The mirror is not you. The mirror is you looking at yourself.
George BalanchineRead
The pointes for girls, I always say, have to be like an elephant's trunk; strong and yet flexible and soft.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Balanchine compares the qualities of ballet points for girls to an elephant's trunk, emphasizing strength with flexibility and softness.
In this quote, George Balanchine conveys the essential qualities that ballet points for girls must embody. He suggests that they need to be strong to support the dancer's weight, yet flexible and soft to allow for grace and fluidity in movement. The elephant's trunk serves as a metaphor for the ideal balance between strength and elegance, illustrating that true artistry in dance requires both resilience and gentleness.
Themes
BalletDanceStrengthFlexibilityArtistryElegance
In practice
Example use cases
A ballet instructor might use this quote to emphasize the importance of technique in young dancers.
More from George Balanchine
All quotes βFirst comes the sweat. Then comes the beauty if you're very lucky and have said your prayers.
George BalanchineRead
I don't want people who want to dance; I want people who have to dance.
George BalanchineRead
God creates, I do not create. I assemble and I steal everywhere to do it - from what I see, from what the dancers can do, from what others do.
George BalanchineRead
Most ballet teachers in the United States are terrible. If they were in medicine, everyone would be poisoned.
George BalanchineRead
One is born to be a dancer. No teacher can work miracles, nor will years of training make a good dancer of an untalented pupil. One may be able to acquire a certain technical facility, but no one can ever 'acquire an exceptional talent.' I have never prided myself on having an unusually gifted pupil. A Pavlova is no one's pupil but God's.
George BalanchineRead
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