100+ Dance Quotes for Dancers to Ignite Your Passion

Sometimes, the dance floor calls to you, and other days, motivation wanes. Every dancer experiences moments when their passion needs a spark. That’s where the wisdom of others can ignite your spirit and get you moving again. Whether you’re searching for the perfect words to caption your latest dance video or need a personal pep talk before stepping onto the stage, this collection of over 100 dance quotes is designed to inspire dancers of all styles and levels. Dive in and discover the words that resonate with your dancer’s soul.

Short Dance Quotes to Get You Moving

In need of a quick burst of inspiration? These concise dance quotes are perfect for a pre-class pick-me-up or a daily dose of motivation.

“Forget your troubles and dance.” – Bob Marley
“Dance and you’ll feel better.” – James Brown
“Ballet is a dance executed by the human soul.” – Alexander Pushkin
“You dance love, and you dance joy, and you dance dreams.” – Gene Kelly
“Dance every performance as if it were your last.” — Erik Bruhn
“To watch us dance is to hear our hearts speak.” — Indian Proverb
“To be fond of dancing was a certain step towards falling in love.” — Jane Austen
“The job of feet is walking, but their hobby is dancing.” — Amit Kalantri
“Dance first. Think later. It’s the natural order.” — Samuel Beckett
“The body says what words cannot.” — Martha Graham
“When you dance, you can enjoy the luxury of being you.” — Paulo Coelho
“Dancing is silent poetry.” — Simonides
“The spine is the tree of life. Respect it.” – Martha Graham
“When you feel like quitting, think about why you started.” – Unknown
“Feet’s job is to walk, but their passion is dancing.” – Priyanshu Singh
“Some of my happiest moments have been dancing.” – Claire Danes
“Dancing is the poetry of the foot.” — John Dryden
“Do it big, do it right, and do it with style.” — Fred Astaire
“Dance for yourself. If someone understands, good. If not, no matter.” — Louis Horst
“He who cannot dance puts the blame on the floor.” — Hindu Proverb
“There are shortcuts to happiness, and dancing is one of them.” — Vicki Baum
“Dancing is like dreaming with your feet!” — Constanze Mozart
“The most essential thing in dance discipline is devotion.” — Merce Cunningham

Dance Quotes By Famous Dancers and Choreographers

Who better to understand the passion and dedication of dance than those who have dedicated their lives to it? These dance quotes from famous dancers and choreographers offer profound insights into the art form.

“Dance is a song of the body. Either of joy or pain.” – Martha Graham, a pioneer of modern dance, emphasizes the expressive power of dance as a physical manifestation of emotions.
“I’m going to tap until I can’t – I’ll be so old, all I can do is walk out from the wings to stage centre. But I’ll be there.” – Gregory Hines, a legendary tap dancer, speaks to the lifelong commitment and enduring love for dance.
“Dance is like wine; it matures with every performance.” – Alarmel Valli, renowned for Bharatanatyam, beautifully captures the growth and depth that comes with each dance experience.
“Dance is the purest expression of every emotion, earthly and spiritual.” – Anna Pavlova, the iconic ballerina, highlights the transcendent quality of dance, reaching beyond the physical realm.
“You were once wild here. Don’t let them tame you.” — Isadora Duncan, known as the “Mother of Modern Dance,” encourages dancers to embrace their freedom and individuality.
“You have to love dancing to stick to it. It gives you nothing back, no manuscripts to store away, no paintings to show on walls and maybe hang in museums, no poems to be printed and sold, nothing but that fleeting moment when you feel alive. It is not for unsteady souls.” — Merce Cunningham, a revolutionary modern dance choreographer, underscores the intrinsic rewards of dance, requiring passion beyond tangible outcomes.
“I do not try to dance better than anyone else. I only try to dance better than myself.” — Mikhail Baryshnikov, a celebrated Russian-American dancer and choreographer, promotes self-improvement and personal growth over competition.
“I may not be there yet, but I am closer than I was yesterday.” — Misty Copeland, the first African American female principal dancer with the American Ballet Theatre, offers a quote of perseverance and the importance of progress, not just perfection.
“The truest expression of a people is in its dance and its music. Bodies never lie.” — Agnes de Mille, an influential American dancer and choreographer, points to dance as an authentic cultural expression.
“Dancers come and go in the twinkling of an eye, but the dance lives on.” — Michael Jackson, the “King of Pop,” reminds us that while individual dancers are ephemeral, the art of dance is eternal.
“When I dance, I forget everything else and just feel completely happy.” – Katherine Jenkins, while primarily known as a singer, this quote resonates with the escapism and joy dance provides.
“Dance is certainly a sport, and they are phenomenal athletes, and they’re also artists.” – Neve Campbell, an actor who has portrayed dancers, acknowledges the dual nature of dance as both athletic and artistic.
“Dance is your pulse, your heartbeat, your breathing. It’s the rhythm of your life. It’s the expression in time and movement, in happiness, joy, sadness and envy.” — Jacques d’Amboise, an American ballet dancer and choreographer, beautifully illustrates how deeply intertwined dance is with life itself.
“Great dancers are not great because of their technique, they are great because of their passion.” — Martha Graham, reiterates that technique is secondary to the emotional drive behind the movement.
“I have no desire to prove anything by dancing…I just dance.” — Fred Astaire, the iconic actor and dancer, emphasizes the pure joy and intrinsic motivation of dancing.
“Learn the craft of knowing how to open your heart and to turn on your creativity. There’s a light inside of you.” — Judith Jamison, American dancer and choreographer, speaks to the emotional and creative core of dance.
“The moment is everything. Don’t think about tomorrow; don’t think about yesterday: think about exactly what you’re doing right now and live it and dance it and breath it and be it.” — Wendy Whelan, an American ballet dancer, encourages dancers to be fully present and immersed in the dance.
“There’s nothing wrong with fear; the only mistake is to let it stop you in your tracks.” — Twyla Tharp, a dancer, choreographer, and author, addresses the common feeling of fear and urges dancers to overcome it.
“Great artists are people who find the way to be themselves in their art.” — Margot Fonteyn, an English ballerina, highlights the importance of individuality and authenticity in dance.
“To follow, without halt, one aim: There’s the secret of success.” — Anna Pavlova, reinforces the power of focus and unwavering dedication in achieving dance goals.
“If I could tell you what it meant, there would be no point in dancing it” ― Isadora Duncan, perfectly captures the ineffable nature of dance, suggesting its meaning transcends words.

Dance School Quotes for Students and Teachers

Dance schools are nurturing grounds for aspiring dancers. These quotes celebrate the learning environment and the special bonds formed within dance communities.

“Behind every dancer who believes in themselves is a teacher who believed in them first.” – Unknown, a tribute to the profound impact of encouraging dance teachers.
“What seems so hard now will someday be your warm up.” – Unknown, a reminder of progress and how challenges become easier with practice.
“Friends that dance together, stay together.” – Unknown, highlighting the camaraderie and lasting friendships forged through dance.
“May all your shuffle hop steps dance lightly on your SOLE. And you never experience a CRAMP in your ROLL.” – Laurie Johnson, a playful quote incorporating dance terms to wish well to fellow dancers.
“A dance teacher helps her students find the song in their heart the beat in their feet and a passion for life.” – Unknown, beautifully encapsulating the holistic role of a dance teacher.
“An amazing dance teacher is hard to find difficult to part with & impossible to forget.” – Unknown, expressing the deep and lasting impact of exceptional dance educators.
“One who expresses one’s self through dance is a dancer. One who expresses one’s self through a dancer is a dance teacher.” – Unknown, a clever definition highlighting the unique role of a dance teacher as a facilitator of expression.

Obscure Dance Quotes with Intriguing Meanings

These less common dance quotes offer a different perspective, inviting interpretation and contemplation.

“Dance lightly with life.” – Unknown, a metaphorical quote suggesting grace and ease in navigating life’s journey.
“When your knowledge increases over time, you learn to dance in your mind.” – Debasish Mridha, a thought-provoking quote linking intellectual growth with a deeper understanding of dance.
“You ever dance with the devil in the pale moonlight?” – Joker (from Batman), a quirky and enigmatic quote, adding a touch of dark humor to the idea of dancing.
“No standing. Only dancing.” – Unknown, a simple yet powerful quote promoting constant movement and engagement.

Inspirational Dance Quotes to Fuel Your Fire

When you need a surge of motivation and a reminder of why you dance, these inspirational quotes will reignite your passion.

“I dance because there’s no greater feeling in the world than moving a piece of music and letting the rest of the world disappear.” – Unknown, perfectly capturing the immersive and transformative experience of dance.
“When you dance, your purpose is not to get to a certain place on the floor. It’s to enjoy each step along the way.” – Wayne Dyer, applying a philosophical perspective to dance, emphasizing the process over the destination.
“Don’t let people discourage you. Just fluff out your tutu and dance away.” – Unknown, a whimsical and empowering quote encouraging dancers to ignore negativity and pursue their passion.
“There is a bit of insanity in dancing that does everybody a great deal of good.” – Edwin Denby, suggesting dance as a healthy and beneficial form of “madness” or letting loose.
“If your dreams do not scare you, they are not big enough.” – Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, while not specifically about dance, this quote encourages dancers to set ambitious goals and push their boundaries.
“Life may not be the party we hoped for, but while we’re here we should dance.” – Jeanne Stein, a poignant quote about finding joy and expression even amidst life’s uncertainties.
“We should consider every day lost on which we have not danced at least once.” – Friedrich Nietzsche, a dramatic statement emphasizing the essential role of dance in a fulfilling life.
“Dancing is creating a sculpture that is visible only for a moment.” – Erol Ozan, a poetic description of dance as ephemeral art, highlighting its beauty and fleeting nature.
“When you get the choice to sit it out or dance, I hope you dance.” – Lee Ann Womack, a popular song lyric that has become a widely embraced motto for seizing opportunities and embracing life.
“If I can’t dance, I don’t want to be part of your revolution.” – Emma Goldman, a powerful declaration of the importance of joy and freedom in even serious endeavors.
“Let us dance in the sun, wearing wildflowers in our hair…” – Susan Polis Schutz, a romantic and free-spirited image evoking the joy and liberation of dance.
“Love is a lot like dancing; you just surrender to the music.” – Pierce Brosnan, drawing a beautiful analogy between the surrender and flow of love and dance.
“Don’t practice until you get it right. Practice until you can’t get it wrong.” – Unknown, a valuable piece of advice for dancers emphasizing mastery through dedicated practice.
“Dance is art; paint your dream and follow it.” — Steven Thompson, inspiring dancers to see their movement as artistic expression and to pursue their visions.
“Dance enables you to find yourself and lose yourself at the same time.” — Unknown, capturing the paradoxical nature of dance as both self-discovery and transcendence.
“You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream.” — C.S. Lewis, a universally applicable quote encouraging dancers of all ages to continue pursuing their aspirations.
“We can’t choose the music that life gives us, but we can choose how to dance to it.” — Unknown, a metaphor for resilience and agency in the face of life’s challenges, using dance as the chosen response.
“To dance is to be out of yourself. Larger, more beautiful, more powerful. This is power, it is glory on earth and it is yours for the taking.” — Agnes de Mille, an evocative description of the empowering and transformative nature of dance.
“The dance can reveal everything mysterious that is hidden in music, and it has the additional merit of being human and palpable. Dancing is poetry with arms and legs.” — Charles Baudelaire, a sophisticated and elegant description of dance as a physical embodiment of music and poetry.
“Dancers are the athletes of God.” — Albert Einstein, a striking and somewhat unexpected quote elevating dancers to a divine level of athleticism and grace.
“Hand in hand, on the edge of the sand, they danced by the light of the moon.” — Edward Lear, a romantic and lyrical image, perfect for envisioning the beauty of dance.
“Those who were seen dancing were thought to be insane by those who could not hear the music.” — Friedrich Nietzsche, a powerful quote about societal perception and the unique understanding of dancers.
“In a society that worships love, freedom and beauty, dance is sacred. It is a prayer for the future, a remembrance of the past and a joyful exclamation of thanks for the present.” — Amelia Atwater-Rhodes, placing dance within a larger cultural and spiritual context.
“Dancing is surely the most basic and relevant of all forms of expression. Nothing else can so effectively give outward form to an inner experience.” — Lyall Watson, emphasizing the primal and fundamental nature of dance as communication.
“All I ever needed was the music and the mirror.” — A Chorus Line, a line from the musical, capturing the solitary dedication and self-reflection inherent in dance practice.
“Dancing with the feet is one thing, but dancing with the heart is another.” — Unknown, distinguishing between technical skill and emotional investment in dance.
“Even today when I rehearse, I give it everything that I’ve got. If I’m in a performance and the lights go out, I glow in the dark. When you’re working before an audience, you have to make them feel like they can touch you. That’s the dancer within, reaching out.” — Mitzi Gaynor, emphasizing the total commitment and connection dancers strive for.
“Follow your passion. Find that something that makes you want to work at it. Work hard. Nothing comes without hard work.” — Tomas Schramek, general life advice applicable to dance, stressing passion and dedication.
“I don’t want people who want to dance, I want people who have to dance.” — George Balanchine, a demanding yet insightful quote from a ballet legend, seeking dancers with an undeniable compulsion to dance.
“The dance is a poem of which each movement is a word.” – Mata Hari, a poetic and elegant analogy comparing dance to poetry.

Funny Dance Quotes to Lighten the Mood

Dance is serious art, but it’s also fun! Enjoy these humorous dance quotes that bring a lighthearted perspective to the world of dance.

“Dancing is like a shower: one wrong turn and you’re in hot water!” — Mad Magazine, a classic gag comparing the potential mishaps in dance to a shower temperature mishap.
“Dancing is the art of getting your feet out of the way faster than your partner can step on them.” – Unknown, a witty observation about the coordination and sometimes chaotic nature of partner dancing.
“Never give a sword to a man who can’t dance.” – Unknown, a humorous proverb suggesting that dance ability is a fundamental life skill, even for warriors.
“Dancing is like bank robbery. It takes split-second timing.” — Twyla Tharp, using hyperbole to humorously emphasize the precision and timing required in dance.
“After all, Ginger Rogers did everything that Fred Astaire did. She just did it backwards and in high heels.” — Ann Richards, a famous feminist quip highlighting Ginger Rogers’ skill while also making a point about gender and effort.
“The one thing that can solve most of our problems is dancing.” – James Brown, a funny and optimistic statement about the power of dance to improve life.
“’One more time’ is always a lie.” – Unknown, a relatable joke for dancers who know the endless repetition of practice.
“Any kind of dancing is better than no dancing at all.” – Lynda Barr, a lighthearted and inclusive encouragement to embrace any form of dance.
“Trust me, you can dance.” – Vodka, a classic alcohol-related joke suggesting liquid courage can make anyone feel like a dancer.
“Those who can’t dance say the music is no good.” — Jamaican Proverb, a humorous proverb deflecting blame for poor dancing onto external factors.
“Dance, even if you have nowhere to do it but the living room…” — Kurt Vonnegut, encouraging spontaneous dance anywhere and everywhere.
“We’re fools whether we dance or not, so we might as well dance.” — Japanese Proverb, a philosophical and funny acceptance of foolishness, suggesting dance is the more enjoyable option.
“Bleeding feet will bond us.” — Liza Minnelli, a darkly humorous quote about the shared pain and dedication of dancers.
“Dance is a little insanity that does us all good.” — Edward Demby, a slightly different take on the “insanity of dance” theme, emphasizing its positive effects.
“Dancing is like breathing — missing a day doing either is very bad.” — Vera Ellen, comparing the necessity of dance to the vital act of breathing, with a touch of humor.

We hope this expansive collection of Dance Quotes For Dancers has provided you with inspiration, motivation, and perhaps a few laughs. Keep these words in mind as you continue your dance journey, and let them fuel your passion for movement and expression. Did we miss your favorite dance quote? Share it with us in the comments below!