Wendy Whelan Quotes

A lot of my career and my drive and my passion and my striving to be better and better was built on insecurity.

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.’

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

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

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

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.

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.

Any time I’ve performed on one of the major stages, whether it be Covent Garden or the Paris Opera or the Bolshoi or the Mariinsky, those are really the top memorable moments for me.

I always looked at the process and the career of being a ballerina as sacred. It’s a true gift to have this talent and perform these masterworks; it’s sublime.

I really only had one audition in my life, and that was when I was 14 or 15. When I was that young, I listened to what my teachers would say, like wearing a certain kind of leotard that you’ll be noticed in.

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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