Mikhail Baryshnikov
Mikhail Baryshnikov
Mikhail Nikolayevich Baryshnikov, nicknamed "Misha", is a Latvian-born Russian-American dancer, choreographer, and actor born in the Soviet Union, often cited alongside Vaslav Nijinsky and Rudolf Nureyev as one of the greatest ballet dancers in history. After a promising start in the Kirov Ballet in Leningrad, he defected to Canada in 1974 for more opportunities in western dance. After freelancing with many companies, he joined the New York City Ballet as a principal dancer to learn George Balanchine's style of movement...
NationalityAmerican
ProfessionDancer
Date of Birth27 January 1948
CityRiga, Latvia
CountryUnited States of America
To walk across the street is a risk.
I read Russian literature a lot.
I - you know, I'm not an actor.
I never liked dance photography; it's very flat, and dance photography in the studio looks very contrived.
I am not trying to do material which I cannot do full out.
In the second part of life you get rid of stuff you've accumulated.
Acting is not my language at all.
Every ballet, whether or not successful artistically or with the public, has given me something important.
People of art should never get married and have children, because it's a selfish experience.
I really reject that kind of comparison that says, Oh, he is the best. This is the second best. There is no such thing.
I think art education, especially in this country, which government pretty much ignores, is so important for young people.
The Russian people get so insanely close to each other as friends. Their lives are interrelated so much on an everyday basis.
I was not extremely patriotic about Mother Russia. I played their game, pretending. You have to deal with, you know, party people, KGB. Horrifying.
I like the most provocative and most surprising partnerships on stage. Intensity and surprise.