Fifth positions, heads, musicality, energy. Not technical things so much-getting your leg higher or doing more turns but things that would set you apart from other dancers. The only way you can be different is to be yourself if you don't find your spirit and reveal it, you just look like every other dancer.

I liked to read but, being a dancer, I didn't have a lot of time to read.

You're never more of an individual than when you're a happy team player.

In fact, ballet companies did not exist in the Midwest when I was a child.

The particular ballet was not so important as the fact that I was physically healthy, and capable of getting out there and dancing as often as possible.

I learned to love dance for its own sake.

I was very much of a tomboy.