--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The ballet world is so competitive, and…" description: "\"The ballet world is so competitive, and for no reason. It's not a sport. It's an art. There's no winner.\" — Sergei Polunin" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e91/sergei-polunin-3855_art_the-ballet-world-is-so-competitive-and-f_1624160.jpg" --- # The ballet world is so competitive, and for no reason… ![“The ballet world is so competitive, and for no reason. It's not a sport. It's an art. There's no winner.” quote by Sergei Polunin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e91/sergei-polunin-3855_art_the-ballet-world-is-so-competitive-and-f_1624160.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e91/sergei-polunin-3855_art_the-ballet-world-is-so-competitive-and-f_1624160.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e91/sergei-polunin-3855_art_the-ballet-world-is-so-competitive-and-f_1624160.jpg) > “The ballet world is so competitive, and for no reason. It's not a sport. It's an art. There's no winner.” [Sergei Polunin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sergei-polunin/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Ballet is an art, not a sport; competition is irrelevant to its value. **In simple terms:** Ballet is pure art. Key Takeaway Appreciate artistic expression. Themes art competition identity Mood reflective passionate Type artistic philosophical When to use this quote - attending ballet - teaching dance - art criticism - personal practice Key Concepts performance theory cultural critique Questions to Reflect On - Why is competition unnecessary in art? - How does art differ from sport? A Different Perspective Viewing ballet as sport may diminish its artistic depth. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Ballet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ballet/) [Competitive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/competitive/) [Dance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dance/) [Reason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reason/) [Sports](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sports/) [Winner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/winner/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [I am not a bloody ghoda running a race that you give me a tag. I am competitive, and the reason for that is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anushka-sharma/i-am-not-a-bloody-ghoda-running-a-race-that-you-give-me-a-tag-i-am/) [Anushka Sharma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anushka-sharma/) > [I don't believe that there's anyone in the world without a competitive bone in their body.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-miller/i-don-t-believe-that-there-s-anyone-in-the-world-without-a/) [Shannon Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-miller/) > [The music industry is so easy compared to the ballet world](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vanessa-carlton/the-music-industry-is-so-easy-compared-to-the-ballet-world/) [Vanessa Carlton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vanessa-carlton/) > [The ballet world I don't think is an art form that is quick to change or to adjust or evolve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/misty-copeland/the-ballet-world-i-don-t-think-is-an-art-form-that-is-quick-to-change/) [Misty Copeland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/misty-copeland/) > [The classical ballet world is so exclusive and small, and a lot of people don't know about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/misty-copeland/the-classical-ballet-world-is-so-exclusive-and-small-and-a-lot-of/) [Misty Copeland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/misty-copeland/) > [It's a very competitive world out there. The competitive spirit is fine within limits. But it shouldn't drown the sheer joy of the game…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tiger-shroff/it-s-a-very-competitive-world-out-there-the-competitive-spirit-is/) [Tiger Shroff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tiger-shroff/) > [The world is so competitive, aggressive, consumive, selfish and during the time we spend here we must be all but that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-mourinho/the-world-is-so-competitive-aggressive-consumive-selfish-and-during/) [Jose Mourinho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-mourinho/) > [I think that having a platform and having a voice to be seen by people beyond the classical ballet world has really been my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/misty-copeland/i-think-that-having-a-platform-and-having-a-voice-to-be-seen-by/) [Misty Copeland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/misty-copeland/) > [I want to share the ballet world with everyone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/misty-copeland/i-want-to-share-the-ballet-world-with-everyone/) [Misty Copeland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/misty-copeland/) > [The ballet world, it's a crazy world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-peck/the-ballet-world-it-s-a-crazy-world/) [Justin Peck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-peck/) > [Just as a child, before I ever knew what ballet was, there was something in me where I was always searching for something structured,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/misty-copeland/just-as-a-child-before-i-ever-knew-what-ballet-was-there-was/) [Misty Copeland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/misty-copeland/) > [My intention is to make sure that the new work being created for the ballet world is relevant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-peck/my-intention-is-to-make-sure-that-the-new-work-being-created-for-the/) [Justin Peck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-peck/) > [It takes a lot of money to be a part of the ballet world. Both the training and the supplies are expensive, the shoes,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/misty-copeland/it-takes-a-lot-of-money-to-be-a-part-of-the-ballet-world-both-the/) [Misty Copeland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/misty-copeland/) > [I want the ballet world to be given the respect that it deserves and to be seen by more people - for so many…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/misty-copeland/i-want-the-ballet-world-to-be-given-the-respect-that-it-deserves-and/) [Misty Copeland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/misty-copeland/) > [I think that, like any kind of career, there are many different people involved in the ballet world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-schull/i-think-that-like-any-kind-of-career-there-are-many-different-people/) [Amanda Schull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-schull/) ## More by Sergei Polunin > [I wasted so many years just traveling and sitting in hotels, searching for things, not knowing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sergei-polunin/i-wasted-so-many-years-just-traveling-and-sitting-in-hotels-searching/) [Sergei Polunin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sergei-polunin/) > [The Royal Ballet was good to me. They gave me everything I asked for. It's just... I felt tricked. I became a principal and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sergei-polunin/the-royal-ballet-was-good-to-me-they-gave-me-everything-i-asked-for/) [Sergei Polunin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sergei-polunin/) > [I didn't want people to think I'm a dancer. I'm much more. I'm a human being.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sergei-polunin/i-didn-t-want-people-to-think-i-m-a-dancer-i-m-much-more-i-m-a-human/) [Sergei Polunin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sergei-polunin/) > [Art and war are opposites, so our goal as an artist is to build and create, not destroy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sergei-polunin/art-and-war-are-opposites-so-our-goal-as-an-artist-is-to-build-and/) [Sergei Polunin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sergei-polunin/) > [I normally don't regret. I enjoy everything, even if it's bad or good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sergei-polunin/i-normally-don-t-regret-i-enjoy-everything-even-if-it-s-bad-or-good/) [Sergei Polunin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sergei-polunin/) > [What made my mind go free is that I wanted to become an artist. As soon as I said to myself, 'Oh I'm not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sergei-polunin/what-made-my-mind-go-free-is-that-i-wanted-to-become-an-artist-as/) [Sergei Polunin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sergei-polunin/) > [I do get depressed sometimes, I don't know why. It's since I was a kid and it's just part of my personality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sergei-polunin/i-do-get-depressed-sometimes-i-don-t-know-why-it-s-since-i-was-a-kid/) [Sergei Polunin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sergei-polunin/) > [I went and got a tattoo of James Dean on my shoulder without actually seeing him in any movies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sergei-polunin/i-went-and-got-a-tattoo-of-james-dean-on-my-shoulder-without-actually/) [Sergei Polunin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sergei-polunin/) > [The Sensorium Galaxy Planet of Motion is the future. We are memorizing dance because dance will exist in a virtual world forever. The Planet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sergei-polunin/the-sensorium-galaxy-planet-of-motion-is-the-future-we-are-memorizing/) [Sergei Polunin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sergei-polunin/) > [The Royal Ballet School looked after me very well, they were like my family, and the company gave me everything. But I was unhappy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sergei-polunin/the-royal-ballet-school-looked-after-me-very-well-they-were-like-my/) [Sergei Polunin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sergei-polunin/) > [As soon as I said to myself, "Oh I'm not a dancer; I'm not an actor," it made me so free to do anything.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sergei-polunin/as-soon-as-i-said-to-myself-oh-i-m-not-a-dancer-i-m-not-an-actor-it/) [Sergei Polunin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sergei-polunin/) > [Just let me live my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sergei-polunin/just-let-me-live-my-life/) [Sergei Polunin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sergei-polunin/) > [I'm not a bad boy now I'm living in Russia. London was great but there were too many distractions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sergei-polunin/i-m-not-a-bad-boy-now-i-m-living-in-russia-london-was-great-but-there/) [Sergei Polunin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sergei-polunin/) > [I actually always have good intentions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sergei-polunin/i-actually-always-have-good-intentions/) [Sergei Polunin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sergei-polunin/) > [You know when you believe in Christmas? I was like that with ballet. I thought I would reach a level where I'd have enough…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sergei-polunin/you-know-when-you-believe-in-christmas-i-was-like-that-with-ballet-i/) [Sergei Polunin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sergei-polunin/) [Explore all 120 Sergei Polunin quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sergei-polunin/) ## More Art quotes > [True works of art contain their own theory and give us the measurement according to which we should judge them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/true-works-of-art-contain-their-own-theory-and-give-us-the/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [Before Noah, men having only water to drink, could not find the truth. Accordingly...they became abominably wicked, and they were justly exterminated by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/before-noah-men-having-only-water-to-drink-could-not-find-the-truth/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [“Hear the sum of the whole matter in the compass of one brief word — every art possessed by man comes from Prometheus.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aeschylus/hear-the-sum-of-the-whole-matter-in-the-compass-of-one-brief-word/) [Aeschylus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aeschylus/) > [I think most artists feel like they're outside society - no matter how many accolades they receive, or how much money is in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-rose/i-think-most-artists-feel-like-they-re-outside-society-no-matter-how/) [Aaron Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-rose/) > [The capacity to be puzzled is the premise of all creation, be it in art or in science.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/the-capacity-to-be-puzzled-is-the-premise-of-all-creation-be-it-in/) [Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/) > [That's the great secret of creativity. You treat ideas like cats: you make them follow you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/that-s-the-great-secret-of-creativity-you-treat-ideas-like-cats-you/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [“So, really," continued Jacob as if this were perfectly normal to expound on art in these circumstances, "when you think about it, the artists…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justina-chen-headley/so-really-continued-jacob-as-if-this-were-perfectly-normal-to-expound/) [Justina Chen Headley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justina-chen-headley/) > [“There are two options in art; either to adopt philosophical life by dissecting art, or to write your own philosophical life and claim it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taf-teh/there-are-two-options-in-art-either-to-adopt-philosophical-life-by/) Taf Teh > [The house has to serve comfort. The work of art is revolutionary; the house is conservative.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolf-loos/the-house-has-to-serve-comfort-the-work-of-art-is-revolutionary-the/) [Adolf Loos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolf-loos/) > [During human progress, every science is evolved out of its corresponding art.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-spencer/during-human-progress-every-science-is-evolved-out-of-its/) [Herbert Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-spencer/) > [In literature and art memory is a synonym for invention. It is the life-blood of imagination, which faints and dies when the veins are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-aris-willmott/in-literature-and-art-memory-is-a-synonym-for-invention-it-is-the/) [Robert Aris Willmott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-aris-willmott/) > [I think a business guy is different from an artist. They walk different paths. Artists create the best outputs when they're having fun. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-dragon/i-think-a-business-guy-is-different-from-an-artist-they-walk/) [G-Dragon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-dragon/) > [“The only thing--I tell you this straight from the heart--that disgusts me in Salzburg is that one can't have any proper social intercourse with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wolfgang-amadeus-mozart/the-only-thing-i-tell-you-this-straight-from-the-heart-that-disgusts/) [Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wolfgang-amadeus-mozart/) > [The sublime in art is the attempt to express the infinite without finding in the realm of phenomena any object which proves itself fitting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georg-wilhelm-friedrich-hegel/the-sublime-in-art-is-the-attempt-to-express-the-infinite-without/) [Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georg-wilhelm-friedrich-hegel/) > [Art isn't done to decorate apartments, but to wage war against the enemy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-picasso/art-isn-t-done-to-decorate-apartments-but-to-wage-war-against-the/) [Pablo Picasso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-picasso/) [Browse all 48,643 Art quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The ballet world is so competitive, and for no reason. It's not a sport. It's an art. There's no winner.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Sergei Polunin" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sergei-polunin/the-ballet-world-is-so-competitive-and-for-no-reason-it-s-not-a-sport/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Art" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sergei-polunin/the-ballet-world-is-so-competitive-and-for-no-reason-it-s-not-a-sport/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e91/sergei-polunin-3855_art_the-ballet-world-is-so-competitive-and-f_1624160.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e91/sergei-polunin-3855_art_the-ballet-world-is-so-competitive-and-f_1624160.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e91/sergei-polunin-3855_art_the-ballet-world-is-so-competitive-and-f_1624160.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The ballet world is so competitive, and for no reason. It's not a sport. It's an art. There's no winner.” — Sergei Polunin", "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": "Sergei Polunin", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sergei-polunin/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The ballet world is so competitive,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sergei-polunin/the-ballet-world-is-so-competitive-and-for-no-reason-it-s-not-a-sport/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sergei-polunin/the-ballet-world-is-so-competitive-and-for-no-reason-it-s-not-a-sport/#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 } } ] } ```