Russians are very discerning about ballet. They're very opinionated about what classical ballet is. David Hallberg More Quotes by David Hallberg More Quotes From David Hallberg I walk like a duck: very straight up and down. Or like a penguin. It's a dead giveaway that I'm a dancer. David Hallberg dead walk down like When stress sets in, and pressure, I focus. David Hallberg sets stress focus pressure Because of the way I'm built, I constantly have to strengthen. This is sort of a ritual: I put on my tights first, and right when I'm about to put on my costume, I get down on the floor, and I plank. David Hallberg costume right down way I love the dancers in the Bolshoi, but all of my Moscow friends are outside the company. A friend introduced me to Vika Gazinskaya, a well-known Russian designer. I met her group. The rest is history. David Hallberg me friends love history Having done so many versions, I never felt like an artist in 'Swan Lake.' David Hallberg lake never done artist Every company has its own texture, vocabulary, and singular place in dance history, and I have always wanted to share my perspective of these world renowned institutions. David Hallberg perspective dance history world Every company has its style, and that's what makes the Bolshoi so impressive: their attack on jumps or their attack on choreography. David Hallberg attack impressive company style New York at times runs me dry because there's so much to do. There's never enough time to do everything. It's nice to have the balance in Moscow. David Hallberg me balance nice time I sew my own shoes. Other male dancers don't, but I like it one way, and I've learned to do it that way. David Hallberg own shoes my-own way When I went to Moscow, I felt I was relearning Swan Lake - which was written for the Bolshoi - and being immersed in a tradition and history I had never experienced. It took a while to adjust to living there and learning the language, but now I have lots of friends. I get the best of two completely different worlds. David Hallberg best tradition learning history Ballet is incestuous. This world is smaller than small. David Hallberg than small ballet world Bejart is almost never performed in New York City; critically, he just gets attacked here. David Hallberg city new never new-york I stopped acting Romeo and just became Romeo. David Hallberg romeo stopped just acting The Bolshoi style is bigger and more emotional, in a way that I love. It has the freshness and intensity that is like what I've tried to achieve in my dance-acting roles. David Hallberg achieve style love way I'm not one who goes to a lot of fashion shows or tries to infiltrate that world, really. David Hallberg really who fashion world I've been interested in art and fashion for as long as I can remember because they are so visual. I am fascinated by the idea of visual creation from the ground up, which is a challenge in ballet when the audience has seen every show of yours, every other principal that you've shared a role with, and every different production. David Hallberg i-am you fashion art I've always questioned the way dancers, myself included, must do the same role year in and year out. It's important for me to be able to say to myself, 'O.K., I don't want to be a prince anymore. I want to put on a leather jockstrap and pose.' David Hallberg pose myself me way Many dancers are content with the repertoire they're given. Others are dissatisfied but don't know why. Then there are a few like me that are curious and grab at everything. Can that curiosity thrive in the ballet world, or should it exist elsewhere? That's the eternal question. David Hallberg know me curiosity world No one around me was obsessed with Fred Astaire except for me. It just snowballed, really. I started with tap lessons. When I didn't have tap shoes, I taped nickels on the bottom of my penny loafers. David Hallberg penny just me shoes If I can relay anything, it's that if someone has a dream, and it isn't the norm of what others are doing around you, it doesn't matter. Reach for it. Go for it - because I'm a shining example of that. David Hallberg someone you matter dream
