When you're experimenting you have to try so many things before you choose what you want, and you may go days getting nothing but exhaustion.

There comes a day when people begin to say, 'Why doesn't that old duffer retire?' I want to get out while they're still saying Astaire is a hell of a dancer.

I have no desire to prove anything by my work. I have never used it as an outlet or as a means of expressing myself. I just dance.

But I do nothing that I don't like, such as "inventing" up to the arty or "down" to the corny. I happen to relish a certain type of corn. What I think is the really dangerous approach is the "let's be artistic" attitude. I know that artistry just happens.

Either the camera will dance, or I will.

Can't act. Can't sing. Slightly bald. Can dance a little.

If your gonna go down, go down swinging!