Fred Astaire Quotes

Be yourself-but don’t be conspicuous.

This search for what you want is like tracking something that doesn’t want to be tracked. It takes time to get a dance right, to create something memorable.

The higher up you go, the more mistakes you are allowed. Right at the top, if you make enough of them, it’s considered to be your style.

Dancing is a vertical interpretation of a horizontal intention.

If the dance is right, there shouldn’t be a single superfluous movement.

Some people seem to think that good dancers are born, but all the good dancers I have known are taught or trained.

I just put my feet in the ground and move them around.

Dancing is a sweat job.

Can’t act. Can’t sing. Slightly bald. Can dance a little.

When working on my choreography I am not always receptive to outside suggestions or opinions. I believe that if you have something in mind in the way of a creation, such as a new dance, a sequence, or an effect, you are certain to come up with inaccurate criticism and damaging results if you go around asking for opinions.

It takes time to get a dance right, to create something memorable.

We attend to his later performances as a dramatic actor with respect, but watching the nondancing, nonsinging Astaire is like watching a grounded skylark.