In Degas's compositions with several dancers, their steps, postures and gestures often resemble the almost geometric, formal letters of an alphabet, whereas their bodies and heads are recalcitrant, sinuous and individual.
Backup dancers are completely respectable. They're the studio musicians of dance.
Choreography is mentally draining, but there's a pleasure in getting into the studio with the dancers and the music.
This is the strange thing: Dancers don't age.
Great dancers are not great because of their technique, they are great because of their passion.