Even the ears must dance.

Dancers, many dancers today can do so much technically. You can give them steps that are complicated, then more complicated, pyrotechnical - and they can execute these steps to perfection. But to do simple steps with a pure classical line, that is truly difficult.

I want to be free... free to develop my art.

A real ballerina must fill her space with her own personality.

People tell me I'm dancing better than ever. I don't know what happened, but I have new enthusiasm and more endurance.

I was born to be a ballerina - my physique, my spirit, my feeling for music. What I am can only be expressed in dance. I am an erotic woman and that's what dance is.

Many people thought I would never succeed, because I am so Russian. So Russian, hundred percent.