Ballerina Quote by Gore Vidal
“Contrary to vulgar legend the lives of great ballerinas are not entirely given up to a few minutes of graceful movement every night followed by champagne drunk out of their toeshoes till dawn, in the company of financiers ... no, most of their time is spent in filthy rehearsal halls, inhaling dust, or else in class, daily, year in year out, practicing, practicing even after they are already prima ballerinas.”
About This Quote
Source Novel: Myra Breckenridge by Gore Vidal, 1968
Great ballerinas spend most of their time in grueling rehearsal, not glamorous performances.
In simple terms: Ballerinas work hard behind the scenes.
Key Takeaway
Respect the discipline behind the art.
Themes
hard work
discipline
artistry
Mood
realistic
reflective
Type
observational
descriptive
When to use this quote
- dance training
- career development
- personal sacrifice
- physical conditioning
Key Concepts
performing arts
dedication
physical endurance
Questions to Reflect On
- How does relentless practice shape identity?
- What sacrifices are worth artistic excellence?
A Different Perspective
The quote romanticizes the profession, overlooking personal costs.
![“I used to want to be a war photographer, and I used to want to be a ballerina and a comedian. I used to want to be a writer. I invalidated myself; it’s a mistake for me. [...] There’s just a lot of stuff that really moves me, and I don’t know how to express it, and I just want to try to do the…” quote by Cat Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/30a/cat-power-19278_ballerina_i-used-to-want-to-be-a-war-photographer_189452.jpg)
