--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: No one is born a dancer. You have to want…" description: "\"No one is born a dancer. You have to want it more than anything.\" — Mikhail Baryshnikov" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/39c/mikhail-baryshnikov-3526_born_no-one-is-born-a-dancer-you-have-to-want_166515.png" --- # No one is born a dancer. You have to want it more than… ![“No one is born a dancer. You have to want it more than anything.” quote by Mikhail Baryshnikov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/39c/mikhail-baryshnikov-3526_born_no-one-is-born-a-dancer-you-have-to-want_166515.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/39c/mikhail-baryshnikov-3526_born_no-one-is-born-a-dancer-you-have-to-want_166515.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/39c/mikhail-baryshnikov-3526_born_no-one-is-born-a-dancer-you-have-to-want_166515.png) > “No one is born a dancer. You have to want it more than anything.” [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. Talent alone isn’t enough; dedication and desire outweigh innate ability. **In simple terms:** Desire beats natural talent. Key Takeaway Cultivate passion beyond skill. Themes motivation discipline self‑improvement Mood determined inspired Type motivational inspirational When to use this quote - learning a new art - sports training - career change Key Concepts growth mindset intrinsic motivation Questions to Reflect On - What drives you more than talent? - How can you nurture desire daily? A Different Perspective Passion may not overcome physical limits without effort. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Dance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dance/) [Dancer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dancer/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) ## Related quotes > [How many leaps did Nijinksy take before he made the one that startled the world? He took thousands and thousands and it is that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-graham/how-many-leaps-did-nijinksy-take-before-he-made-the-one-that-startled/) [Martha Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-graham/) > [One is born to be a dancer. No teacher can work miracles, nor will years of training make a good dancer of an untalented…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-balanchine/one-is-born-to-be-a-dancer-no-teacher-can-work-miracles-nor-will/) [George Balanchine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-balanchine/) > [Nobody is born a dancer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikhail-baryshnikov/nobody-is-born-a-dancer/) [Mikhail Baryshnikov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikhail-baryshnikov/) > [I don't want to be known as an item dancer. I want to be known as an actress only.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nargis-fakhri/i-don-t-want-to-be-known-as-an-item-dancer-i-want-to-be-known-as-an/) [Nargis Fakhri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nargis-fakhri/) > [Young kids get motivated by everything. If they see a great dancer, some of them would want to become a dancer. If they see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-payette/young-kids-get-motivated-by-everything-if-they-see-a-great-dancer/) [Julie Payette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-payette/) > [My goal is to be the best TV presenter, the best entertainer, the best singer. I still want to be the best dancer. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anton-du-beke/my-goal-is-to-be-the-best-tv-presenter-the-best-entertainer-the-best/) [Anton du Beke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anton-du-beke/) > [I am a singer and dancer and I want to focus on this aspect of my personality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shibani-dandekar/i-am-a-singer-and-dancer-and-i-want-to-focus-on-this-aspect-of-my/) [Shibani Dandekar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shibani-dandekar/) > [I always wanted to make a pop record. 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To be a desirable dancing partner, you don't have to do all the intricate fancy steps that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ginger-rogers/rhythm-is-born-in-all-of-us-to-be-a-desirable-dancing-partner-you-don/) [Ginger Rogers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ginger-rogers/) > [I don't try to dance better than anybody but myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikhail-baryshnikov/i-don-t-try-to-dance-better-than-anybody-but-myself/) [Mikhail Baryshnikov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikhail-baryshnikov/) > [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/) > [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 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/) ## 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/) > [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/) > [I am a performer. I go on stage and make a fool of myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikhail-baryshnikov/i-am-a-performer-i-go-on-stage-and-make-a-fool-of-myself/) [Mikhail Baryshnikov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikhail-baryshnikov/) [Explore all 128 Mikhail Baryshnikov quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikhail-baryshnikov/) ## More Born quotes > [My mother says I didn't open my eyes for eight days after I was born, but when I did, the first thing I saw…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-taylor/my-mother-says-i-didn-t-open-my-eyes-for-eight-days-after-i-was-born/) [Elizabeth Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-taylor/) > [I always thought if I was born 2000 years earlier, I would be a monk, probably carving a monastery or some giant pantheon buildings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenova-chen/i-always-thought-if-i-was-born-2000-years-earlier-i-would-be-a-monk/) [Jenova Chen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenova-chen/) > [The real world out there isn't nearly as nice as some people prefer it to be, so don't swallow everything your high-born teachers tell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-real-world-out-there-isn-t-nearly-as-nice-as-some-people-prefer/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Anybody looking for a quiet life has picked the wrong century to born in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/anybody-looking-for-a-quiet-life-has-picked-the-wrong-century-to-born/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I was born and raised in Orlando, where the economy and culture has been powerfully shaped by tourism, and so I've long been interested…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-van-den-berg/i-was-born-and-raised-in-orlando-where-the-economy-and-culture-has/) [Laura van den Berg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-van-den-berg/) > [I know that in the rap game you've got a lot of people, that come from poverty, was born in poverty and if it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-connor/i-know-that-in-the-rap-game-you-ve-got-a-lot-of-people-that-come-from/) [Jon Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-connor/) > [Nothing old is ever reborn but neither does it totally disappear. And that which has once been born, will always reappear in a new…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alvar-aalto/nothing-old-is-ever-reborn-but-neither-does-it-totally-disappear-and/) [Alvar Aalto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alvar-aalto/) > [I have lifted my plane . . . for perhaps a thousand flights and I have never felt her wheels glide from the Earth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beryl-markham/i-have-lifted-my-plane-for-perhaps-a-thousand-flights-and-i-have/) [Beryl Markham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beryl-markham/) > [If there is any period one would desire to be born in, is it not the age of Revolution; when the old and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/if-there-is-any-period-one-would-desire-to-be-born-in-is-it-not-the/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Must I go bound while you go free Must I love a manwho doesn't love me Must I be born with so little art…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/must-i-go-bound-while-you-go-free-must-i-love-a-manwho-doesn-t-love/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [I'm not against gay people. I have a relative who is also gay. We can't help it if they were born that way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manny-pacquiao/i-m-not-against-gay-people-i-have-a-relative-who-is-also-gay-we-can-t/) [Manny Pacquiao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manny-pacquiao/) > [“Every child is born as angel.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/every-child-is-born-as-angel/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [For the glory born of Goodness Never dies, And its flag is not half-masted In the skies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bret-harte/for-the-glory-born-of-goodness-never-dies-and-its-flag-is-not-half/) [Bret Harte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bret-harte/) > [There are two kinds of beauty; there is a beauty which God gives at birth, and which withers as a flower. 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