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01
08
2019

DANCERS – M. Baryshnikov

By Ms Lydie 0

Mikhail Nikolayevich Baryshnikov is born January 27, 1948 in Riga – Latvian SSR, Soviet Union, now Latvia.

Nicknamed “Misha” (Russian diminutive of the name “Mikhail”), he is a Soviet and American dancer, choreographer and actor.

He is often cited alongside Vaslav Nijinsky, Rudolf Nureyev and Vladimir Vasiliev as one of the greatest ballet dancers in history.

He began his ballet studies in Riga in 1960, at the age of 11. In 1964, he entered the Vaganova School, in what was then in Leningrad (now St. Petersburg).

Baryshnikov soon won the top prize in the junior division of the Varna International Ballet Competition.

He joined the Mariinsky Ballet, which was then called the Kirov Ballet.

Mikhail Baryshnikov

After a promising start in the Mariinsky Ballet, Mikhail Baryshnikov 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.

He then danced with the American Ballet Theatre, where he became artistic director in 1980.

Mikhail Baryshnikov

Mikhail Baryshnikov has spearheaded many of his own artistic projects and has been associated in particular with promoting modern dance, premiering dozens of new works, including many of his own.

His success as a dramatic actor on stage, cinema and television has helped him become probably the most widely recognized contemporary ballet dancer.

He is famous for his incredible leaps and turns…

 

Sources:
Wikkipedia

The world of Ballet by Judy Tatchell

author: Ms Lydie

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