Quotes from Natalia Makarova

Usually, English personalities are difficult; they don't take criticism easily.

It is the body, subject to the harmony of the steps it is executing, which speaks. And it speaks to the heart in as direct a language as does music.

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.

To look back all the time is boring. Excitement lies in tomorrow.

I think often that God is guiding me.

You cannot dance an arabesque in 'Swan Lake' and 'Nutcracker' the same way.

I am different because I have better schooling, better understanding of the line, gesture, how feet working, positions. They taught me modern things... and I wanted to give what I had: my schooling.

Even the ears must dance.

I don't keep my secrets or my knowledge to myself.

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.

The expression should come from within oneself, conveying the spiritual - something between earth and heaven. And if one runs, one should not seem to touch the ground.

All of the very important events in my life happen by chance.

It's a hard life... but if I could, I would do it all again.

I recently learn a new word: insatiable. That's me.

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

Because my profession is the body, it is a relaxation for me to get out of physicality and concentrate on more mental things.

I travel like a gypsy, and I didn't know how I could perform and be a mother.

All ballet, all reading, all music. That was my world, my inner world.

What I am looking for is a masterpiece. I don't want to waste my time. I am tired of experiments.

Technical things are getting more mechanical. Take 'Swan Lake,' the Black Swan pas de deux. Now, my goodness, they're turning not just 32 fouettes - but double or triple pirouettes.

I really feel sorry for new generation. It's hard to find backbone. I never had crisis of identity. But I think many Americans have it.

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

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

It's not possible to be perfect - you can always do something better. I'm never proud of what I've done. Sometimes, I'm not ashamed.