--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I have no interest in being a trained…" description: "\"I have no interest in being a trained ballerina. People should dance how they want to dance. I want to be the funky chicken.\" — Scott McClanahan" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/96f/scott-mcclanahan-14739_ballerina_i-have-no-interest-in-being-a-trained-ba_188283.png" --- # I have no interest in being a trained ballerina. People… ![“I have no interest in being a trained ballerina. People should dance how they want to dance. I want to be the funky chicken.” quote by Scott McClanahan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/96f/scott-mcclanahan-14739_ballerina_i-have-no-interest-in-being-a-trained-ba_188283.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/96f/scott-mcclanahan-14739_ballerina_i-have-no-interest-in-being-a-trained-ba_188283.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/96f/scott-mcclanahan-14739_ballerina_i-have-no-interest-in-being-a-trained-ba_188283.png) > “I have no interest in being a trained ballerina. People should dance how they want to dance. I want to be the funky chicken.” [Scott McClanahan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-mcclanahan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Self‑expression in dance should be authentic, not constrained by formal training. **In simple terms:** Dance how you feel, not how you’re taught. Key Takeaway Embrace personal style over perfection. Themes creativity freedom authenticity Mood playful defiant Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - dance classes - social gatherings - personal practice Key Concepts performance art identity nonconformity Questions to Reflect On - Do you feel pressure to conform? - What does “funky chicken” represent for you? A Different Perspective Technical skill still offers benefits. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ballerina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ballerina/) [Dance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dance/) [Interest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/interest/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) ## Related quotes > [I wasn't a crazy kid. I never went out, never went to football games. I was a trained ballerina.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mayte-garcia/i-wasn-t-a-crazy-kid-i-never-went-out-never-went-to-football-games-i/) [Mayte Garcia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mayte-garcia/) > [I don't want people who want to dance; I want people who have to dance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-balanchine/i-don-t-want-people-who-want-to-dance-i-want-people-who-have-to-dance/) [George Balanchine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-balanchine/) > [Believe whatever you want to believe. Love whoever you want to love. Fucking dance whenever you want to dance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-gaskarth/believe-whatever-you-want-to-believe-love-whoever-you-want-to-love/) [Alex Gaskarth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-gaskarth/) > [F\*\*king dance whenever you want to dance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-gaskarth/f-king-dance-whenever-you-want-to-dance/) [Alex Gaskarth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-gaskarth/) > [You want to dance. You want to sing. Yeah, that feeling, of course, is beyond recollection really.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-doherty/you-want-to-dance-you-want-to-sing-yeah-that-feeling-of-course-is/) [Pete Doherty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-doherty/) > [You should be able to dance with who you want to dance with at your prom and be celebrated for it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ariana-debose/you-should-be-able-to-dance-with-who-you-want-to-dance-with-at-your/) [Ariana DeBose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ariana-debose/) > [“I don't want to hide. I want to slow dance with you again. I want to dance with you forever.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-black/i-don-t-want-to-hide-i-want-to-slow-dance-with-you-again-i-want-to/) [Sarah Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-black/) > [People should be able to dance with whoever they want. If two guys or two girls want to dance together, that's great.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rylan-clark-neal/people-should-be-able-to-dance-with-whoever-they-want-if-two-guys-or/) [Rylan Clark-Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rylan-clark-neal/) > [I want to dance. I want to live.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/domenico-dolce/i-want-to-dance-i-want-to-live/) [Domenico Dolce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/domenico-dolce/) > [I want to dance, I want her ass. Why is she ignoring me?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rod-stewart/i-want-to-dance-i-want-her-ass-why-is-she-ignoring-me/) [Rod Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rod-stewart/) > [“Life is short, and you don't always get an invitation to dance. If you see something you want, go after it." ~ 2000 Kisses”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-skye/life-is-short-and-you-don-t-always-get-an-invitation-to-dance-if-you/) Christina Skye > [“What will they say, Ce, when we dance together? I want to do that. I want to hold you in my arms, in front…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-b-gregg/what-will-they-say-ce-when-we-dance-together-i-want-to-do-that-i-want/) L.B. Gregg > [I want people to dance. I want people to feel good. You went to work, you feel bad - come here, feel good, dance.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-dream/i-want-people-to-dance-i-want-people-to-feel-good-you-went-to-work/) [The-Dream](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/the-dream/) > [You can go home and put the record on and dance. I want to watch how the band does it. I want to look…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hughes/you-can-go-home-and-put-the-record-on-and-dance-i-want-to-watch-how/) [John Hughes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hughes/) > [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/) ## More by Scott McClanahan > [I'm shocked and surprised by people that are shocked and surprised that certain things in life are made up or not as true as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-mcclanahan/i-m-shocked-and-surprised-by-people-that-are-shocked-and-surprised/) [Scott McClanahan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-mcclanahan/) > [The things that I have loved have always been those extremes where there has been some kind of apocalypse in the person's life, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-mcclanahan/the-things-that-i-have-loved-have-always-been-those-extremes-where/) [Scott McClanahan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-mcclanahan/) > [We like something because someone else liked it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-mcclanahan/we-like-something-because-someone-else-liked-it/) [Scott McClanahan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-mcclanahan/) > [Most of the answers to the world could be answered with our bodies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-mcclanahan/most-of-the-answers-to-the-world-could-be-answered-with-our-bodies/) [Scott McClanahan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-mcclanahan/) > [“I thought about what my mom always said about this part of Texas, “Oh Godforsaken land. I don’t know why anybody would want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-mcclanahan/i-thought-about-what-my-mom-always-said-about-this-part-of-texas-oh/) [Scott McClanahan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-mcclanahan/) > [I think a pretty good modus operandi is to believe that everything we know is wrong. The stomach will be the key to depression…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-mcclanahan/i-think-a-pretty-good-modus-operandi-is-to-believe-that-everything-we/) [Scott McClanahan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-mcclanahan/) > [“I walked up to the side of the mountain like I used to do when I was a little boy. I looked out over…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-mcclanahan/i-walked-up-to-the-side-of-the-mountain-like-i-used-to-do-when-i-was/) [Scott McClanahan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-mcclanahan/) > [The only hope we have are our bodies. We're all trapped in them and we all hate them, and it's this reason why we're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-mcclanahan/the-only-hope-we-have-are-our-bodies-we-re-all-trapped-in-them-and-we/) [Scott McClanahan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-mcclanahan/) > [With my stuff, I think I've tried. I've been courted. I don't want to sound like an asshole, but I've been courted to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-mcclanahan/with-my-stuff-i-think-i-ve-tried-i-ve-been-courted-i-don-t-want-to/) [Scott McClanahan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-mcclanahan/) > [The whole exploitation thing is funny, too. Exploitation is the nature of the world, isn't it?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-mcclanahan/the-whole-exploitation-thing-is-funny-too-exploitation-is-the-nature/) [Scott McClanahan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-mcclanahan/) > [ There's always tons of crap music people are trying to sell us - \[it's\] the same way with publishers and galleries. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-mcclanahan/there-s-always-tons-of-crap-music-people-are-trying-to-sell-us-it-s/) [Scott McClanahan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-mcclanahan/) > [I guess the things I have always loved are from people who were just being themselves. They were doing these things because they couldn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-mcclanahan/i-guess-the-things-i-have-always-loved-are-from-people-who-were-just/) [Scott McClanahan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-mcclanahan/) > [“There was one face that looked like another face before it and then another face that looked like the face before it. This went…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-mcclanahan/there-was-one-face-that-looked-like-another-face-before-it-and-then/) [Scott McClanahan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-mcclanahan/) > [“I knew he believed in something that none of us ever do anymore. He believed in the nastiest word in the world. He believed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-mcclanahan/i-knew-he-believed-in-something-that-none-of-us-ever-do-anymore-he/) [Scott McClanahan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-mcclanahan/) > [Writing should be like skirts. Long enough to cover what it needs to cover and short enough to maintain interest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-mcclanahan/writing-should-be-like-skirts-long-enough-to-cover-what-it-needs-to/) [Scott McClanahan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-mcclanahan/) [Explore all 45 Scott McClanahan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-mcclanahan/) ## More Ballerina quotes > [To become a classical ballerina, you have to move to New York when you're 12 or 11 and that becomes your life. I just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-garner/to-become-a-classical-ballerina-you-have-to-move-to-new-york-when-you/) [Jennifer Garner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-garner/) > [Wouldn't it be great if we all grew up to be what we wanted to be? The world would be full of nurses, firemen,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lily-tomlin/wouldn-t-it-be-great-if-we-all-grew-up-to-be-what-we-wanted-to-be-the/) [Lily Tomlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lily-tomlin/) > [“O wayfarer! Yearn finds quench, not in meadows, seashores or altitude of mountain peaks; but when being and dance are one.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shah-asad-rizvi/o-wayfarer-yearn-finds-quench-not-in-meadows-seashores-or-altitude-of/) [Shah Asad Rizvi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shah-asad-rizvi/) > [“If movements were a spark every dancer would desire to light up in flames.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shah-asad-rizvi/if-movements-were-a-spark-every-dancer-would-desire-to-light-up-in/) [Shah Asad Rizvi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shah-asad-rizvi/) > [“Burdened no more is soul for whom life flows through dance like breath.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shah-asad-rizvi/burdened-no-more-is-soul-for-whom-life-flows-through-dance-like-breath/) [Shah Asad Rizvi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shah-asad-rizvi/) > [“Dance as the narration of a magical story; that recites on lips, illuminates imaginations and embraces the most sacred depths of souls.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shah-asad-rizvi/dance-as-the-narration-of-a-magical-story-that-recites-on-lips/) [Shah Asad Rizvi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shah-asad-rizvi/) > [I wanted to be a ballerina. I studied ballet for 19 years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stella-soleil/i-wanted-to-be-a-ballerina-i-studied-ballet-for-19-years/) Stella Soleil > [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/) > [Did I ever tell you my pet peeve?' No,' I said. People who dress up their pets to look like Little Lord Fauntleroys or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-spinelli/did-i-ever-tell-you-my-pet-peeve-no-i-said-people-who-dress-up-their/) [Jerry Spinelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-spinelli/) > [I used to want to be a war photographer, and I used to want to be a ballerina and a comedian. I used to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cat-power/i-used-to-want-to-be-a-war-photographer-and-i-used-to-want-to-be-a/) [Cat Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cat-power/) > [I've always felt like a different kind of ballerina.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendy-whelan/i-ve-always-felt-like-a-different-kind-of-ballerina/) [Wendy Whelan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendy-whelan/) > [Above all, I wanted to be appreciated as a prima ballerina who happened to be a Native American, never as someone who was an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-tallchief/above-all-i-wanted-to-be-appreciated-as-a-prima-ballerina-who/) [Maria Tallchief](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-tallchief/) > [When I was growing up, I dreamed about becoming a cowgirl, a detective, a spy, a great actress, or a ballerina. Not a dentist,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judy-blume/when-i-was-growing-up-i-dreamed-about-becoming-a-cowgirl-a-detective/) [Judy Blume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judy-blume/) > [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/) > [“Through synergy of intellect, artistry and grace came into existence the blessing of a dancer.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shah-asad-rizvi/through-synergy-of-intellect-artistry-and-grace-came-into-existence/) [Shah Asad Rizvi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shah-asad-rizvi/) [Browse all 191 Ballerina quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ballerina/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I have no interest in being a trained ballerina. People should dance how they want to dance. 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