--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Every time I dance, I'm trying to prove…" description: "\"Every time I dance, I'm trying to prove myself to myself.\" — Misty Copeland" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/afd/misty-copeland-2012_dance_every-time-i-dance-i-m-trying-to-prove-m_3112995.png" --- # Every time I dance, I'm trying to prove myself to myself. ![“Every time I dance, I'm trying to prove myself to myself.” quote by Misty Copeland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/afd/misty-copeland-2012_dance_every-time-i-dance-i-m-trying-to-prove-m_3112995.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/afd/misty-copeland-2012_dance_every-time-i-dance-i-m-trying-to-prove-m_3112995.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/afd/misty-copeland-2012_dance_every-time-i-dance-i-m-trying-to-prove-m_3112995.png) > “Every time I dance, I'm trying to prove myself to myself.” [Misty Copeland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/misty-copeland/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Self‑validation drives artistic performance; dancing becomes a personal test of worth. **In simple terms:** Dancing is a personal proof. Key Takeaway Use performance to gauge self‑growth. Themes self‑esteem performance artistic expression Mood determined reflective Type motivational inspirational When to use this quote - rehearsals - competition - personal milestones - creative work Key Concepts psychology of motivation identity affirmation Questions to Reflect On - How does internal validation affect your art? - What risks arise from seeking only self‑approval? A Different Perspective May overlook external feedback and collaborative growth. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Dance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dance/) [Dance Trying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dance-trying-949389/) [Myself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/myself/) [Prove](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prove/) [Prove myself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prove-myself/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Time Dance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time-dance-1032377/) [Trying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trying/) [Trying Prove](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trying-prove/) ## Related quotes > [I'm not trying to prove myself, and I'm not trying to shock anyone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jameela-jamil/i-m-not-trying-to-prove-myself-and-i-m-not-trying-to-shock-anyone/) [Jameela Jamil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jameela-jamil/) > [I love dance - trying to express myself wordlessly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gord-downie/i-love-dance-trying-to-express-myself-wordlessly/) [Gord Downie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gord-downie/) > [Let me see you do the 'rag time dance'... Turn left and do the 'Cake walk prance'... Turn the other way and do the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-joplin/let-me-see-you-do-the-rag-time-dance-turn-left-and-do-the-cake-walk/) [Scott Joplin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-joplin/) > [That awkward little dance You do when your trying to put on skinny jeans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/that-awkward-little-dance-you-do-when-your-trying-to-put-on-skinny/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [In theater and dance, I was trying to win someone's approval, trying to get in, trying to be good. It felt out of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susanna-hoffs/in-theater-and-dance-i-was-trying-to-win-someone-s-approval-trying-to/) [Susanna Hoffs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susanna-hoffs/) > [I am here trying to prove myself every single game.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bojan-bogdanovic/i-am-here-trying-to-prove-myself-every-single-game/) [Bojan Bogdanovic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bojan-bogdanovic/) > [I'm always trying to prove myself to the rest of the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-whittaker/i-m-always-trying-to-prove-myself-to-the-rest-of-the-world/) [Robert Whittaker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-whittaker/) > [I've been trying to prove myself since I picked up this brown ball at the age of 7.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitchell-trubisky/i-ve-been-trying-to-prove-myself-since-i-picked-up-this-brown-ball-at/) [Mitchell Trubisky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitchell-trubisky/) > [I'm not trying to prove myself a great filmmaker. I don't know much about filmmaking anyway. I'm trying my hand at it to see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naseeruddin-shah/i-m-not-trying-to-prove-myself-a-great-filmmaker-i-don-t-know-much/) [Naseeruddin Shah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naseeruddin-shah/) > [I've spent my whole life trying to prove myself and to show I'm as good as any private school person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-reeves/i-ve-spent-my-whole-life-trying-to-prove-myself-and-to-show-i-m-as/) [Rachel Reeves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-reeves/) > [I was trying to prove myself and be known as an actor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-elordi/i-was-trying-to-prove-myself-and-be-known-as-an-actor/) [Jacob Elordi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-elordi/) > [I've had enough of trying to prove myself to people. Now I don't care about what people think as long as I'm happy with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nishan-panwar/i-ve-had-enough-of-trying-to-prove-myself-to-people-now-i-don-t-care/) [Nishan Panwar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nishan-panwar/) > [When I go on stage, I still have that open-mic mentality of trying to prove myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-kahan/when-i-go-on-stage-i-still-have-that-open-mic-mentality-of-trying-to/) [Noah Kahan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-kahan/) > [I haven't done nothing in this league. Every day I come into practice or come into a game, I'm just trying to prove myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-green/i-haven-t-done-nothing-in-this-league-every-day-i-come-into-practice/) [Gerald Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-green/) > [I am not out here trying to prove anybody wrong. I am just trying to prove myself right. Because I know what I am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jalen-hurts/i-am-not-out-here-trying-to-prove-anybody-wrong-i-am-just-trying-to/) [Jalen Hurts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jalen-hurts/) ## More by Misty Copeland > [I traced the marley floor with my pointe shoes, and imagine myself on the stage, not as a member of the corps, but as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/misty-copeland/i-traced-the-marley-floor-with-my-pointe-shoes-and-imagine-myself-on/) [Misty Copeland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/misty-copeland/) > [When I was 16, I moved to Torrance, California to train at a more advanced studio, and by 19, I joined the American Ballet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/misty-copeland/when-i-was-16-i-moved-to-torrance-california-to-train-at-a-more/) [Misty Copeland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/misty-copeland/) > [To be empathetic to everyone around you, I think, is such a powerful thing to hold.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/misty-copeland/to-be-empathetic-to-everyone-around-you-i-think-is-such-a-powerful/) [Misty Copeland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/misty-copeland/) > [My first ballet class was on a basketball court. I'm in my gym clothes and my socks trying to do this thing called ballet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/misty-copeland/my-first-ballet-class-was-on-a-basketball-court-i-m-in-my-gym-clothes/) [Misty Copeland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/misty-copeland/) > [There are muscles that we have in our feet that most human beings don't even know that we have. The strength that we have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/misty-copeland/there-are-muscles-that-we-have-in-our-feet-that-most-human-beings-don/) [Misty Copeland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/misty-copeland/) > [Be strong, be fearless, be beautiful. And believe that anything is possible when you have the right people there to support you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/misty-copeland/be-strong-be-fearless-be-beautiful-and-believe-that-anything-is/) [Misty Copeland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/misty-copeland/) > [The woman represents ballet. She is most important, powerful and vital to it. Therefore, she is not "less than" a man. If anything she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/misty-copeland/the-woman-represents-ballet-she-is-most-important-powerful-and-vital/) [Misty Copeland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/misty-copeland/) > [If I'm put in a situation where I am not really sure what's going to happen, it can be overwhelming. I get a bit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/misty-copeland/if-i-m-put-in-a-situation-where-i-am-not-really-sure-what-s-going-to/) [Misty Copeland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/misty-copeland/) > [I never experienced getting nervous on stage. I think I was most comfortable there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/misty-copeland/i-never-experienced-getting-nervous-on-stage-i-think-i-was-most/) [Misty Copeland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/misty-copeland/) > [The word "prodigy" was thrown around a lot, but I didn't understand what that meant, or the weight of it. It didn't really mean…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/misty-copeland/the-word-prodigy-was-thrown-around-a-lot-but-i-didn-t-understand-what/) [Misty Copeland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/misty-copeland/) > [I think that the ideal physique and look of a ballerina is always changing with different eras. And it's continuing to change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/misty-copeland/i-think-that-the-ideal-physique-and-look-of-a-ballerina-is-always/) [Misty Copeland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/misty-copeland/) > [Once you become a professional, to get through a ballet like 'Swan Lake' - four acts as the lead, changing character - the perseverance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/misty-copeland/once-you-become-a-professional-to-get-through-a-ballet-like-swan-lake/) [Misty Copeland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/misty-copeland/) > [Perseverance has always just been something that was in me. And it was a tool that came in very handy as a ballerina.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/misty-copeland/perseverance-has-always-just-been-something-that-was-in-me-and-it-was/) [Misty Copeland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/misty-copeland/) > [I was 17 when I moved to NYC . I'm now 32. But I do know I can't see myself living anywhere else. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/misty-copeland/i-was-17-when-i-moved-to-nyc-i-m-now-32-but-i-do-know-i-can-t-see/) [Misty Copeland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/misty-copeland/) > [I grew up poor in San Pedro, California, sleeping on the floor of shady motels with my five siblings and not always sure when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/misty-copeland/i-grew-up-poor-in-san-pedro-california-sleeping-on-the-floor-of-shady/) [Misty Copeland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/misty-copeland/) [Explore all 191 Misty Copeland quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/misty-copeland/) ## 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": "Every time I dance, I'm trying to prove myself to myself.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Misty Copeland" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/misty-copeland/every-time-i-dance-i-m-trying-to-prove-myself-to-myself/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Dance" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/misty-copeland/every-time-i-dance-i-m-trying-to-prove-myself-to-myself/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/afd/misty-copeland-2012_dance_every-time-i-dance-i-m-trying-to-prove-m_3112995.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/afd/misty-copeland-2012_dance_every-time-i-dance-i-m-trying-to-prove-m_3112995.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/afd/misty-copeland-2012_dance_every-time-i-dance-i-m-trying-to-prove-m_3112995.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Every time I dance, I'm trying to prove myself to myself.” — Misty Copeland", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Misty Copeland", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/misty-copeland/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Every time I dance, I'm trying...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/misty-copeland/every-time-i-dance-i-m-trying-to-prove-myself-to-myself/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/misty-copeland/every-time-i-dance-i-m-trying-to-prove-myself-to-myself/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```