--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When I started out in this business…" description: "\"When I started out in this business, dance was not at the height it is now. It was almost like, you're either a dancer or an actress.\" — Jenna Dewan" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8d4/jenna-dewan-12211_actress_when-i-started-out-in-this-business-danc_2785470.png" --- # When I started out in this business, dance was not at the… ![“When I started out in this business, dance was not at the height it is now. It was almost like, you're either a dancer or an actress.” quote by Jenna Dewan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8d4/jenna-dewan-12211_actress_when-i-started-out-in-this-business-danc_2785470.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8d4/jenna-dewan-12211_actress_when-i-started-out-in-this-business-danc_2785470.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8d4/jenna-dewan-12211_actress_when-i-started-out-in-this-business-danc_2785470.png) > “When I started out in this business, dance was not at the height it is now. It was almost like, you're either a dancer or an actress.” [Jenna Dewan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenna-dewan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Early in her career, dance was seen as either dancer or actress, limiting crossover. **In simple terms:** Dance roles were rigidly separated. Key Takeaway Encourage interdisciplinary training. Themes entertainment career identity Mood reflective optimistic Type professional inspirational When to use this quote - casting decisions - career planning - skill development Key Concepts gender roles industry norms Questions to Reflect On - How can performers break typecasting? - What training bridges dance and acting? A Different Perspective Industry stereotypes still persist. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Actress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actress/) [Business](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/business/) [Business Dance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/business-dance-3341193/) [Dance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dance/) [Dance Height](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dance-height-3341194/) [Dancer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dancer/) [Dancer Actress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dancer-actress-3111591/) [Height](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/height/) [Like Dancer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/like-dancer-285939/) [Now](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/now/) ## Related quotes > [That's what all art's about - a sense of moving away from boundaries that you can't in real life. Like a dancer is always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-bush/that-s-what-all-art-s-about-a-sense-of-moving-away-from-boundaries/) [Kate Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-bush/) > [Every day I go out and climb, like a dancer who works on his dance. He probably has some goals, some pieces he would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bachar/every-day-i-go-out-and-climb-like-a-dancer-who-works-on-his-dance-he/) [John Bachar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bachar/) > [Being an actor is lot like being a dancer: you always have to go back to the bar and either work or take classes.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alanna-ubach/being-an-actor-is-lot-like-being-a-dancer-you-always-have-to-go-back/) [Alanna Ubach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alanna-ubach/) > [I was a dancer, not an actress.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cyd-charisse/i-was-a-dancer-not-an-actress/) [Cyd Charisse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cyd-charisse/) > [I was a dancer before I was an actress, so I've always been someone who likes to communicate from my body and movement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caity-lotz/i-was-a-dancer-before-i-was-an-actress-so-i-ve-always-been-someone/) [Caity Lotz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caity-lotz/) > [I am a foodie at heart and dancer/actress by choice. 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Not technical things so much-getting your leg higher or doing more turns but things that would set you apart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-farrell/fifth-positions-heads-musicality-energy-not-technical-things-so-much/) [Suzanne Farrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-farrell/) > [Sometimes I say I feel more like a dancer than an actor, because there are things implied about being an actor that I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willem-dafoe/sometimes-i-say-i-feel-more-like-a-dancer-than-an-actor-because-there/) [Willem Dafoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willem-dafoe/) > [“True, things don't stay the same forever: couches are replaced, boys leave, you discover a song, your body becomes forever scarred. And with each…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leila-sales/true-things-don-t-stay-the-same-forever-couches-are-replaced-boys/) [Leila Sales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leila-sales/) > [To me, I don't feel like a dancer. I feel like an idiot trying to be a dancer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-lachey/to-me-i-don-t-feel-like-a-dancer-i-feel-like-an-idiot-trying-to-be-a/) [Nick Lachey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-lachey/) ## More by Jenna Dewan > [I love 45-minute power workouts. I get in, do my thing, and then I'm able to go pick up Everly from school. It gives…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenna-dewan/i-love-45-minute-power-workouts-i-get-in-do-my-thing-and-then-i-m/) [Jenna Dewan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenna-dewan/) > [You have to be fulfilled in order for everyone else to be fulfilled. I'm a way happier, more pleasant person to be around when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenna-dewan/you-have-to-be-fulfilled-in-order-for-everyone-else-to-be-fulfilled-i/) [Jenna Dewan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenna-dewan/) > [I feel everything more deeply. Every action I take, I think of her first. That's a big change for me. That - and no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenna-dewan/i-feel-everything-more-deeply-every-action-i-take-i-think-of-her/) [Jenna Dewan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenna-dewan/) > [I wear a lot of dresses and skirts and more ethereal hippie clothes for the day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenna-dewan/i-wear-a-lot-of-dresses-and-skirts-and-more-ethereal-hippie-clothes/) [Jenna Dewan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenna-dewan/) > [I am a big believer in sage. Chan calls me his Little White Witch. Every hotel room, every apartment we rent, I am sage-ing.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenna-dewan/i-am-a-big-believer-in-sage-chan-calls-me-his-little-white-witch/) [Jenna Dewan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenna-dewan/) > [I love to work out. It's one of the ways I love to relieve stress.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenna-dewan/i-love-to-work-out-it-s-one-of-the-ways-i-love-to-relieve-stress/) [Jenna Dewan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenna-dewan/) > [I like to be physical and work out and dance, because it makes me feel good. It really does. I grew up doing it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenna-dewan/i-like-to-be-physical-and-work-out-and-dance-because-it-makes-me-feel/) [Jenna Dewan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenna-dewan/) > [People shouldn’t be ashamed of their bodies...especially women.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenna-dewan/people-shouldn-t-be-ashamed-of-their-bodies-especially-women/) [Jenna Dewan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenna-dewan/) > [I want to do stunts and play a badass. Like Michelle Pfeiffer as Catwoman. Physicality, fun, evilness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenna-dewan/i-want-to-do-stunts-and-play-a-badass-like-michelle-pfeiffer-as/) [Jenna Dewan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenna-dewan/) > [It's a great thing if you're a creative person and have some kind of acting or dance or singing, any art. I think it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenna-dewan/it-s-a-great-thing-if-you-re-a-creative-person-and-have-some-kind-of/) [Jenna Dewan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenna-dewan/) > [Instagram is just a highlight reel... Ten percent of the time, Chan and I have a lot of fun. Ninety percent, we're really boring.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenna-dewan/instagram-is-just-a-highlight-reel-ten-percent-of-the-time-chan-and-i/) [Jenna Dewan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenna-dewan/) > [I'm one of those girls who enjoys the fashion, enjoys dressing up, enjoys going to these events. They're fun for me. It's like playing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenna-dewan/i-m-one-of-those-girls-who-enjoys-the-fashion-enjoys-dressing-up/) [Jenna Dewan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenna-dewan/) > [I had danced with Janet Jackson and P. Diddy so I had done a bunch of hip hop. Really and truly my roots are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenna-dewan/i-had-danced-with-janet-jackson-and-p-diddy-so-i-had-done-a-bunch-of/) [Jenna Dewan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenna-dewan/) > [Your surroundings may change but your essence and your personality pretty much stay the same.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenna-dewan/your-surroundings-may-change-but-your-essence-and-your-personality/) [Jenna Dewan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenna-dewan/) > [One of the beautiful gifts of dance is that you're so in tune with your body so early on. I was very comfortable in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenna-dewan/one-of-the-beautiful-gifts-of-dance-is-that-you-re-so-in-tune-with/) [Jenna Dewan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenna-dewan/) [Explore all 56 Jenna Dewan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenna-dewan/) ## More Actress quotes > [Sigourney Weaver is a wonderful person. I was so lucky to have the opportunity to meet and work with such an amazing actress. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrie-henn/sigourney-weaver-is-a-wonderful-person-i-was-so-lucky-to-have-the/) [Carrie Henn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrie-henn/) > [People forget I'm an actress.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joey-heatherton/people-forget-i-m-an-actress/) [Joey Heatherton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joey-heatherton/) > [I adore Kelly Bishop as a human being and as an actress.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-gunn/i-adore-kelly-bishop-as-a-human-being-and-as-an-actress/) [Sean Gunn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-gunn/) > [I've been told before, and I tend to believe it, I'm not like most actresses out there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moira-kelly/i-ve-been-told-before-and-i-tend-to-believe-it-i-m-not-like-most/) [Moira Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moira-kelly/) > [Marilyn was a great actress, not a dumb blond bombshell. She was very smart, very astute and a good businesswoman.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-schiller/marilyn-was-a-great-actress-not-a-dumb-blond-bombshell-she-was-very/) [Lawrence Schiller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-schiller/) > [I'm an actress, not a pin-up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francesca-annis/i-m-an-actress-not-a-pin-up/) [Francesca Annis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francesca-annis/) > [My father was a GP; my mother was a teacher and amateur actress. My father was a bit of a storyteller, but the acting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ciaran-hinds/my-father-was-a-gp-my-mother-was-a-teacher-and-amateur-actress-my/) [Ciaran Hinds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ciaran-hinds/) > [I never wished that I was a superstar. Hell, I never even wished that I was an actress.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-lane/i-never-wished-that-i-was-a-superstar-hell-i-never-even-wished-that-i/) [Diane Lane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-lane/) > [Many of the heroines from outside Karnataka have worked in my films, but the attitude and adjusting nature of top South Indian actress Nayantara…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rockline-venkatesh/many-of-the-heroines-from-outside-karnataka-have-worked-in-my-films/) [Rockline Venkatesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rockline-venkatesh/) > [There are a lot of great actresses out there. 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