Shirley MacLaine will always have a term of endearment for dance.
The actress, 91, made a rare public appearance at the Dance Hall of Fame’s inaugural ceremony Wednesday at the Gloria Kaufmann Performing Arts Center in Los Angeles, where she received a Lifetime Achievement Award that has been named in honor of the longtime screen icon.
“Getting an award for dancing is the most important acknowledgement I could have. I mean that,” the Oscar winner began in her speech. “This is beautiful, by the way, heavy, and it’s beautiful. My mother took me to dancing class when I was 3 because I had weak ankles, and I fell in love with it.
“But here’s what it also included: discipline, love of music, a sense of cooperation with other people, being on time. And from that day on, I went to class every day until in my sixties. I would have to say that dance, what I’ve learned being part of it is why I’m still here.”
MacLaine urged others to give dance a shot.
“I would recommend if anybody out there is wondering what to do with their life, I would recommend ballet class. I’m not kidding. That’s what I learned,” the “Sweet Charity” star continued.
“I would recommend that everybody take ballet for a while and you’ll see the meaning of life, the meaning of movement, the meaning of discipline, the meaning of art, the meaning of pain, the meaning of criticism, the meaning of applause, and the meaning of having a body.”
MacLaine added: “I appreciate it all so much, and with everything I’ve done, I have to say the dancing is the most important.”
The “Terms of Endearment” star was inducted into the Dance Hall of Fame alongside Mikhail Baryshnikov, Kenny Ortega, and Misty Copeland.
Late iconic dancers Gene Kelly, Bob Fosse, Alvin Ailey, Jerome Robbins and Stephen “Twitch” Boss were also honored.
Channing Tatum, along with Connie Boss Alexander, Stephen’s mother, and his brother Deondre Rose accepted on the late dancer’s behalf.
Stephen died by suicide in 2022 at the age of 40.
Both Fosse’s grandson, Noah Fosse, and Kelly’s wife, Patricia, were in attendance.
The outing marks the third time MacLaine was spotted out in recent weeks. The Malibu resident was also seen at Kristy’s Village Cafe over Thanksgiving weekend.
MacLaine was first photographed at the restaurant on Nov. 25. Four days later, the “Steel Magnolias” actress was seen dining there with friends again.
She’s has kept a low profile in recent years, stepping out on just a few occasions.
Last summer, she met up with her “People Not Places” co-star, Stephen Dorff, at the Sunset Bar and Grill.
MacLaine previously joined her sister-in-law and wife of Warren Beatty, Annette Bening, at the Industry Dance Awards in 2023.
Meanwhile, the “Steel Magnolias” actress last appeared on screen in the 2022 film “American Dreamer.”
That same year, MacLaine starred in two episodes of Hulu’s “Only Murders in the Building.”
In 2024, the star got candid about her love for dance while chatting with People.
“I started my dance training at age 3 and stopped at about 67,” she expressed. “It taught me discipline, loving music, working with people and dealing with pain.”
MacLaine also stressed how grateful she is to “keep working,” noting: “I have my friends and I am really healthy.”
In 2024, the author also shared her outlook on death.
“I’m kind of interested in going there,” she confessed on “CBS Sunday Morning” at the time. “I’m looking forward to being part of the Heaven experience. I really am.”
Throughout her years in Hollywood, MacLaine has befriended several fellow beloved stars, including Jennifer Aniston. The pair starred in the 2005 rom-com “Rumor Has It” together.
In September, the “Morning Show” star, 56, gushed over their bond.
“She believes that we were mother and daughter in a previous lifetime. I think it’s why we had such an instant bond,” Aniston said while on “The Drew Barrymore Show.”
The actress added: “She’s fantastic.”
