--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Don Cornelius did not want to see how I…" description: "\"Don Cornelius did not want to see how I really danced - I was doing hip-hop, and it was foreign to people out in California. They only knew about poppi..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b0b/rosie-perez-12207_california_don-cornelius-did-not-want-to-see-how-i_2238955.jpg" --- # Don Cornelius did not want to see how I really danced - I… ![“Don Cornelius did not want to see how I really danced - I was doing hip-hop, and it was foreign to people out in California. They only knew about popping and locking, so they were not keen on hip-hop dancing.” quote by Rosie Perez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b0b/rosie-perez-12207_california_don-cornelius-did-not-want-to-see-how-i_2238955.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b0b/rosie-perez-12207_california_don-cornelius-did-not-want-to-see-how-i_2238955.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b0b/rosie-perez-12207_california_don-cornelius-did-not-want-to-see-how-i_2238955.jpg) > “Don Cornelius did not want to see how I really danced - I was doing hip-hop, and it was foreign to people out in California. They only knew about popping and locking, so they were not keen on hip-hop dancing.” [Rosie Perez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosie-perez/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Highlights cultural resistance to hip‑hop in mainstream dance scenes **In simple terms:** Hip‑hop faced misunderstanding in California’s dance world Key Takeaway Advocate for diverse dance expressions Themes culture misunderstanding artistic expression Mood thoughtful determined Type cultural inspirational When to use this quote - dance studios - media representation Key Concepts cultural appropriation genre evolution Questions to Reflect On - How can new art forms gain acceptance? - What role does media play in shaping dance trends? A Different Perspective Resistance may stem from fear of change ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [California](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/california/) [Dance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dance/) [Hip hop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hip-hop/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) ## Related quotes > [When I was young, my mom realized I could dance and hold a beat, and I really danced just for fun. It was good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-holland/when-i-was-young-my-mom-realized-i-could-dance-and-hold-a-beat-and-i/) [Tom Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-holland/) > [Have you ever really danced on the edge?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierce-the-veil/have-you-ever-really-danced-on-the-edge/) [Pierce The Veil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierce-the-veil/) > [“Okay, what do I do here?" he asked. I didn't answer. I just danced. "What are you doing? I can't do that. It's impossible.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilary-duff/okay-what-do-i-do-here-he-asked-i-didn-t-answer-i-just-danced-what/) [Hilary Duff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilary-duff/) > [I just don't think many people would have crossed the street to hear me doing a hip hop-influenced album!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-mcdonald/i-just-don-t-think-many-people-would-have-crossed-the-street-to-hear/) [Michael McDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-mcdonald/) > [I started dancing when I was 3 in Toledo, Ohio, and started hip-hop dancing at the age of 7.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alyson-stoner/i-started-dancing-when-i-was-3-in-toledo-ohio-and-started-hip-hop/) [Alyson Stoner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alyson-stoner/) > [You are not doing hip hop; you ARE hip hop.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krs-one/you-are-not-doing-hip-hop-you-are-hip-hop/) [KRS-One](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krs-one/) > [I grew up hip-hop dancing; I've always wanted to create music that I could dance to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hayley-kiyoko/i-grew-up-hip-hop-dancing-i-ve-always-wanted-to-create-music-that-i/) [Hayley Kiyoko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hayley-kiyoko/) > [I have a duty to myself to do the best that I can do at anything that I'm doing. And right now Hip Hop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-dre-2/i-have-a-duty-to-myself-to-do-the-best-that-i-can-do-at-anything-that/) [Dr Dre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-dre-2/) > [Hip hop dancing is more like choreography and it's more made up and you have to learn it. This, this Krump and Clowning you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-the-clown/hip-hop-dancing-is-more-like-choreography-and-it-s-more-made-up-and/) [Tommy the Clown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-the-clown/) > [“One stood behind me and ran her hands down my chest, her breasts rubbing against my back. The next stood in front of me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sadie-grubor/one-stood-behind-me-and-ran-her-hands-down-my-chest-her-breasts/) [Sadie Grubor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sadie-grubor/) > [I particularly enjoy cello music because our daughter plays the cello. I have listened to her practice for so many hours that I am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beverly-cleary/i-particularly-enjoy-cello-music-because-our-daughter-plays-the-cello/) [Beverly Cleary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beverly-cleary/) > [“He had danced with fair maidens before, but Odette was different. She was graceful and beautiful, but there was something in her eyes and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melanie-dickerson/he-had-danced-with-fair-maidens-before-but-odette-was-different-she/) [Melanie Dickerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melanie-dickerson/) > [Tentatively I stood a great lump of wood on the chopping block and bought the axe down on it. It flew into two perfect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-garner/tentatively-i-stood-a-great-lump-of-wood-on-the-chopping-block-and/) [Helen Garner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-garner/) > [I decided to lock myself in. A forced segregation. Sabbatical. A retreat into myself. My selves. Play hide and go seek in the looking-glass.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lydia-lunch/i-decided-to-lock-myself-in-a-forced-segregation-sabbatical-a-retreat/) [Lydia Lunch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lydia-lunch/) > [You have all this stuff going on in your head, like, 'I can't believe seven years has gone by, and I'm going to miss…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristen-wiig/you-have-all-this-stuff-going-on-in-your-head-like-i-can-t-believe/) [Kristen Wiig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristen-wiig/) ## More by Rosie Perez > [I was very willing to take on controversial roles that people didn't really want to look at.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosie-perez/i-was-very-willing-to-take-on-controversial-roles-that-people-didn-t/) [Rosie Perez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosie-perez/) > [I like the cold weather better than the hot weather.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosie-perez/i-like-the-cold-weather-better-than-the-hot-weather/) [Rosie Perez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosie-perez/) > [Puerto Ricans are United States citizens, and I think that the issue of statehood or independence needs to be addressed and needs to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosie-perez/puerto-ricans-are-united-states-citizens-and-i-think-that-the-issue/) [Rosie Perez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosie-perez/) > [If I see a door comin' my way, I'm knockin' it down. And if I can't knock down the door, I'm sliding through the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosie-perez/if-i-see-a-door-comin-my-way-i-m-knockin-it-down-and-if-i-can-t-knock/) [Rosie Perez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosie-perez/) > [I used to get recognized quite often as being a 'Soul Train' dancer. Quite often, which was great at times but sometimes was not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosie-perez/i-used-to-get-recognized-quite-often-as-being-a-soul-train-dancer/) [Rosie Perez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosie-perez/) > [Certain people who care about me a lot have said 'You don't play the game, and if you don't play the game, you don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosie-perez/certain-people-who-care-about-me-a-lot-have-said-you-don-t-play-the/) [Rosie Perez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosie-perez/) > [You have to believe in yourself. You need to have the audacity to be great.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosie-perez/you-have-to-believe-in-yourself-you-need-to-have-the-audacity-to-be/) [Rosie Perez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosie-perez/) > [I don't watch TV series, but I watched 'Friday Night Lights' because I'm a sports head.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosie-perez/i-don-t-watch-tv-series-but-i-watched-friday-night-lights-because-i-m/) [Rosie Perez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosie-perez/) > [“There’s nothing evil or spooky about anything if there isn’t anything evil and spooky in your soul.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosie-perez/there-s-nothing-evil-or-spooky-about-anything-if-there-isn-t-anything/) [Rosie Pérez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosie-perez/) > [With 'Soul Train,' it was the first time I was on television. And I just couldn't believe it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosie-perez/with-soul-train-it-was-the-first-time-i-was-on-television-and-i-just/) [Rosie Perez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosie-perez/) > [In movies, you shoot out of sequence, so the issue of reality is really taken out of it](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosie-perez/in-movies-you-shoot-out-of-sequence-so-the-issue-of-reality-is-really/) [Rosie Perez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosie-perez/) > [I want to be in shape.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosie-perez/i-want-to-be-in-shape/) [Rosie Perez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosie-perez/) > [I am a positive person. I never think of the glass as half empty. I just keep pushing forward.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosie-perez/i-am-a-positive-person-i-never-think-of-the-glass-as-half-empty-i/) [Rosie Perez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosie-perez/) > [Van Gogh cut off his ear for his art. I'm not tryin' to cut off my ear. I'm not humiliating myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosie-perez/van-gogh-cut-off-his-ear-for-his-art-i-m-not-tryin-to-cut-off-my-ear/) [Rosie Perez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosie-perez/) > [In my circle of friends, I've always been loud and funny and talkative. But as soon as I step out of that circle, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosie-perez/in-my-circle-of-friends-i-ve-always-been-loud-and-funny-and-talkative/) [Rosie Perez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosie-perez/) [Explore all 55 Rosie Perez quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosie-perez/) ## More California quotes > [Everyone in California is from somewhere else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wright-morris/everyone-in-california-is-from-somewhere-else/) [Wright Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wright-morris/) > [Even with clothing naked animals, there were people who wanted to send in money. A woman in Santa Barbara, California, sent a $40,000 check.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-abel/even-with-clothing-naked-animals-there-were-people-who-wanted-to-send/) [Alan Abel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-abel/) > [We need to incorporate that age-old concept of redemption into the work that we do in the criminal justice system in California.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamala-harris/we-need-to-incorporate-that-age-old-concept-of-redemption-into-the/) [Kamala Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamala-harris/) > [The Urban Literate Southern California Sub-Group of the Early Atomic Period has not yet produced a distinct body of folk music of its own.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-hinton/the-urban-literate-southern-california-sub-group-of-the-early-atomic/) Sam Hinton > [California is a place in which a boom mentality and a sense of Chekhovian loss meet in uneasy suspension.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-didion/california-is-a-place-in-which-a-boom-mentality-and-a-sense-of/) [Joan Didion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-didion/) > [Many militarists would like to see California's votes vanish from the national electoral system, which would then become more Republican.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-swanson/many-militarists-would-like-to-see-california-s-votes-vanish-from-the/) [David Swanson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-swanson/) > [When I started in California, people would say, 'Enterprise who?'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pamela-nicholson/when-i-started-in-california-people-would-say-enterprise-who/) [Pamela Nicholson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pamela-nicholson/) > [Take one round-trip flight between New York and California, and you've generated about 20 percent of the greenhouse gases that your car emits over…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tatiana-schlossberg/take-one-round-trip-flight-between-new-york-and-california-and-you-ve/) [Tatiana Schlossberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tatiana-schlossberg/) > [These French-style caramels are handmade in California. It's always hard to give them away!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/these-french-style-caramels-are-handmade-in-california-it-s-always/) [Oprah Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oprah-winfrey/) > [The D.C. playbook is obsolete. It's time for the people of California to bring the agenda to Washington, not the other way around.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-de-leon/the-d-c-playbook-is-obsolete-it-s-time-for-the-people-of-california/) [Kevin de Leon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-de-leon/) > [While there is an attempt by the Trump people to say that California isn't really America. California certainly seems like America to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-frum/while-there-is-an-attempt-by-the-trump-people-to-say-that-california/) [David Frum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-frum/) > [I'm from California, but my father, who passed away when I was young, was from Newark. When I was kid, we would go back…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carson-daly/i-m-from-california-but-my-father-who-passed-away-when-i-was-young/) [Carson Daly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carson-daly/) > [“God will break California from the surface of the continent like someone breaking off a piece of chocolate. It will become its own floating…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-ruby/god-will-break-california-from-the-surface-of-the-continent-like/) [Laura Ruby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-ruby/) > [You could have a hit in California that no one had heard of in Oklahoma.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wanda-jackson/you-could-have-a-hit-in-california-that-no-one-had-heard-of-in/) [Wanda Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wanda-jackson/) > [My first encounter with yoga was in 1969 with my older brother Doug. I was thirteen years old, and he was eighteen. He'd learned…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-f-swensen/my-first-encounter-with-yoga-was-in-1969-with-my-older-brother-doug-i/) [David F. Swensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-f-swensen/) [Browse all 2,036 California quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/california/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Don Cornelius did not want to see how I really danced - I was doing hip-hop, and it was foreign to people out in California. 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