The ballet needs to tell its own story in such a way it can be received without having to be translated into language.

Without passion, all the skill in the world won't lift you above craft. Without skill, all the passion in the world will leave you eager but floundering. Combining the two is the essence of the creative life.

I walk into a large white room. It's a dance studio in midtown Manhattan. The room is clean, virtually spotless if you don’t count the thousands of skid marks and footprints left there by dancers rehearsing. Other than the mirrors, the boom box, the skid marks, and me, the room is empty.

I was privileged to be able to study a year with Martha Graham, the last year she was teaching.

Creativity is a habit, and the best creativity is a result of good work habits. That's it in a nutshell ... In order to be creative you have to know how to prepare to be creative.

Judgment is not my business. Existing is my business.

Men and women are very different athletes, and frankly, I didn't want to deal with the male potential.