--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I grew up dancing, I grew up competing in…" description: "\"I grew up dancing, I grew up competing in dance, being on television, and I pursued dance for my own self-reflection and fulfillment, and now as I'm ge..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ea1/valentin-chmerkovskiy-7490_dance_i-grew-up-dancing-i-grew-up-competing-in_773365.jpg" --- # I grew up dancing, I grew up competing in dance, being on… ![“I grew up dancing, I grew up competing in dance, being on television, and I pursued dance for my own self-reflection and fulfillment, and now as I'm getting older, I see that everybody seeks a greater purpose.” quote by Valentin Chmerkovskiy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ea1/valentin-chmerkovskiy-7490_dance_i-grew-up-dancing-i-grew-up-competing-in_773365.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ea1/valentin-chmerkovskiy-7490_dance_i-grew-up-dancing-i-grew-up-competing-in_773365.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ea1/valentin-chmerkovskiy-7490_dance_i-grew-up-dancing-i-grew-up-competing-in_773365.jpg) > “I grew up dancing, I grew up competing in dance, being on television, and I pursued dance for my own self-reflection and fulfillment, and now as I'm getting older, I see that everybody seeks a greater purpose.” [Valentin Chmerkovskiy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/valentin-chmerkovskiy/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The dancer reflects on a career of performance and self‑discovery, noting that as we age we recognize a universal search for purpose beyond personal achievement. **In simple terms:** Aging reveals a deeper quest for meaning beyond personal success. Key Takeaway Pursue purpose beyond accolades. Themes growth purpose aging Mood inspirational reflective Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - career transition - personal development - mentorship Key Concepts self‑reflection meaning Questions to Reflect On - What purpose drives you now? - How does aging change your goals? A Different Perspective It may generalize personal experience to everyone. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Dance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dance/) [Getting older](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/getting-older/) [Greater purpose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/greater-purpose/) [Purpose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/purpose/) ## Related quotes > [I mean, I'm a Ukrainian immigrant from Brooklyn who grew up dancing and playing the violin!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/valentin-chmerkovskiy/i-mean-i-m-a-ukrainian-immigrant-from-brooklyn-who-grew-up-dancing/) [Valentin Chmerkovskiy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/valentin-chmerkovskiy/) > [“This spiritual and creative journey is about this dance of self, a self that must find its unique voice and then bring this voice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-tallard-johnson/this-spiritual-and-creative-journey-is-about-this-dance-of-self-a/) [Julie Tallard Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-tallard-johnson/) > [I wasn't a ballet baby. My first dance class was in an outdoor pavilion when I was three. It was called 'creative movement.' The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrie-ann-inaba/i-wasn-t-a-ballet-baby-my-first-dance-class-was-in-an-outdoor/) [Carrie Ann Inaba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrie-ann-inaba/) > [I grew up dancing and singing, and I pool together my life experience and relationships and put it into work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-roberts/i-grew-up-dancing-and-singing-and-i-pool-together-my-life-experience/) [Ashley Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-roberts/) > [I grew up dancing my whole life, and I always kind of perceived that's what I would do professionally. But when I caught the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-artist/i-grew-up-dancing-my-whole-life-and-i-always-kind-of-perceived-that-s/) [Jacob Artist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-artist/) > [I grew up dancing, and for a while in college, I was a gym rat. I finally realized... I'm going to create a little…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-lakin/i-grew-up-dancing-and-for-a-while-in-college-i-was-a-gym-rat-i/) [Christine Lakin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-lakin/) > [Finding ballet gave me passion for the first time in my life. I was always very shy and just wanted to fit in; I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/misty-copeland/finding-ballet-gave-me-passion-for-the-first-time-in-my-life-i-was/) [Misty Copeland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/misty-copeland/) > [I grew up dancing salsa - you know, a traditional Puerto Rican dance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gina-rodriguez/i-grew-up-dancing-salsa-you-know-a-traditional-puerto-rican-dance/) [Gina Rodriguez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gina-rodriguez/) > [I grew up dancing and singing and I just love everything about that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kaitlyn-bristowe/i-grew-up-dancing-and-singing-and-i-just-love-everything-about-that/) [Kaitlyn Bristowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kaitlyn-bristowe/) > [I grew up dancing, and my ballet teacher was literally a drill sergeant; she was so strict and so scary. And it made me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-hudson/i-grew-up-dancing-and-my-ballet-teacher-was-literally-a-drill/) [Kate Hudson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-hudson/) > [I grew up dancing. When I was three years old, my mom would always watch Latin ballroom dancing competitions on PBS.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mya/i-grew-up-dancing-when-i-was-three-years-old-my-mom-would-always/) [Mya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mya/) > [“For Sehra who broke the silence of hypocrisy, that Allah consistently says he hates; in the dictionary meaning of Satan out of 3 –…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tehmina-durrani/for-sehra-who-broke-the-silence-of-hypocrisy-that-allah-consistently/) [Tehmina Durrani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tehmina-durrani/) > [“As Red Buffalo disappeared into the darkness, Hunter’s hand, which was riding Loretta’s thickened waist, tightened. He glanced down, his brows lifting in question.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-anderson/as-red-buffalo-disappeared-into-the-darkness-hunter-s-hand-which-was/) [Catherine Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-anderson/) > [“Move beyond yourself to serve a greater purpose and vision. Learn to mix, mingle, and glow, thus helping others feel more comfortable, at ease,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-c-young/move-beyond-yourself-to-serve-a-greater-purpose-and-vision-learn-to/) [Susan C. Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-c-young/) > [“There is a powerful difference between picturing an image that does not relate to you, and recalling something specific that you are connected with.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-houge/there-is-a-powerful-difference-between-picturing-an-image-that-does/) [Adam Houge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-houge/) ## More by Valentin Chmerkovskiy > [I think there's so many shows out there that have pushed the limit on technology and all of that stuff. I think people are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/valentin-chmerkovskiy/i-think-there-s-so-many-shows-out-there-that-have-pushed-the-limit-on/) [Valentin Chmerkovskiy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/valentin-chmerkovskiy/) > [The type of person I am, I mean, I'm fairly jealous.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/valentin-chmerkovskiy/the-type-of-person-i-am-i-mean-i-m-fairly-jealous/) [Valentin Chmerkovskiy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/valentin-chmerkovskiy/) > [I was someone's younger sibling and I finally have my own voice and my own spotlight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/valentin-chmerkovskiy/i-was-someone-s-younger-sibling-and-i-finally-have-my-own-voice-and/) [Valentin Chmerkovskiy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/valentin-chmerkovskiy/) > [I don't physically have the strength to be productive at work following a three-hour sleep. I can't do that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/valentin-chmerkovskiy/i-don-t-physically-have-the-strength-to-be-productive-at-work/) [Valentin Chmerkovskiy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/valentin-chmerkovskiy/) > [Like many people out there, I have my moments of severe doubt. Insecurity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/valentin-chmerkovskiy/like-many-people-out-there-i-have-my-moments-of-severe-doubt/) [Valentin Chmerkovskiy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/valentin-chmerkovskiy/) > [My favorite breakfast cereal is Cocoa Pebbles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/valentin-chmerkovskiy/my-favorite-breakfast-cereal-is-cocoa-pebbles/) [Valentin Chmerkovskiy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/valentin-chmerkovskiy/) > [I watched the buildings go down on 9/11. I saw how much that impacted our country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/valentin-chmerkovskiy/i-watched-the-buildings-go-down-on-9-11-i-saw-how-much-that-impacted/) [Valentin Chmerkovskiy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/valentin-chmerkovskiy/) > [I play basketball, I play soccer, I draw, uh I like girls.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/valentin-chmerkovskiy/i-play-basketball-i-play-soccer-i-draw-uh-i-like-girls/) [Valentin Chmerkovskiy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/valentin-chmerkovskiy/) > [I mean, I'm a Ukrainian immigrant from Brooklyn who grew up dancing and playing the violin!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/valentin-chmerkovskiy/i-mean-i-m-a-ukrainian-immigrant-from-brooklyn-who-grew-up-dancing/) [Valentin Chmerkovskiy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/valentin-chmerkovskiy/) > [Tommy Chong is one of my favorite celebrities of all time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/valentin-chmerkovskiy/tommy-chong-is-one-of-my-favorite-celebrities-of-all-time/) [Valentin Chmerkovskiy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/valentin-chmerkovskiy/) > [I was at a point in my career where I longed for a bigger stage, a brighter light, and I'm very grateful to 'Dancing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/valentin-chmerkovskiy/i-was-at-a-point-in-my-career-where-i-longed-for-a-bigger-stage-a/) [Valentin Chmerkovskiy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/valentin-chmerkovskiy/) > [I'd make a cute couple with a lot of people, you know what I'm sayin'?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/valentin-chmerkovskiy/i-d-make-a-cute-couple-with-a-lot-of-people-you-know-what-i-m-sayin/) [Valentin Chmerkovskiy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/valentin-chmerkovskiy/) > [I don't think it's very masculine to whine about your injuries.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/valentin-chmerkovskiy/i-don-t-think-it-s-very-masculine-to-whine-about-your-injuries/) [Valentin Chmerkovskiy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/valentin-chmerkovskiy/) > [It's just great to be able to teach someone to dance and preach to them how to be better people and enjoy their life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/valentin-chmerkovskiy/it-s-just-great-to-be-able-to-teach-someone-to-dance-and-preach-to/) [Valentin Chmerkovskiy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/valentin-chmerkovskiy/) > [It takes some sacrifice to have a healthy relationship.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/valentin-chmerkovskiy/it-takes-some-sacrifice-to-have-a-healthy-relationship/) [Valentin Chmerkovskiy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/valentin-chmerkovskiy/) [Explore all 90 Valentin Chmerkovskiy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/valentin-chmerkovskiy/) ## More Dance quotes > [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/) > [Sing like no one's listening, love like you've never been hurt, dance like nobody's watching, and live like its heaven on earth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/sing-like-no-one-s-listening-love-like-you-ve-never-been-hurt-dance/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [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/) > [I studied all kinds of dance, all types of music. I got good grades. I started hitting the recording studio around 13.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-derulo/i-studied-all-kinds-of-dance-all-types-of-music-i-got-good-grades-i/) [Jason Derulo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-derulo/) > [I like Sam Smith and Taylor Swift. I love pop music, but I also like Sam Smith's slow songs. That would be more to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maddie-ziegler/i-like-sam-smith-and-taylor-swift-i-love-pop-music-but-i-also-like/) [Maddie Ziegler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maddie-ziegler/) > [I think it's useful to experience other types of dance and other cultures, and the life of a classical dancer these days is certainly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-bull/i-think-it-s-useful-to-experience-other-types-of-dance-and-other/) [Deborah Bull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-bull/) > [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/) > [I worked a lot in Chicago's theater scene as a fight choreographer. And so I do have a lot of experience in stage combat…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-offerman/i-worked-a-lot-in-chicago-s-theater-scene-as-a-fight-choreographer/) [Nick Offerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-offerman/) > [“dances with mine as if we’ve been doing this our whole”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corinne-michaels/dances-with-mine-as-if-we-ve-been-doing-this-our-whole/) [Corinne Michaels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corinne-michaels/) > [My body was so instrumental to how I took pictures: it was practically a dance. I used to use my legs a lot; now…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-leibovitz/my-body-was-so-instrumental-to-how-i-took-pictures-it-was-practically/) [Annie Leibovitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-leibovitz/) > [I would rather learn from one bird how to sing than to teach 10,000 stars how not to dance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-e-cummings/i-would-rather-learn-from-one-bird-how-to-sing-than-to-teach-10-000/) [e. e. cummings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-e-cummings/) > [If you dance, you dance because you have to. Every dancer hurts, you know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-dunham/if-you-dance-you-dance-because-you-have-to-every-dancer-hurts-you-know/) [Katherine Dunham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-dunham/) > [I'm not a dancer. Never took a dance class.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chrishell-stause/i-m-not-a-dancer-never-took-a-dance-class/) [Chrishell Stause](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chrishell-stause/) > [Being fit is the easiest part of being a dance professional. I used to just throw on a backpack full of rocks and run…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anton-du-beke/being-fit-is-the-easiest-part-of-being-a-dance-professional-i-used-to/) [Anton du Beke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anton-du-beke/) > [I'm a horrible dancer, but I wanted to record songs that made me want to dance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-lane/i-m-a-horrible-dancer-but-i-wanted-to-record-songs-that-made-me-want/) [Chris Lane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-lane/) [Browse all 9,682 Dance quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dance/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I grew up dancing, I grew up competing in dance, being on television, and I pursued dance for my own self-reflection and fulfillment, and now as I'm getting older, I see that everybody seeks a greater purpose.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Valentin Chmerkovskiy" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/valentin-chmerkovskiy/i-grew-up-dancing-i-grew-up-competing-in-dance-being-on-television/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Dance" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/valentin-chmerkovskiy/i-grew-up-dancing-i-grew-up-competing-in-dance-being-on-television/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ea1/valentin-chmerkovskiy-7490_dance_i-grew-up-dancing-i-grew-up-competing-in_773365.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ea1/valentin-chmerkovskiy-7490_dance_i-grew-up-dancing-i-grew-up-competing-in_773365.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ea1/valentin-chmerkovskiy-7490_dance_i-grew-up-dancing-i-grew-up-competing-in_773365.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I grew up dancing, I grew up competing in dance, being on television, and I pursued dance for my own…” — Valentin Chmerkovskiy", "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": "Valentin Chmerkovskiy", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/valentin-chmerkovskiy/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I grew up dancing, I grew...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/valentin-chmerkovskiy/i-grew-up-dancing-i-grew-up-competing-in-dance-being-on-television/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/valentin-chmerkovskiy/i-grew-up-dancing-i-grew-up-competing-in-dance-being-on-television/#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 } } ] } ```