“I started dancing when I saw Fred Astaire in 'Flying Down to Rio,' at ...” — Stanley Donen Quote

I started dancing when I saw Fred Astaire in 'Flying Down to Rio,' at approximately nine years old. Fred Astaire influenced me, more than anything, to be in 'show business.'

The funniest thing is not who influenced me positively, but who influenced me negatively. I had such an aversion to what Busby Berkeley did; in my early formative years, I thought it was terrible. Now, I think it's wonderful. But then, I wanted to do anything but what Busby Berkeley did.

You see, it took me so long, it was such a struggle, to move myself out of musicals - because I had had a success, nobody wanted to allow me to direct a non-musical picture. It was so hard. And the only way I could get it going was to become a producer myself.

People always say to me, 'You have such a clearly defined sense of style,' and when I hear it, I get crazed, because what I hear - and I know they mean it as a compliment - is that I have such a narrow vision that I can't get out of it.

People won't stop painting, just as they won't stop making music or dancing. This is a facility we have. Children don't stop doing it or having it. On the other hand, it seems we don't need painting anymore. Culture is more interested in entertaining people.

When I first saw tap dancing, I immediately got it: the righteousness of being able to make so much noise with your feet!

Acting is my number one, but dancing will always be a part of who I am and in my heart. I love doing stunts when they are a part of my acting.

Something I would have never thought that I could have done before is dancing in front of thousands of people. It changed how people view me in a negative and a positive way.