Every ballet, whether or not successful artistically or with the public, has given me something important.

I remember vividly seeing 'Tarzan' and Fred Astaire, the Chaplin films, Fred Astaire musicals, MGM, because of my mother. She was just interested in everything and she took me to opera and ballet, and then ballet got me hooked.

Dancers are stripped enough onstage. You don't have to know more about them than they've given you already.

I think art education, especially in this country, which government pretty much ignores, is so important for young people.

I've always said, 'I am a selector, I am not defector' - the first few phrases in English I learned. I said I hate 'defector'; something defective about the people. It's a bad word.

When a body moves, it's the most revealing thing. Dance for me a minute, and I'll tell you who you are.