Quotes from Wendy Whelan

Certain people have certain ways of focusing on things, and some arrange their lens to a pinhole in order to focus only on their goal. Others have a giant lens, and they take in the whole panorama. I was that pinhole kind of person.

As ballerinas, we don't use our voices. Our voice is the body and the movement quality.

Being a ballerina, you don't ever want to show yourself less than perfect, ever. That's what your goal is: 24/7 perfection.

I think the leotard for me became, after I retired, a sort of a symbol of the confines of still fitting into the ballet world in mind and body.

There are many ways to lead a life. It would always be ideal to have a paycheck coming in. But I really love this fly-by-the-seat-of-the-pants approach. It's scary and wonderful at the same time. I feel very open to many possibilities.

We are constantly revealing ourselves to each other through our movement; learning from and teaching each other without even trying.

When you are a kid, you find so much comfort in dancing. I was comforted.

I've always felt like a different kind of ballerina.

My art form is my child, and that's what I give my focus to.

You have to decide when it is time to move on.

I feel the ticking clock. And at times, I've said if I don't dance, I'd rather die.

You have to decide when it is time to move on. I was dancing on Broadway for many years. Then everyone was either getting injured or retiring and I was dancing with younger dancers.

I really miss dancing all day long. But something I really love is not dancing all day long. I love that I can't rely on dancing all day long to stay creative.

I love that moment of, 'Remember when?' I love to waft.

As I aged and I got stronger artistically, I really started to value my voice in performance - my 'voice' meaning my body, my technique, and my style. Then I started to really feel that flower as well. That's when I started to feel like, 'Wow - now I understand what my beauty is.'

I was dancing on Broadway for many years. Then everyone was either getting injured or retiring, and I was dancing with younger dancers.

I have a lot of energy, a lot of interest, a lot of desire.

The moment is everything. Don't think about tomorrow; don't think about yesterday: think about exactly what you're doing right now and live it and dance it and breath it and be it.

I was so comfortable with my ballet power, my dancer power, that to have a voice, the comfort with having a voice, is slower to come to me.

Aging gracefully means being flexible, being open, allowing change, enjoying change and loving yourself.

I look back, and I have no regrets, truly. Everything led me to the place where I am now.

I've let my body soften. I've let it relax.

So much is made about the beginnings of ballet careers, the rosebud, and then once the petals and leaves start falling off, is it beautiful anymore? Some people think it is; some people don't. The expectation is to focus on the very beautiful parts, not the ending.

Sometimes I miss being en pointe, but not a whole lot. Every once and a while, I would love to float for a minute on a shoe. But for the most part, I did it long enough that it's OK.