It's nice that all the composers have said that nobody interprets a lyric like Fred Astaire. But when it comes to selling records I was never worth anything particularly except as a collector's item.

We attend to his later performances as a dramatic actor with respect, but watching the nondancing, nonsinging Astaire is like watching a grounded skylark.

For ballroom dancing, remember that your partners have their own distinctive styles also. Cultivate flexibility. Be able to adapt your style to that of your partner. In doing so, you are not surrendering your individuality, but blending it with that of your partner.

I don't want to be the oldest performer in captivity... I don't want to look like a little old man dancing out there.

Dancing is a sweat job.

It takes time to get a dance right, to create something memorable.

I have no desire to prove anything by dancing ... I just dance.