--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Choreographers use me as the old guy who…" description: "\"Choreographers use me as the old guy who still dances. Not that I put on white tights.\" — Mikhail Baryshnikov" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fa9/mikhail-baryshnikov-3526_choreographers_choreographers-use-me-as-the-old-guy-who_1091131.png" --- # Choreographers use me as the old guy who still dances. Not… ![“Choreographers use me as the old guy who still dances. Not that I put on white tights.” quote by Mikhail Baryshnikov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fa9/mikhail-baryshnikov-3526_choreographers_choreographers-use-me-as-the-old-guy-who_1091131.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fa9/mikhail-baryshnikov-3526_choreographers_choreographers-use-me-as-the-old-guy-who_1091131.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fa9/mikhail-baryshnikov-3526_choreographers_choreographers-use-me-as-the-old-guy-who_1091131.png) > “Choreographers use me as the old guy who still dances. Not that I put on white tights.” [Mikhail Baryshnikov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikhail-baryshnikov/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Even seasoned artists can be seen as outdated, yet they still bring vitality and experience. **In simple terms:** Old artists still bring energy. Key Takeaway Value experience. Themes age art performance Mood respectful inspirational Type artistic motivational When to use this quote - theatre casting - dance education - intergenerational collaboration Key Concepts Dance cultural perception Questions to Reflect On - How can we honor veteran artists? - What fresh perspectives do they offer? A Different Perspective Stereotypes may undervalue older performers. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Choreographers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choreographers/) [Choreographers Use](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choreographers-use-2821414/) [Dance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dance/) [Dances](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dances/) [Dances White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dances-white-2821416/) [Guy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guy/) [Guy Dances](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guy-dances-2821415/) [Me](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/me/) [Old](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/old/) [Old guy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/old-guy/) [Put](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/put/) [Still](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/still/) [Tights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tights/) [Use](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/use/) [White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/white/) [Who](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/who/) ## Related quotes > [There's a scene in 'Singin' in the Rain' where this guy dances with a giant doll while singing 'Make 'Em Laugh.' I remember loving…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ali-wong/there-s-a-scene-in-singin-in-the-rain-where-this-guy-dances-with-a/) [Ali Wong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ali-wong/) > [You cannot dance physically certain things. But look at tango dancers or flamenco or Japanese classical theater. You can, if you're smart enough and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikhail-baryshnikov/you-cannot-dance-physically-certain-things-but-look-at-tango-dancers/) [Mikhail Baryshnikov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikhail-baryshnikov/) > [When a dancer comes onstage, he is not just a blank slate that the choreographer has written on. Behind him he has all the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikhail-baryshnikov/when-a-dancer-comes-onstage-he-is-not-just-a-blank-slate-that-the/) [Mikhail Baryshnikov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikhail-baryshnikov/) > [Stay hungry to become the best that you can be. Never be satisfied with the level of artistry you've attained. You can always be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mia-michaels/stay-hungry-to-become-the-best-that-you-can-be-never-be-satisfied/) [Mia Michaels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mia-michaels/) > [Solo dancing does not exist: the dancer dances with the floor: add another dancer and you have a quartet: each dance with the other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-paxton/solo-dancing-does-not-exist-the-dancer-dances-with-the-floor-add/) [Steve Paxton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-paxton/) > [I was a choreographer in the '80s and I was doing these videos. I did an Extreme video, which was really weird having them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-shankman/i-was-a-choreographer-in-the-80s-and-i-was-doing-these-videos-i-did/) [Adam Shankman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-shankman/) > [There are as many types of Butoh as there are Butoh choreographers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tatsumi-hijikata/there-are-as-many-types-of-butoh-as-there-are-butoh-choreographers/) [Tatsumi Hijikata](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tatsumi-hijikata/) > [The people that have inspired me the most were dancers and choreographers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jillian-hervey/the-people-that-have-inspired-me-the-most-were-dancers-and/) [Jillian Hervey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jillian-hervey/) > [The real self of an artiste lies in art, so when an artiste performs, all the pain, trauma and tension get released through art,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mrinalini-sarabhai/the-real-self-of-an-artiste-lies-in-art-so-when-an-artiste-performs/) [Mrinalini Sarabhai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mrinalini-sarabhai/) > [Shakespeare has always been up for grabs, and choreographers have every right to use him any way they choose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-gottlieb/shakespeare-has-always-been-up-for-grabs-and-choreographers-have/) [Robert Gottlieb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-gottlieb/) > [I loved being at the Royal Ballet. Those choreographers, MacMillan and Ashton, they knew how to translate complicated life into choreography.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvie-guillem/i-loved-being-at-the-royal-ballet-those-choreographers-macmillan-and/) [Sylvie Guillem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvie-guillem/) > [We dance to difference genres such as krumping, ballet and hip-hop, together with invited foreign choreographers who are well-known internationally.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennie/we-dance-to-difference-genres-such-as-krumping-ballet-and-hip-hop/) [Jennie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennie/) > [I am sincerely trying now to create a dance technique based entirely upon corrective exercises, created with a knowledge of human anatomy; a technique…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lester-horton/i-am-sincerely-trying-now-to-create-a-dance-technique-based-entirely/) [Lester Horton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lester-horton/) > [Unlike a lot of choreographers, I don't always start with the music. I often start with a visual artist, and then find music that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-mcgregor/unlike-a-lot-of-choreographers-i-don-t-always-start-with-the-music-i/) [Wayne McGregor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-mcgregor/) > [The number of e-mails and letters that I get from choreographers, from sculptors, from composers who are being inspired by science is huge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-greene/the-number-of-e-mails-and-letters-that-i-get-from-choreographers-from/) [Brian Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-greene/) ## More by Mikhail Baryshnikov > [I am not the first straight dancer or the last.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikhail-baryshnikov/i-am-not-the-first-straight-dancer-or-the-last/) [Mikhail Baryshnikov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikhail-baryshnikov/) > [Working is living to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikhail-baryshnikov/working-is-living-to-me/) [Mikhail Baryshnikov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikhail-baryshnikov/) > [I was always interested in photography and other forms of art.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikhail-baryshnikov/i-was-always-interested-in-photography-and-other-forms-of-art/) [Mikhail Baryshnikov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikhail-baryshnikov/) > [In the second part of life you get rid of stuff you've accumulated.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikhail-baryshnikov/in-the-second-part-of-life-you-get-rid-of-stuff-you-ve-accumulated/) [Mikhail Baryshnikov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikhail-baryshnikov/) > [You don't measure life by receiving awards.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikhail-baryshnikov/you-don-t-measure-life-by-receiving-awards/) [Mikhail Baryshnikov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikhail-baryshnikov/) > [No one is born a dancer. You have to want it more than anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikhail-baryshnikov/no-one-is-born-a-dancer-you-have-to-want-it-more-than-anything/) [Mikhail Baryshnikov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikhail-baryshnikov/) > [I want to do exactly what I want to do. I'd rather gamble on the box office than beg for a grant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikhail-baryshnikov/i-want-to-do-exactly-what-i-want-to-do-i-d-rather-gamble-on-the-box/) [Mikhail Baryshnikov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikhail-baryshnikov/) > [I always had a kind of strange relationship with New York City, with total love affair in the beginning then retreat during the kind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikhail-baryshnikov/i-always-had-a-kind-of-strange-relationship-with-new-york-city-with/) [Mikhail Baryshnikov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikhail-baryshnikov/) > [Running a company is pretty demanding.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikhail-baryshnikov/running-a-company-is-pretty-demanding/) [Mikhail Baryshnikov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikhail-baryshnikov/) > [I like the most provocative and most surprising partnerships on stage. Intensity and surprise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikhail-baryshnikov/i-like-the-most-provocative-and-most-surprising-partnerships-on-stage/) [Mikhail Baryshnikov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikhail-baryshnikov/) > [When a body moves, it's the most revealing thing. Dance for me a minute, and I'll tell you who you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikhail-baryshnikov/when-a-body-moves-it-s-the-most-revealing-thing-dance-for-me-a-minute/) [Mikhail Baryshnikov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikhail-baryshnikov/) > [I - you know, I'm not an actor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikhail-baryshnikov/i-you-know-i-m-not-an-actor/) [Mikhail Baryshnikov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikhail-baryshnikov/) > [If your only dance experience is the Nutcracker, it will be a shock; hopefully shocking in a good way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikhail-baryshnikov/if-your-only-dance-experience-is-the-nutcracker-it-will-be-a-shock/) [Mikhail Baryshnikov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikhail-baryshnikov/) > [People dance at any age.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikhail-baryshnikov/people-dance-at-any-age/) [Mikhail Baryshnikov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikhail-baryshnikov/) > [I do not try to dance better than anyone else. I only try to to dance better than myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikhail-baryshnikov/i-do-not-try-to-dance-better-than-anyone-else-i-only-try-to-to-dance/) [Mikhail Baryshnikov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikhail-baryshnikov/) [Explore all 128 Mikhail Baryshnikov quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikhail-baryshnikov/) ## More Choreographers quotes > [The number of e-mails and letters that I get from choreographers, from sculptors, from composers who are being inspired by science is huge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-greene/the-number-of-e-mails-and-letters-that-i-get-from-choreographers-from/) [Brian Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-greene/) > [Unlike a lot of choreographers, I don't always start with the music. I often start with a visual artist, and then find music that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-mcgregor/unlike-a-lot-of-choreographers-i-don-t-always-start-with-the-music-i/) [Wayne McGregor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-mcgregor/) > [I am sincerely trying now to create a dance technique based entirely upon corrective exercises, created with a knowledge of human anatomy; a technique…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lester-horton/i-am-sincerely-trying-now-to-create-a-dance-technique-based-entirely/) [Lester Horton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lester-horton/) > [We dance to difference genres such as krumping, ballet and hip-hop, together with invited foreign choreographers who are well-known internationally.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennie/we-dance-to-difference-genres-such-as-krumping-ballet-and-hip-hop/) [Jennie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennie/) > [I loved being at the Royal Ballet. Those choreographers, MacMillan and Ashton, they knew how to translate complicated life into choreography.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvie-guillem/i-loved-being-at-the-royal-ballet-those-choreographers-macmillan-and/) [Sylvie Guillem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvie-guillem/) > [Shakespeare has always been up for grabs, and choreographers have every right to use him any way they choose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-gottlieb/shakespeare-has-always-been-up-for-grabs-and-choreographers-have/) [Robert Gottlieb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-gottlieb/) > [The real self of an artiste lies in art, so when an artiste performs, all the pain, trauma and tension get released through art,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mrinalini-sarabhai/the-real-self-of-an-artiste-lies-in-art-so-when-an-artiste-performs/) [Mrinalini Sarabhai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mrinalini-sarabhai/) > [The people that have inspired me the most were dancers and choreographers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jillian-hervey/the-people-that-have-inspired-me-the-most-were-dancers-and/) [Jillian Hervey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jillian-hervey/) > [There are as many types of Butoh as there are Butoh choreographers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tatsumi-hijikata/there-are-as-many-types-of-butoh-as-there-are-butoh-choreographers/) [Tatsumi Hijikata](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tatsumi-hijikata/) > [I was a choreographer in the '80s and I was doing these videos. I did an Extreme video, which was really weird having them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-shankman/i-was-a-choreographer-in-the-80s-and-i-was-doing-these-videos-i-did/) [Adam Shankman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-shankman/) > [Solo dancing does not exist: the dancer dances with the floor: add another dancer and you have a quartet: each dance with the other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-paxton/solo-dancing-does-not-exist-the-dancer-dances-with-the-floor-add/) [Steve Paxton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-paxton/) > [Stay hungry to become the best that you can be. Never be satisfied with the level of artistry you've attained. You can always be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mia-michaels/stay-hungry-to-become-the-best-that-you-can-be-never-be-satisfied/) [Mia Michaels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mia-michaels/) > [When I miss class for one day, I know it. When I miss class for two days, my teacher knows it. When I miss…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudolf-nureyev/when-i-miss-class-for-one-day-i-know-it-when-i-miss-class-for-two/) [Rudolf Nureyev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudolf-nureyev/) > [You are not a female or a male - you are a dancer. And when I started going into choreography I became part of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-fletcher/you-are-not-a-female-or-a-male-you-are-a-dancer-and-when-i-started/) [Anne Fletcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-fletcher/) > [Afro-Caribbean influences are in me as a creative being the same way Spanish influences were in Picasso's work. I think the notion of labels…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garth-fagan/afro-caribbean-influences-are-in-me-as-a-creative-being-the-same-way/) [Garth Fagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garth-fagan/) [Browse all 103 Choreographers quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choreographers/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Choreographers use me as the old guy who still dances. 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