Ann Reinking

“I ripped both hamstrings.”

“You have no control over how tall you are or how long your legs are, but you do have control over how much you concentrate.”

“There's a lot of heart to Bob's work that doesn't always get recognized because of all of the sensuality, dark statements and wit of his work.”

“You know, theater is either heaven or hell. There's no middle.”

“I'm happiest with my family and with working.”

“Show dancing stood very well on its own a long time ago with dancers like Bill Robinson and Marilyn Miller.”

“For 'Chicago,' the dancers need to demonstrate an affinity for the Fosse style. Sometimes dancers come in with brilliant technique, but if the Fosse style isn't easy for them, or it's awkward for them, they won't be right for this show.”

“When I did 'Goodtime Charley' that helped a great deal, but 'Dancin' was such a huge hit. It catapulted me in to being a consistent principal to count on.”

“In sixth grade my teacher said that we had to do a talent show. You could sing or recite a poem... I went a wrote a little sketch for myself called 'Our Big World' about how many ways you could use a scarf.”

“Acting, like wine, gets better as time goes on. Singing gets better after a certain age. The dancer peaks at 35 or 40.”

“Chorus Line' opened things up a bit. Any show that's successful does that. But 'Chorus Line' was about dancers.”

“Once Bob commits to something, it's almost like a child. He doesn't want anybody else to take care of it, even if it might be to his detriment.”

“Something can be said for quitting for a little while. You can get completely drained as a performer and creator. You have to fill back up.”

“The odd thing about Bob is that even though he's known as really taking chances and being very sensual, he was also a very moral man.”

“It was sad to leave 'Pippin' because it was a kind of inspirational turning point in my life. But it was time to move on.”

“Once a star... No matter what, there's something there, they give you something that's special.”

“Bob's work gleaned from hoofing, from vaudeville, from ballet.”

“Broadway is so defeating for the most part that it doesn't encourage people to be as tenacious as they should be.”

“Dancing is the personification of music, and music is an abstract expression of the human spirit. But still it's the act of communication, of making one feel. Otherwise it would just be gymnastics.”

“You get to a certain point in your life and you think you can do it all. And then you do do it all, and then you have to top yourself.”