When I started making dances in the '60s, narrative dance was sort of off the radar screen. What was important at the time in the avant-garde was minimalism.

I often say that in making dances I can make a world where I think things are done morally, done democratically, done honestly.

What we want from modern dance is courage and audacity.

I've always believed that a dance evening energizes an audience, that an audience goes out feeling chemically stronger and more optimistic. This is what I understand about dance. And this is an important thing. We need this. Our culture needs it.

I started formal piano training when I was 4. From there I had little violas, and I had dancing lessons of every sort and description, and painting lessons. I had German. And shorthand.

The Avant Gardener feeds flowers to his manure and charges prices he believes are not to be sniffed at