--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The main thing is dancing, and before it…" description: "\"The main thing is dancing, and before it withers away from my body, I will keep dancing till the last moment, the last drop.\" — Rudolf Nureyev" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a72/rudolf-nureyev-29098_body_the-main-thing-is-dancing-and-before-it_430282.jpg" --- # The main thing is dancing, and before it withers away from… ![“The main thing is dancing, and before it withers away from my body, I will keep dancing till the last moment, the last drop.” quote by Rudolf Nureyev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a72/rudolf-nureyev-29098_body_the-main-thing-is-dancing-and-before-it_430282.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a72/rudolf-nureyev-29098_body_the-main-thing-is-dancing-and-before-it_430282.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a72/rudolf-nureyev-29098_body_the-main-thing-is-dancing-and-before-it_430282.jpg) > “The main thing is dancing, and before it withers away from my body, I will keep dancing till the last moment, the last drop.” [Rudolf Nureyev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudolf-nureyev/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Dance is a vital, fleeting expression; keep moving until the end. **In simple terms:** Dance is essential and fleeting. Key Takeaway Continue dancing despite aging. Themes art impermanence passion Mood poignant inspirational Type artistic personal reflection When to use this quote - stage performance - personal health - creative expression Key Concepts performance physicality legacy Questions to Reflect On - How can dancers adapt as they age? - What alternative artistic outlets exist? A Different Perspective Physical limits may restrict continued dancing. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Body](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/body/) [Dance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dance/) [Dancing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dancing/) [Moments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moments/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [Here I am and there is my body dancing on glass.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-kane/here-i-am-and-there-is-my-body-dancing-on-glass/) [Sarah Kane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-kane/) > [The great thing about dancing is it's a way to get close to a beautiful woman you have never met.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-ridgeley/the-great-thing-about-dancing-is-it-s-a-way-to-get-close-to-a/) [Andrew Ridgeley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-ridgeley/) > [“When the value of a relation gets lower than the amount of thought and time needed to maintain or resurrect them, It withers away.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/everskeptic/when-the-value-of-a-relation-gets-lower-than-the-amount-of-thought/) EverSkeptic > [The strong grows in solitude where the weak withers away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khalil-gibran/the-strong-grows-in-solitude-where-the-weak-withers-away/) [Khalil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khalil-gibran/) > [The state is not abolished, it withers away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-engels/the-state-is-not-abolished-it-withers-away/) [Friedrich Engels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-engels/) > [A mind that is afraid withers away; it cannot function properly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jiddu-krishnamurti/a-mind-that-is-afraid-withers-away-it-cannot-function-properly/) [Jiddu Krishnamurti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jiddu-krishnamurti/) > [The thing about my dancing is, I actually think I'm magnificent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stacey-dooley/the-thing-about-my-dancing-is-i-actually-think-i-m-magnificent/) [Stacey Dooley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stacey-dooley/) > [Sometimes you dance with a partner, and sometimes you dance alone. But the important thing is to keep dancing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/sometimes-you-dance-with-a-partner-and-sometimes-you-dance-alone-but/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Dancing with the feet is one thing, but dancing with the heart is another.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/dancing-with-the-feet-is-one-thing-but-dancing-with-the-heart-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [crawling about the floor like half-dead November flies is one thing, and dancing reels another.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethel-smyth/crawling-about-the-floor-like-half-dead-november-flies-is-one-thing/) [Ethel Smyth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethel-smyth/) > [The thing about dancing - what it taught me all those years - is it gives you an amazing sense of discipline in forcing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madonna-ciccone/the-thing-about-dancing-what-it-taught-me-all-those-years-is-it-gives/) [Madonna Ciccone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madonna-ciccone/) > [I'm very smart when it comes to choosing dancers and trying to show the world that there's a whole lot of dancing going on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-jamison/i-m-very-smart-when-it-comes-to-choosing-dancers-and-trying-to-show/) [Judith Jamison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-jamison/) > [To chase the glowing hours with flying feet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-byron/to-chase-the-glowing-hours-with-flying-feet/) [Lord Byron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-byron/) > [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/) > [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/) ## More by Rudolf Nureyev > [The only critic is a full house.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudolf-nureyev/the-only-critic-is-a-full-house/) [Rudolf Nureyev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudolf-nureyev/) > [When I miss class for one day, I know it. When I miss class for two days, my teacher knows it. When I miss…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudolf-nureyev/when-i-miss-class-for-one-day-i-know-it-when-i-miss-class-for-two/) [Rudolf Nureyev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudolf-nureyev/) > [I approach dancing from a different angle than those who begin dancing at 8 or 9. Those who have studied from the beginning never question anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudolf-nureyev/i-approach-dancing-from-a-different-angle-than-those-who-begin/) [Rudolf Nureyev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudolf-nureyev/) > [My feet are dogs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudolf-nureyev/my-feet-are-dogs/) [Rudolf Nureyev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudolf-nureyev/) > [Technique is what you fall back on when you run out of inspiration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudolf-nureyev/technique-is-what-you-fall-back-on-when-you-run-out-of-inspiration/) [Rudolf Nureyev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudolf-nureyev/) > [As long as my ballets are danced, I will live.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudolf-nureyev/as-long-as-my-ballets-are-danced-i-will-live/) [Rudolf Nureyev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudolf-nureyev/) > [Of course I have a personal life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudolf-nureyev/of-course-i-have-a-personal-life/) [Rudolf Nureyev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudolf-nureyev/) > [I’m really alive when I’m on stage,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudolf-nureyev/i-m-really-alive-when-i-m-on-stage/) [Rudolf Nureyev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudolf-nureyev/) > [For me, purity of movement wasn't enough. I needed expression, more intensity, more mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudolf-nureyev/for-me-purity-of-movement-wasn-t-enough-i-needed-expression-more/) [Rudolf Nureyev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudolf-nureyev/) > [We danced with one body, one soul... For me, Margot is my family. She is all I have, only her.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudolf-nureyev/we-danced-with-one-body-one-soul-for-me-margot-is-my-family-she-is/) [Rudolf Nureyev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudolf-nureyev/) > [I don't care if Margot is a Dame of the British Empire or older than myself. For me she represents eternal youth; there is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudolf-nureyev/i-don-t-care-if-margot-is-a-dame-of-the-british-empire-or-older-than/) [Rudolf Nureyev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudolf-nureyev/) > [What is art? It is not just nature, it is nurtured nature. It is intelligence applied to what physical ability you have.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudolf-nureyev/what-is-art-it-is-not-just-nature-it-is-nurtured-nature-it-is/) [Rudolf Nureyev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudolf-nureyev/) > [There was simply from this quite early age the awareness that the only thing I wanted was to dance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudolf-nureyev/there-was-simply-from-this-quite-early-age-the-awareness-that-the/) [Rudolf Nureyev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudolf-nureyev/) > [I really have to dance more often, and so I travel around. If I don't, I will crumble.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudolf-nureyev/i-really-have-to-dance-more-often-and-so-i-travel-around-if-i-don-t-i/) [Rudolf Nureyev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudolf-nureyev/) > [You live as long as you dance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudolf-nureyev/you-live-as-long-as-you-dance/) [Rudolf Nureyev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudolf-nureyev/) [Explore all 18 Rudolf Nureyev quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudolf-nureyev/) ## More Body quotes > [Most of us are convinced that we are our egos, which is who we think we are. 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You cannot ignore it and it'll go away. If you ignore cancer, it simply metastasizes and consumes the whole body.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daryl-davis/racism-is-a-cancer-you-cannot-ignore-it-and-it-ll-go-away-if-you/) [Daryl Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daryl-davis/) > [America, you're sending girls a mixed message. On one hand, you're saying to have positive body image and love who we are; on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adora-svitak/america-you-re-sending-girls-a-mixed-message-on-one-hand-you-re/) [Adora Svitak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adora-svitak/) > [I read a couple of books about neuroscience and the relationship between the mind and the body.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-kinnaman/i-read-a-couple-of-books-about-neuroscience-and-the-relationship/) [Joel Kinnaman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-kinnaman/) > [If japa is maintained, no useless talk during work will be possible. The mind will always remain peaceful. 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