Fred Astaire represented the aristocracy, I represented the proletariat.

I wanted to invent some kind of American dance that was danced to the music that I grew up on: Cole Porter and Rodgers and Hart and Irving Berlin. So I evolved a style that certainly didn't catch on right away - but I had some good mentors in New York who encouraged me.

First of all, break-dancing has been done for years, though not all of it put together the way it is now. But, actually, the distinctions have been blurring since the 1950s.

I think dancing is a man's game and if he does it well he does it better than a woman.

I arrived in Hollywood twenty pounds overweight and as strong as an ox.

She's one of those third year girls who gripe my liver... You know, American college kids. They come over here to take their third year and lap up a little culture... They're officious and dull. They're always making profound observations they've overheard.

I may be rancid butter, but I'm on your side of the bread.