«Ballet is a serious art, in which the critical things are movement and beauty, rather than all kinds of jumps, meaningless spinning and legs lifted above the head.».
«The power of choreography, its charm, is not in this or that technical stunt, not in the final pirouette, but in its ability to create an artistic image».
«During my long career, I've always had great relationships with all ballet dancers, and I’ve known hundreds of them. Now, however, you only ever hear about all sorts of discord between them».
«I adore everything that is elegant, but certainly not skeletons, with whom you can do nothing in terms of choreographic art».
«I follow the music. Sometimes I see pictures in my head; some times I make sketches of the groups. I’ve always had an excellent memory. Name any old ballet, and I will tell you exactly what dances there are in each act».
«The audience should be aware that the most difficult thing in every pas is to compose variations. Every time, you need to find a completely new style».
«My pas are used in every single ballet performance, but they do not even bother to rehearse them properly, and forget to mention my name on the playbill. What will it be like after I die? Perhaps, I will not be mentioned on playbills at all».
«God save my second motherland, which I love with all my heart».
