Mikhail Baryshnikov
Mikhail Nikolaevich Baryshnikov is a Soviet-born Russian American dancer, choreographer, and actor, often cited alongside Vaslav Nijinsky and Rudolf Nureyev as one of the greatest ballet dancers of the 20th century. 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. He then moved to dance and later became artistic director with the American Ballet Theatre, also in New York.
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.
From 1990 to 2002, Baryshnikov was director and dancer with the White Oak Dance Project, which he co-founded with choreographer Mark Morris. White Oak was born of Baryshnikov’s desire “to be a driving force in the production of art,” and, indeed, it expanded the repertoire and visibility of American modern dance.
In 2005, he opened the Baryshnikov Arts Center (BAC), a creative home for local and international artists to develop and present work.
“I was not extremely patriotic about Mother Russia. I played their game, pretending. You have to deal with, you know, party people, KGB. Horrifying.”
“Fundamentals are the building blocks of fun.”
“The problem is not making up the steps but deciding which ones to keep.”
“I hated life in the Soviet Union. You had to pretend something you didn't feel.”
“Working is living to me.”
“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 have some Russian friends. But probably only 10 percent. I don't hang out usually in the big Russian communities in Brooklyn and New Jersey.”
“Dancing is my obsession. My life.”
“No one is born a dancer. You have to want it more than anything.”
“Dancing can reveal all the mystery that music conceals.”
“I do not try to dance better than anyone else. I only try to to dance better than myself.”