I also had a will that let me eliminate everything that stood in the way of my becoming the best dancer I could be. By a gradual process... (I) had invested every bit of my dreams, my hopes, my energies in defining myself as a dancer.
Interpretation
The quote emphasizes the importance of determination and commitment in achieving one's goals, particularly in the arts.
Twyla Tharp reflects on her unwavering dedication to becoming a skilled dancer, highlighting how her strong will allowed her to remove obstacles in her path. Through a gradual and intentional process, she invested her dreams, hopes, and energy to define her identity as a dancer, showcasing that success in any field requires both passion and perseverance.
In practice
In a motivational speech about pursuing dreams, this quote can inspire aspiring artists.
Do I watch dancers as people? Yes, absolutely. Do I watch really good dancers for specifically who they are? Absolutely, because how they move best and how they look best is going to be most familiar to them, and not necessarily to me.
I am still pushing the edge of what my body can do.
No one is born with skill. It is developed through exercise, through repetition, through a blend of learning and reflection that's both painstaking and rewarding. And it takes time.
Without passion, all the skill in the world won't lift you above craft. Without skill, all the passion in the world will leave you eager but floundering. Combining the two is the essence of the creative life.
I grew up in a drive-in theater, from the time I was 8, working in a snack bar watching four features every week. It was silent theater in the sense that this was a drive-in, which meant that I often saw the films going with no sound. But I learned to tell stories through action.
Without passion, all the skill in the world won't lift you above craft.
Do you know how many athletes go broke three years after they stop playing? I want to help them hold on to their money. I mean, I know about budgets.
If you are honest with yourself and can look into a mirror and believe that you have given 100 percent, you should feel proud. If you cannot, then there is more work to be done.
Success in the knowledge economy comes to those who know themselves - their strengths, their values, and how they best perform.
I'm not trying to win a popularity poll. I'm trying to win football games.
Perfection is often the enemy of greatness.
I never waited 27 years, because 27 years ago I was just born. My parents never told me, 'If you don't win Roland Garros we take you to the orphanage.
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