Mikhail Baryshnikov Bio
Mikhail Baryshnikov is the most celebrated artist in the dance world. His extraordinary, enduring talent prompted Time magazine to proclaim him "the greatest living dancer." Rising to stardom in classical ballet, Baryshnikov has pursued his passion for dancing for over 40 years in a range of dance disciplines.
A native of Riga, Baryshnikov began studying ballet at age nine. As a teenager, he entered the school of the Kirov Ballet in Leningrad, graduating from student to principal dancer in 1969. Baryshnikov danced with the Kirov Ballet for five years, earning acclaim for his technical brilliance, his gravity-defying leaps and his dramatic interpretations of classical roles. In 1974, Baryshnikov, disheartened by the artistic stagnation and limited challenges in Soviet ballet, defected to the West at age 26. He settled in New York City as a principal dancer with the American Ballet Theatre, where his virtuosity and genius awed ballet fans around the world.
In 1979, Baryshnikov moved from ABT to work with master choreographer, George Balanchine at New York City Ballet. There he broadened his repertoire, learning more than 20 new roles in only 15 months with the company. In 1980, he returned to American Ballet Theatre, serving for 10 years as artistic director and nurturing a new generation of dancers and choreographers. During his tenure with the troupe, he also staged and choreographed four full-length ballets.
Baryshnikov has danced more than 100 different works in his illustrious ballet career, from the classic Giselle and Don Quixote to Twyla Tharp's Push Comes to Shove and George Balanchine's Apollo. He has been a leading guest artist on the world's greatest ballet stages. Most of the world's foremost choreographers have created works especially for him. In addition to his dancing, Baryshnikov proved himself a capable actor, starring in five films, including his Oscar-nominated performance in "The Turning Point." He has appeared numerous times on television, including three Emmy award-winning specials. In 1989, he appeared on Broadway in "Metamorphosis," earning a Tony nomination and a Drama Critics Award.
From 1990-2002, Baryshnikov was director and dancer with White Oak Dance Project, which he co-founded with American choreographer, Mark Morris. White Oak was born of Baryshnikov's desire "to be a driving force in the production of art." Through White Oak, Baryshnikov used his remarkable talents to expand the repertoire of American modern dance. In 2003-2004, he toured a program of solo works by noted American and European choreographers to benefit the Baryshnikov Art Center (BAC). Among his most recent awards are the Kennedy Center Honors, The National Medal of Honor, the Commonwealth Award and Yale University's highest honor, the Chubb Fellowship.
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