--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Going on stage and transcending the…" description: "\"Going on stage and transcending the audience and becoming this otherworldly thing makes you a dancer. It's not so black and white.\" — Misty Copeland" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ef9/misty-copeland-2012_audience_going-on-stage-and-transcending-the-audi_1529246.png" --- # Going on stage and transcending the audience and becoming… ![“Going on stage and transcending the audience and becoming this otherworldly thing makes you a dancer. It's not so black and white.” quote by Misty Copeland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ef9/misty-copeland-2012_audience_going-on-stage-and-transcending-the-audi_1529246.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ef9/misty-copeland-2012_audience_going-on-stage-and-transcending-the-audi_1529246.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ef9/misty-copeland-2012_audience_going-on-stage-and-transcending-the-audi_1529246.png) > “Going on stage and transcending the audience and becoming this otherworldly thing makes you a dancer. It's not so black and white.” [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. Becoming a dancer involves transcending ordinary perception, merging self and audience into something beyond binary categories. **In simple terms:** Dancing is more than technique; it’s a transformative experience. Key Takeaway Embrace the fluidity of performance. Themes art identity transcendence Mood inspired reflective Type philosophical artistic When to use this quote - stage performance - creative workshops - personal growth - teaching dance Key Concepts embodiment presence nonbinary perception Questions to Reflect On - How does audience perception shape your movement? - What does “otherworldly” mean to you? A Different Perspective The metaphor may be too abstract for non‑dancers. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Audience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/audience/) [Audience Otherworldly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/audience-otherworldly-5670207/) [Becoming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/becoming/) [Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/black/) [Black and white](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/black-and-white/) [Dance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dance/) [Dancer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dancer/) [Makes Dancer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/makes-dancer-5670205/) [Stage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stage/) [Stage Transcending](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stage-transcending-5670204/) [Theatre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theatre/) [Transcending](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/transcending/) [Transcending Audience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/transcending-audience-5670206/) [White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/white/) ## Related quotes > [Instinct is like Nature herself - prodigiously conservative, and yet transcending her own historical conditions in her acts of creation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-jung/instinct-is-like-nature-herself-prodigiously-conservative-and-yet/) [Carl Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-jung/) > [Lose/Win people bury a lot of feelings. And unexpressed feelings come forth later in uglier ways. Psychosomatic illnesses often are the reincarnation of cumulative…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/lose-win-people-bury-a-lot-of-feelings-and-unexpressed-feelings-come/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Flowers that are so pathetic in their beauty, frail as the clouds, and in their coloring as gorgeous as the heavens, had through thousands…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-de-quincey/flowers-that-are-so-pathetic-in-their-beauty-frail-as-the-clouds-and/) [Thomas de Quincey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-de-quincey/) > [“Transcending reality by exploring it one story at a time...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-cutrera/transcending-reality-by-exploring-it-one-story-at-a-time/) [Barbara Cutrera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-cutrera/) > [See, when I paint, it is an experience that, at its best, is transcending reality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-haring/see-when-i-paint-it-is-an-experience-that-at-its-best-is-transcending/) [Keith Haring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-haring/) > [A large plural society cannot be governed without recognizing that, transcending its plural interests, there is a rational order with a superior common law.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-lippmann/a-large-plural-society-cannot-be-governed-without-recognizing-that/) [Walter Lippmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-lippmann/) > [In the name of celibacy, sex has been repressed for centuries and you have become just full of sexuality. Rather than transcending it you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/in-the-name-of-celibacy-sex-has-been-repressed-for-centuries-and-you/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) > [“There is no transcending our minds, only using them optimally.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vironika-tugaleva/there-is-no-transcending-our-minds-only-using-them-optimally/) [Vironika Tugaleva](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vironika-tugaleva/) > [I strive to express the spiritual nature of the Universe. Painting for me is a dynamic balance and wholeness of life; it is mysterious…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-pousette-dart/i-strive-to-express-the-spiritual-nature-of-the-universe-painting-for/) [Richard Pousette-Dart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-pousette-dart/) > [If a human being is filled with happiness and positivity, this is what they radiate out into the world. We each affect our environment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-lynch/if-a-human-being-is-filled-with-happiness-and-positivity-this-is-what/) [David Lynch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-lynch/) > [There was a band very early on in our class, and I played in that band and as a teenager, I continued. It was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agnes-obel/there-was-a-band-very-early-on-in-our-class-and-i-played-in-that-band/) [Agnes Obel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agnes-obel/) > [Catholicity seized on man... and the mystics, transcending all, taught him to ascend on high with the wings of contemplation the Ladder of Jacob…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juan-donoso-cortes/catholicity-seized-on-man-and-the-mystics-transcending-all-taught-him/) [Juan Donoso Cortes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juan-donoso-cortes/) > [“Pleasure is no longer empty and pain is no longer deadly when God is the transcending reason for all of it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-daigle/pleasure-is-no-longer-empty-and-pain-is-no-longer-deadly-when-god-is/) [Sara Daigle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-daigle/) > [The pace of science forces the pace of technique. Theoretical physics forces atomic energy on us; the successful production of the fission bomb forces…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/the-pace-of-science-forces-the-pace-of-technique-theoretical-physics/) [Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/) > [Realists are, as a rule, only men in the rut of routine who are incapable of transcending a narrow circle of antiquated notions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodor-herzl/realists-are-as-a-rule-only-men-in-the-rut-of-routine-who-are/) [Theodor Herzl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodor-herzl/) ## 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 Audience quotes > [If the audience likes your work, if they like you, they don't think whether you are married or have children or not. I made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dimple-kapadia/if-the-audience-likes-your-work-if-they-like-you-they-don-t-think/) [Dimple Kapadia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dimple-kapadia/) > [It's those moments, those odd moments that you look for and sometimes by creating this kind of loose atmosphere you find those little moments…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-levinson/it-s-those-moments-those-odd-moments-that-you-look-for-and-sometimes/) [Barry Levinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-levinson/) > [I can skate beautifully. While performing on ice I always try to please the audience and to win as well. Being artistic is very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evgeni-plushenko/i-can-skate-beautifully-while-performing-on-ice-i-always-try-to/) [Evgeni Plushenko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evgeni-plushenko/) > [One of the best moments of any Liars show is hearing the crowd squawk 'We're doomed! We're doomed!' on cue during 'We Fenced Other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-sheffield/one-of-the-best-moments-of-any-liars-show-is-hearing-the-crowd-squawk/) [Rob Sheffield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-sheffield/) > [It's the adrenaline rush you only get from being in front of an audience. It's addictive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raphael-saadiq/it-s-the-adrenaline-rush-you-only-get-from-being-in-front-of-an/) [Raphael Saadiq](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raphael-saadiq/) > [If I had to speak in front of a Korean audience, I would be hard pressed to sound other than a little girl.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/an-na/if-i-had-to-speak-in-front-of-a-korean-audience-i-would-be-hard/) [An Na](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/an-na/) > [The liveness of theater, and the excitement of experiencing it alongside an audience, is something you can't get at home. That makes the theater…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-blaemire/the-liveness-of-theater-and-the-excitement-of-experiencing-it/) [Nick Blaemire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-blaemire/) > [One of the things that touches me most when I play for an audience is that although we may be unable to communicate in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-hough/one-of-the-things-that-touches-me-most-when-i-play-for-an-audience-is/) [Stephen Hough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-hough/) > [I have to feel the audience. I enjoy that feeling of community.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-gahan/i-have-to-feel-the-audience-i-enjoy-that-feeling-of-community/) [Dave Gahan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-gahan/) > [When you lived it for years and years and years and seen different characters just get pummeled and squashed because 'I said so,' it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arn-anderson/when-you-lived-it-for-years-and-years-and-years-and-seen-different/) [Arn Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arn-anderson/) > [“During the first few minutes of your presentation, your job is to assure the audience members that you are not going to waste their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dale-ludwig-and-greg-owen-boger/during-the-first-few-minutes-of-your-presentation-your-job-is-to/) [Dale Ludwig and Greg Owen-Boger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dale-ludwig-and-greg-owen-boger/) > [Donald Trump is a different ball of wax. 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My music director, who knew…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-tesh/when-i-was-playing-piano-it-was-like-i-m-going-to-write-a-song-using/) [John Tesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-tesh/) [Browse all 9,118 Audience quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/audience/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Going on stage and transcending the audience and becoming this otherworldly thing makes you a dancer. 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