighting unexpected mishaps in performance settings. **In simple terms:** A stage fell apart while dancing, showing how cheap builds can cause accidents. Key Takeaway Check venue safety before performances. Themes humor performance risk resource constraints Mood lighthearted cautious Type anecdotal entertaining When to use this quote - theater productions - dance rehearsals - touring shows Key Concepts stage engineering budget cuts live entertainment Questions to Reflect On - How do you assess venue safety? - What would you do if a stage failed? A Different Perspective Even with precautions, unforeseen failures can occur. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [African Dance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/african-dance-909541/) [Dance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dance/) [Dance Sudden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dance-sudden-4133302/) [Foot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/foot/) [Foot Went](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/foot-went-4133303/) [Hit Ground](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hit-ground/) [Kind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kind/) [Money](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/money/) [Stage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stage/) [Stage Doing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stage-doing-809549/) ## Related quotes > [I've been doing African dance all my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naima-adedapo/i-ve-been-doing-african-dance-all-my-life/) [Naima Adedapo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naima-adedapo/) > [I'd taken, like, maybe some African dance classes a couple of times, but I wasn't a musical theater person at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chadwick-boseman/i-d-taken-like-maybe-some-african-dance-classes-a-couple-of-times-but/) [Chadwick Boseman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chadwick-boseman/) > [At Brown, I trained in West African dance and drumming.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophie-hawley-weld/at-brown-i-trained-in-west-african-dance-and-drumming/) [Sophie Hawley-Weld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophie-hawley-weld/) > [Astonishing times. Who would have imagined that the Crazy Gang would yield a Hollywood film star (Vinny Jones), a British television ever-present (John Fashanu)…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giles-smith/astonishing-times-who-would-have-imagined-that-the-crazy-gang-would/) [Giles Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giles-smith/) > [Why is it rappers feel like they have to show each other their balls? It's so frustrating to me and the fact that I've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grieves/why-is-it-rappers-feel-like-they-have-to-show-each-other-their-balls/) [Grieves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grieves/) > [You have to pay attention to the moments when you've felt on top on the world. I remember the first time I was on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sebastian-stan/you-have-to-pay-attention-to-the-moments-when-you-ve-felt-on-top-on/) [Sebastian Stan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sebastian-stan/) > [Getting on stage doing standup anytime is hard. You never know what you're going to say. You live and die on your next word.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-griffin/getting-on-stage-doing-standup-anytime-is-hard-you-never-know-what/) [Eddie Griffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-griffin/) > [I hope to die right in the middle of a song and right on the stage doing what I love to do. I hope…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dolly-parton/i-hope-to-die-right-in-the-middle-of-a-song-and-right-on-the-stage/) [Dolly Parton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dolly-parton/) > [Never go dead for a second on stage. Even if you are doing nothing, do it actively.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-allam/never-go-dead-for-a-second-on-stage-even-if-you-are-doing-nothing-do/) [Roger Allam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-allam/) > [“And yet I cannot be myself. You teach me all these things and then you put me here to pretend to be something I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-morgenstern/and-yet-i-cannot-be-myself-you-teach-me-all-these-things-and-then-you/) [Erin Morgenstern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-morgenstern/) > [My way into everything was through the theater. There are so many plays that I saw growing up that just made me realize that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pauline-chalamet/my-way-into-everything-was-through-the-theater-there-are-so-many/) [Pauline Chalamet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pauline-chalamet/) > [Going on stage and doing ballet, for the first time, was even more verification of, "This is what I'm meant to do. This is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/misty-copeland/going-on-stage-and-doing-ballet-for-the-first-time-was-even-more/) [Misty Copeland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/misty-copeland/) > [Most of my comedy writing happens through improvisation on stage; doing it in the moment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-maron/most-of-my-comedy-writing-happens-through-improvisation-on-stage/) [Marc Maron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-maron/) > [There's so much control of the audience's experience when you're on stage doing a play, whereas when working on camera, there's a lot of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-jackson-harper/there-s-so-much-control-of-the-audience-s-experience-when-you-re-on/) [William Jackson Harper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-jackson-harper/) > [It's the only time that I'm ever nervous on stage, is when we're doing live TV. Especially an awards show, because I know you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-aldean/it-s-the-only-time-that-i-m-ever-nervous-on-stage-is-when-we-re-doing/) [Jason Aldean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-aldean/) ## More by Forest Whitaker > [To try and act like we haven't had great progress is not true. Obama didn't fail - he changed the psyche of the nation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/forest-whitaker/to-try-and-act-like-we-haven-t-had-great-progress-is-not-true-obama/) [Forest Whitaker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/forest-whitaker/) > [In high school, I did some musicals, but I never took acting until college. I was studying opera, classical voice, and a speech teacher…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/forest-whitaker/in-high-school-i-did-some-musicals-but-i-never-took-acting-until/) [Forest Whitaker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/forest-whitaker/) > [I'm really excited that people are receiving my performance like this. It makes me feel good, because I've been working really hard. And this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/forest-whitaker/i-m-really-excited-that-people-are-receiving-my-performance-like-this/) [Forest Whitaker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/forest-whitaker/) > [If I go to a reunion in east Texas, my mother's side or my father's, one out of ten is a preacher or a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/forest-whitaker/if-i-go-to-a-reunion-in-east-texas-my-mother-s-side-or-my-father-s/) [Forest Whitaker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/forest-whitaker/) > [ As an artist, it's a great opportunity to play a character like this \[Ugandan dictator Idi Amin in The Last King of Scotland\]. And… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/forest-whitaker/as-an-artist-it-s-a-great-opportunity-to-play-a-character-like-this/) [Forest Whitaker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/forest-whitaker/) > [I can play a man who's despicable. But I'll still look inside him to find a point of connection. If I can find that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/forest-whitaker/i-can-play-a-man-who-s-despicable-but-i-ll-still-look-inside-him-to/) [Forest Whitaker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/forest-whitaker/) > [It's all about destiny. That's why people look at the zodiac or the I Ching - because there's a certain order to life, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/forest-whitaker/it-s-all-about-destiny-that-s-why-people-look-at-the-zodiac-or-the-i/) [Forest Whitaker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/forest-whitaker/) > [My wife is completely different from me: she's good with everyone, whereas I'm good at directed conversation when I have a purpose for it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/forest-whitaker/my-wife-is-completely-different-from-me-she-s-good-with-everyone/) [Forest Whitaker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/forest-whitaker/) > [I was a curious child. I'd debate with anyone who came to the door - people from the Islamic community... Jehovah's Witnesses... anyone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/forest-whitaker/i-was-a-curious-child-i-d-debate-with-anyone-who-came-to-the-door/) [Forest Whitaker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/forest-whitaker/) > [There was a time in my acting career, where I was trying to figure out if acting was the thing to do. You know?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/forest-whitaker/there-was-a-time-in-my-acting-career-where-i-was-trying-to-figure-out/) [Forest Whitaker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/forest-whitaker/) > [The first time I ever went out of the country, it was to London. I was with the choir from my college, and we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/forest-whitaker/the-first-time-i-ever-went-out-of-the-country-it-was-to-london-i-was/) [Forest Whitaker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/forest-whitaker/) > [If I were to mark three, I'd mark Bird, because I grew immensely as an artist, I learned a lot, and also, I think,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/forest-whitaker/if-i-were-to-mark-three-i-d-mark-bird-because-i-grew-immensely-as-an/) [Forest Whitaker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/forest-whitaker/) > [I try to be like a forest: revitalizing and constantly growing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/forest-whitaker/i-try-to-be-like-a-forest-revitalizing-and-constantly-growing/) [Forest Whitaker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/forest-whitaker/) > [I stay true, because whatever the project is, I'm still looking for inside of that character.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/forest-whitaker/i-stay-true-because-whatever-the-project-is-i-m-still-looking-for/) [Forest Whitaker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/forest-whitaker/) > [It's a contract of connection to be in the same space and watch and listen to stories and be caught in them. When you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/forest-whitaker/it-s-a-contract-of-connection-to-be-in-the-same-space-and-watch-and/) [Forest Whitaker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/forest-whitaker/) [Explore all 142 Forest Whitaker quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/forest-whitaker/) ## 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 fell through a stage once. 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