--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You can't dance until you've learnt…" description: "\"You can't dance until you've learnt steps, the things your feet can do.\" — Ninette de Valois" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e02/ninette-de-valois-21443_can-do_you-can-t-dance-until-you-ve-learnt-step_63119.png" --- # You can't dance until you've learnt steps, the things your… ![“You can't dance until you've learnt steps, the things your feet can do.” quote by Ninette de Valois](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e02/ninette-de-valois-21443_can-do_you-can-t-dance-until-you-ve-learnt-step_63119.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e02/ninette-de-valois-21443_can-do_you-can-t-dance-until-you-ve-learnt-step_63119.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e02/ninette-de-valois-21443_can-do_you-can-t-dance-until-you-ve-learnt-step_63119.png) > “You can't dance until you've learnt steps, the things your feet can do.” [Ninette de Valois](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ninette-de-valois/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Mastery requires learning foundational techniques before expressing creativity. **In simple terms:** Skill precedes expression Key Takeaway Learn basics first Themes mastery growth creativity discipline learning Mood motivated inspired Type advice motivational When to use this quote - learning a new instrument - starting a sport - training in dance - beginning a language - developing coding skills Key Concepts skill acquisition practice confidence Practical Applications - designing curricula - coaching beginners Questions to Reflect On - What basic steps are you avoiding? - How does mastery change your confidence? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Can do](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/can-do/) [Dance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dance/) [Feet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feet/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Learnt Steps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/learnt-steps-762186/) [Steps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/steps/) [Steps Things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/steps-things-640580/) [Things Feet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/things-feet-852451/) ## Related quotes > [Exactly the same with dancing, you can't dance until you've learnt steps, the things your feet can do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ninette-de-valois/exactly-the-same-with-dancing-you-can-t-dance-until-you-ve-learnt/) [Ninette de Valois](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ninette-de-valois/) > [“No one regards the things before his feet, But views with care the regions of the sky.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/democritus/no-one-regards-the-things-before-his-feet-but-views-with-care-the/) [Democritus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/democritus/) > [Life is a series of steps. Things are done gradually. Once in a while there is a giant step, but most of the time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-ransom/life-is-a-series-of-steps-things-are-done-gradually-once-in-a-while/) [Ralph Ransom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-ransom/) > [Those who have succeeded in attaching or detaching their minds at will have succeeded in Pratyahara, which means gathering towards, checking the outgoing powers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/those-who-have-succeeded-in-attaching-or-detaching-their-minds-at/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [Tango is about feeling and sensitivity, otherwise you are just doing gymnastics. You can do all the steps but it has to have the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-gavito/tango-is-about-feeling-and-sensitivity-otherwise-you-are-just-doing/) [Carlos Gavito](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-gavito/) > [Alas! we makeA ladder of our thoughts, where angels step,But sleep ourselves at the foot: our high resolvesLook down upon our slumbering acts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/letitia-elizabeth-landon/alas-we-makea-ladder-of-our-thoughts-where-angels-step-but-sleep/) [Letitia Elizabeth Landon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/letitia-elizabeth-landon/) > [Let us agree not to step on each other’s feet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/let-us-agree-not-to-step-on-each-other-s-feet/) [Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/) > [My sign is Leo. A Leo has to walk with pride. When he takes a step, he has to put his foot down. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wesley-snipes/my-sign-is-leo-a-leo-has-to-walk-with-pride-when-he-takes-a-step-he/) [Wesley Snipes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wesley-snipes/) > [Follow your foot steps.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-love-hewitt/follow-your-foot-steps/) [Jennifer Love Hewitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-love-hewitt/) > [I always step on the plane with my right foot and touch the outside of the plane with my left hand. Sometimes you know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hope-davis/i-always-step-on-the-plane-with-my-right-foot-and-touch-the-outside/) [Hope Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hope-davis/) > [The minute you step onstage, you get eight feet taller.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-cooper/the-minute-you-step-onstage-you-get-eight-feet-taller/) [Alice Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-cooper/) > [Anybody can be Prince Charming one day a year, with the dinner and the flowers and all that. But you know what impresses me?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-howard/anybody-can-be-prince-charming-one-day-a-year-with-the-dinner-and-the/) [Ryan Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-howard/) > [If I had a million dollars, I just wouldn't just completely set back. I'd have to get out there and show my face to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muddy-waters/if-i-had-a-million-dollars-i-just-wouldn-t-just-completely-set-back-i/) [Muddy Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muddy-waters/) > [The happy medium is television. And if you find a good suitor, you can do it for years. With movies, you roll the dice.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-campbell/the-happy-medium-is-television-and-if-you-find-a-good-suitor-you-can/) [Bruce Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-campbell/) > [Changes before your eyes, things you can do and things you can't. My attitude is always let it keep rolling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terrence-malick/changes-before-your-eyes-things-you-can-do-and-things-you-can-t-my/) [Terrence Malick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terrence-malick/) ## More by Ninette de Valois > [Somebody must always be doing something new, or life would get very dull.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ninette-de-valois/somebody-must-always-be-doing-something-new-or-life-would-get-very/) [Ninette de Valois](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ninette-de-valois/) > [Nothing is done easily, first have the thing, then the thing has a success, then all sorts of difficulties arise through the success.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ninette-de-valois/nothing-is-done-easily-first-have-the-thing-then-the-thing-has-a/) [Ninette de Valois](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ninette-de-valois/) > [Classical ballet will never die.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ninette-de-valois/classical-ballet-will-never-die/) [Ninette de Valois](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ninette-de-valois/) > [All Ballets' fundamental steps are derived from the folk dances of Western Europe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ninette-de-valois/all-ballets-fundamental-steps-are-derived-from-the-folk-dances-of/) [Ninette de Valois](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ninette-de-valois/) > [There's nothing in the world that isn't good, bad, and indifferent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ninette-de-valois/there-s-nothing-in-the-world-that-isn-t-good-bad-and-indifferent/) [Ninette de Valois](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ninette-de-valois/) > [You cannot create genius. All you can do is nurture it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ninette-de-valois/you-cannot-create-genius-all-you-can-do-is-nurture-it/) [Ninette de Valois](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ninette-de-valois/) > [No no, we ALL teach each other, whether it's dancing, whether it's singing, whether it's talking, we all listen to each other. That's progress.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ninette-de-valois/no-no-we-all-teach-each-other-whether-it-s-dancing-whether-it-s/) [Ninette de Valois](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ninette-de-valois/) > [God gave us all exactly the same fingers, arms, legs, and feet, but in our different countries we divided them all a little differently…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ninette-de-valois/god-gave-us-all-exactly-the-same-fingers-arms-legs-and-feet-but-in/) [Ninette de Valois](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ninette-de-valois/) > [You never advance without losing something en passant... you lose it because you're paying so much attention to the new thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ninette-de-valois/you-never-advance-without-losing-something-en-passant-you-lose-it/) [Ninette de Valois](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ninette-de-valois/) > [Nearly everything in life goes in threes and fours.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ninette-de-valois/nearly-everything-in-life-goes-in-threes-and-fours/) [Ninette de Valois](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ninette-de-valois/) > [Well, I mean, we are developing the other parts, and we can't give quite all our attention to the upper part, but soon the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ninette-de-valois/well-i-mean-we-are-developing-the-other-parts-and-we-can-t-give-quite/) [Ninette de Valois](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ninette-de-valois/) > [We are developing the other parts, and we can't give quite all our attention to the upper part, but soon the lower parts will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ninette-de-valois/we-are-developing-the-other-parts-and-we-can-t-give-quite-all-our/) [Ninette de Valois](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ninette-de-valois/) > [The smile is the dance of the face - the dance is the smile of the limbs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ninette-de-valois/the-smile-is-the-dance-of-the-face-the-dance-is-the-smile-of-the-limbs/) [Ninette de Valois](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ninette-de-valois/) > [It's either not good enough and dies altogether, or it develops.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ninette-de-valois/it-s-either-not-good-enough-and-dies-altogether-or-it-develops/) [Ninette de Valois](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ninette-de-valois/) > [As time goes on, all schools only get left alive if they have found something special themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ninette-de-valois/as-time-goes-on-all-schools-only-get-left-alive-if-they-have-found/) [Ninette de Valois](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ninette-de-valois/) [Explore all 29 Ninette de Valois quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ninette-de-valois/) ## More Can do quotes > [Changes before your eyes, things you can do and things you can't. My attitude is always let it keep rolling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terrence-malick/changes-before-your-eyes-things-you-can-do-and-things-you-can-t-my/) [Terrence Malick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terrence-malick/) > [The happy medium is television. And if you find a good suitor, you can do it for years. With movies, you roll the dice.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-campbell/the-happy-medium-is-television-and-if-you-find-a-good-suitor-you-can/) [Bruce Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-campbell/) > [If I had a million dollars, I just wouldn't just completely set back. I'd have to get out there and show my face to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muddy-waters/if-i-had-a-million-dollars-i-just-wouldn-t-just-completely-set-back-i/) [Muddy Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muddy-waters/) > [Anybody can be Prince Charming one day a year, with the dinner and the flowers and all that. But you know what impresses me?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-howard/anybody-can-be-prince-charming-one-day-a-year-with-the-dinner-and-the/) [Ryan Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-howard/) > [And if the mind thinks with a believing attitude one can do amazing things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-vincent-peale/and-if-the-mind-thinks-with-a-believing-attitude-one-can-do-amazing/) [Norman Vincent Peale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-vincent-peale/) > [The amount of things you can do with a kettlebell is unsurpassed by any other training equipment - dumbbells, resistance machines, free weights.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laird-hamilton/the-amount-of-things-you-can-do-with-a-kettlebell-is-unsurpassed-by/) [Laird Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laird-hamilton/) > [It's nice when you've done enough movies that you can do your own anthology.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lithgow/it-s-nice-when-you-ve-done-enough-movies-that-you-can-do-your-own/) [John Lithgow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lithgow/) > [If people don't have their own vision, all they can do is 'sign-up' for someone else's.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-senge/if-people-don-t-have-their-own-vision-all-they-can-do-is-sign-up-for/) [Peter Senge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-senge/) > [The one thing that flies in the face of all human history and experience, is that the government can do a superior job than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-cook/the-one-thing-that-flies-in-the-face-of-all-human-history-and/) [James Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-cook/) > [...what I can do is offer myself, wholehearted and present, to walk with the people I love through the fear and the mess. That's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shauna-niequist/what-i-can-do-is-offer-myself-wholehearted-and-present-to-walk-with/) [Shauna Niequist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shauna-niequist/) > [Whether that's speaking up in your job or asking for a promotion or saying, 'I think I can do that.' Using your voice in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-shriver/whether-that-s-speaking-up-in-your-job-or-asking-for-a-promotion-or/) [Maria Shriver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-shriver/) > [The average ordinary citizen can do a lot of different things when it comes to the climate crisis.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-bender/the-average-ordinary-citizen-can-do-a-lot-of-different-things-when-it/) [Lawrence Bender](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-bender/) > [A professional is a man who can do his job when he doesn't feel like it. An amateur is a man who can't do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-agate/a-professional-is-a-man-who-can-do-his-job-when-he-doesn-t-feel-like/) [James Agate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-agate/) > [The Lord gives and the Lord takes away, as it pleases him, for he can do all things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/homer/the-lord-gives-and-the-lord-takes-away-as-it-pleases-him-for-he-can/) [Homer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/homer/) > [I'm not an educated man. I only know what I'm told, and I'm not told that much; I have no frame of reference for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maynard-james-keenan/i-m-not-an-educated-man-i-only-know-what-i-m-told-and-i-m-not-told/) [Maynard James Keenan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maynard-james-keenan/) [Browse all 5,673 Can do quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/can-do/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "You can't dance until you've learnt steps, the things your feet can do.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ninette de Valois" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ninette-de-valois/you-can-t-dance-until-you-ve-learnt-steps-the-things-your-feet-can-do/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Can do" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ninette-de-valois/you-can-t-dance-until-you-ve-learnt-steps-the-things-your-feet-can-do/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e02/ninette-de-valois-21443_can-do_you-can-t-dance-until-you-ve-learnt-step_63119.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e02/ninette-de-valois-21443_can-do_you-can-t-dance-until-you-ve-learnt-step_63119.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e02/ninette-de-valois-21443_can-do_you-can-t-dance-until-you-ve-learnt-step_63119.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“You can't dance until you've learnt steps, the things your feet can do.” — Ninette de Valois", "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": "Ninette de Valois", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ninette-de-valois/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "You can't dance until you've learnt...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ninette-de-valois/you-can-t-dance-until-you-ve-learnt-steps-the-things-your-feet-can-do/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ninette-de-valois/you-can-t-dance-until-you-ve-learnt-steps-the-things-your-feet-can-do/#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 } } ] } ```