I've been following Baryshnikov since I was 6 years old! I am 42 years old today and I am envious of his height and absolute perfection that he gives with each movement. There is no other male dancer that will supersede his greatness.
@Bettina-mb2xr Nureyev was the standard for his time but, in my mind, superceded by Barysnikov for both athleticism and precision. Vogel has a spectacular aspect of physical fluidity, but is an entirely different animal in relation to control and energy. Sorry, but Barysnikov reigns supreme for a unique combination of containment, drama, creativity and execution. There is just no one to compare with him.
One of the most glorious experiences in my life was seeing him dance in person! I floated out of the theater knowing that at that moment I could die blissfully happy!
Yes it's true. Nureyev also had that Ballon. I saw him live in Buenos Aires in 1965 with Fonteyn. Unforgettable. 20 years later I saw Baryshnikov do his own Ballon.
When I watch Baryshnikov dance I sense that I’m watching one of a handful of people who managed to reach his full human potential both physically & artistically. It’s hard to imagine the level of effort that made him what he became. But, I can and do imagine God looking down at Baryshnikov, smiling at what he’s done with the gifts God gave him, and wishing the rest of us could push aside petty pursuits of money & other corrupting influences to do the same.
Well said 👏👏 Artists of B’s nature simply need…to be he very best he /she can be at their skillset - people could definitely achieve more if they had the discipline and focus legends like B pursue. I fell in love with him when he made White Nights and has always been my ‘ideal male’ figure - when I watch his work or in flight, I feel his body is trying to keep up with his mind - that his body follows his will.
Hmmm.. how many "artists" today have pursued Art and how many the Almighty dollar? What have they left us as a permanent record? Baryshnikov is an ARTIST his achievements stand as a Testament to what was really important to him.
i agree lucy, he can perform with flawless technique without thought, he isn't ever in his mind when he dances, i think that is the difference between a good dancer and an amazing dancer. some dancers have flawless technique but can't let go. the pressure of being perfect prevents a lot of ballet dancers from reaching their full potential. he was born to be a ballet dancer. *
I saw him live on stage at Expo 86 in Vancouver BC. Tickets for performances on the main stage were exorbitant! I was still in Nursing school and could not afford any! However news got out that if you showed up last minute, there would be people trying to unload unsold tickets at much reduced price. We got incredibly lucky! We bought tickets blindly. We ended up in THE FRONT ROW of this tiny venue ( comparatively) the seats were so close to the stage I could hardly cross my legs, and had to slump in my seat for an uphill view. When he came on stage, his feet were at eye level. I knew him for his phenomenal leaps, higher than any other dancer, and multiple sequence of pirouettes. No wonder! Those legs! OMG! As his performance heated up, so did his body. When he got to the sequence of pirouettes and leaps, he was sweating heavily. When he passed the front of the stage, we were sprayed liberally with flying sweat! My friend eeked and eewed.. I , on the other hand , nearly fainted and remained unwashed for some time! Thanks for the memories….!!!
I had the incredible moment to meet him over 40 years ago. I have kept the memory as bright and beautiful to this day. My only regret, I was so dumbfounded I couldn't speak. But he smiled and that was everything.
I sympathize with your meeting of a great person. I froze too when I met Dr. Carl Sagan. I was a student working on a conference and had to introduce him. Try freezing in a roomful of media! But he smiled graciously and thanked me for my lame words.
I met him also at the Kennedy Center. He walked out of the Presidential Box and our box was several down. I was so excited and had to go over to him. To tell him I loved his choreography of the Nutcracker. I had my program in my hand and I said I would love your autograph but I didn’t have a pen. The friend he was with had one and I did get his autograph. I also was lucky to see his debut at the Kennedy Center in Coppelia. I saw him at the gala of he and Kirkland in Don Quixote. I was a very lucky lady !!!!!!
@@brendabernstein286 Yup! I wish Baryshnikov would write memoirs, but he's more interested in keeping his body connected to dance than making money on a bestselling book! He is too amazing. I saw him many times in NYC and D.C. I also saw Nureyev many times, and they are simply different. Both brilliant. This was also the era of Erik Bruhn, the Danish who was right up there in the group of extraordinary premier danseurs. Of the three, I loved Baryshnikov the best for his dancing and sublime acting in his dancing roles. Character truly mattered to him.
Before Baryshnikov defected we couldn't see a full performance of his. We got glimpses of the genius. I remember when he defected. It felt like a gift to the world.
Nobody should call him on any names or criticize him unless he/she has achieved as much as he did . I don't think there are many. By the way, he is not only the all- time best classical ballet dancer but he is intalligent and VERY funny, I love watching him dance. He is fantastic !!!
He is NOT arrogant. Walk a mile in his shoes (um, yeah RIGHT, like that’s even remotely possible) before ignorantly making assertions and judgements as to his character. Misha has truly earned everything he has having been through far worse than many or even most successful celebrities. He’s an indisputable legend and absolute master of his craft, which is quite diverse beginning yet far from ending with arguably the greatest male ballet dancer ever as well as academy award winner, actor, choreographer and amazing artist. He’s Latvian, his country stolen by Stalin and Soviet Republic from post WW1 until 1991. He’s a fascinating and inspiring study and claims to be nothing he is not, albeit including admitting he never strived for nor embraced his status as a legend or being the best ever, etc.. in fact he shows a great sense of humor in it all and is notorious for not liking to do interviews nor drawing attention to himself but his work and his art instead. Quite literally. I’m no Baryshnikov expert either but have been a huge fan since my wife (now ex) was a professional ballet dancer in the 80s and 90s and as with most if not all dancers she was and is still contagiously passionate to say the least about the beautiful true art of ballet causing me to be a connoisseur of the arts especially ballet ever since. Notice how he said “oh I don’t know what I’m FAMOUS for but.....” the guy is Eastern European, driven, talented and has blessed countless millions with his amazing gifts and the incredibly difficult obstacles he overcame and continues to even today in 2018 at aged 70. Arrogant, no. Successful, focused, determined, driven, perseverant, inspiring and incredibly talented on every front he’s approached, tackled and conquered absolutely. IMHO and I love to debate respectfully, Mikhail Baryshnikov is an amazing inspiring man and artist and humanitarian indeed. I’m far from a member of a minority who agree as fact is he’s changed the world and the art of modern ballet for the better indisputably. :-)
Pray that at our age you have a twinkle in your eye and you'll see how wonderful it is to grow old passionately. I have passions that make me want to live forever.
In 1994, I purchased box seats for myself and my best friend, as a surprise for her 18th birthday, to see Misha dance with Twlya Tharpe and the White Oaks Project. I had been obsessed with him for well over a decade as dancer myself. I knew how unique and spectacular he was, over twenty years ago. We sat on the edge of our seats the entire time! Seeing his jumps on television pale in comparison to seeing him perform live. It was worth every penny I earned from my summer job to purchase those tickets ($125.00 per ticket in 1994 was a lot!) Even to this day I can recognize his choreography and dance style in other dancers. I remember when Center Stage came out (I think it was 1999 or 2000?). I was excited to see it because Julie Kent was in the movie and I loved her in Dancers (with Misha in the 80's). When I would watch Ethan Stoffel (the guy who played Cooper Nealson) dance, especially in modern/free style, all I could think of was, "he reminds me of Misha!" I found out several years later he trained extensively with Misha!! I knew in 1994 having the privilege of watching Misha dance was a once and a lifetime event. I am so thrilled I recognized it for what it was worth. I appreciate it even more two decades later and realize how lucky we were to have had this experience!!
Heather--Do you think that a lot of his spectacular performance was from Balanchine? I heard that Mr. B encouraged him to really go for it in his extensions, leaps--and of course the regal presence of the Imperial ballet, and encouraging emotional expressions. I love the way he moves his head along with the ballerina's movements, it really creates a sense of intimacy. Wish I could talk with you! We studied his movements in physics! The way he uses his arms in or out as "conservation of momentum," even the planets and moons dance to this simple principle. In another tutorial a person pointed out how he looks up when leaping, making it seem even higher. And that his upper body was so still while his arms and the position of his legs allowed unique combinations but always with balance and precision. I've been watching videos of his performances since the late 1970s and notice something new every time. Saw him dance in person outdoors under the stars in Denver. Breath taking. Why has his name virtually disappeared?
I don’t find him arrogant at all, I find him quite humble. I get the sense that he is not comfortable with idolatry or praise. He always strives for new challenges. As he says, there are relatively few classical ballets, and he strives for ‘new steps’, as traditional choreography is static,
You cannot be GREAT if you're arrogant. I touch of humility at the bottom of your soul is a must. Innovation on the classical is the way to keep it alive for younger generations.
I'm not a huge fan of Ian Brown because I think he has a very limited range in terms of doing interviews, but this one is very good. He creates an interview environment that is fun, amusing, thoughtful, wide-ranging, & he knows when to shut up & just let Baryshnikov speak. You can tell Baryshnikov is comfortable & enjoying himself because he ventures to make jokes, to make Ian Brown the subject of his jokes, etc. I really love the way Baryshnikov presents himself with such a restrained, disclplined & reserved physical presence--barely moving a muscle sometimes--yet verbally he is soaring with various ideas & conjectures, & sparring across the stage in an amusing friendly way with the exchange of joking insults with Ian Brown. It's a very good interview with a legend, & to accomplish that daunting task as an interviewer requires real skill & hard work.
I listened /watched this video while on my daily 5 mile walk. The respect of Mr. Ian Brown, the interviewer, for his subject, Mr. Mikhail Baryshinkov, was refreshing. This journalist does have a soul, as does our dancer. I laughed and held back tears during this journey. I hope my neighbors observing my humors find that being slightly misunderstood can be the beginning of a beautiful friendship. BTW, Gregory Hines came to our small city years ago and invited anyone with tap shoes to join him on stage.
Watching him dance is sublime ... other worldly. Then you listen to him being interviewed and he is intelligent, amusing, generous, humble, and charming. Such an amazing man! GOAT!
"You cannot be somebody else onstage. No matter how good a dancer or singer you are, when you open your mouth or move your finger, the audience knows who you are." 💥👋👋👋👋👋💯❤🌎
I was in the audience of the O'keefe Center the very night he defected to the West. His partner that evening was the great Bolshoi star, Struchkova who was as amazing as he was. An eye-popping, unforgettable evening. Soon afterward, he danced with the National Ballet of Canada, opposite the great Veronica Tennant. The ballet was La Sylphide. They were both great.
@@CheroCare Dear M........Interesting that you ask. Struchkova as I say was in top form although she was old enough to be his mother. But on stage, unlike in the movies, the illusion still works. He was pale as a ghost. The performance was of such high quality my adrenaline was going full blast. And sitting in the tenth row I felt like I was practically on stage myself. At the very end, I was the first one, the only one on their feet joyfully applauding. All at once Barishnikov's eyes and my eyes locked. For me, it was about adulation. For him, it was about abject terror. I immediately felt uneasy, as though I had upset him. seeing his death-like pallor. I felt as though I must have done something wrong. But the next day, reading the headlines in the papers, I understood what had happened with the locked eyes and in a way felt let off the hook. Are you a dancer yourself? I am a TV and live event producer and have met a number of world-famous personalities. But for some reason, it is classical dance that touches me the deepest.
@@CheroCare if you check out his personal life it is tragic....beginning with a cold, unloving father and a mother who commit suicide. The more disturbed the early life, often the greater the artist. Trust me on that one.
@@classicalaid1 thank you for sharing such a personal experience... one can only guess how nervous that last performance was for Mikhail, how scary it was to step into the unknown...
***** Just exactly what are you trying to say about my post? I couldn't help but notice the, "wow....." Too many pauses by a tiny man, that is perhaps trying to challenge me? Pre-tell...
sadie garcia I meant that the choreography is horrid, the production even more so, & that I am shocked that such a thing would be considered "the best" by anyone.
***** I'm entitled to my opinion, and you, nor anybody,will never change my mind! I don't have much time to entertain such rubbish! Therefore, be gone!
This was great! Thanks remember seeing Baryshnikov in 1976 for the first time-WOW! After that(I was 8 years old), I fell in love with ballet and followed Baryshnikov ever since!
Misha Korogodsky trained me in the Vaganova Russian ballet method. I was fortunate enough to hear my "Misha" talking with Misha Baryshnikov over the phone at times, laughing together! They are the best memories I have as a young pre-teen girl. I never got to see him in at ABT as director, that is my only regret. He was in Italy performing Swan Lake during my visit to see a class at ABT. This interview made me smile so much!! Thank you!
We could if we built up the confidence of our boys instead of shaming them for their masculinity. Let men be proud and full of confidence and see them shine.
My late mother introduced me to ballet as a little girl and I loved watching Baryshnikov on tv and in movies. White Nights was terrific. Such a great interview and I love listening to his voice but his dancing is perfection!
I really like Baryshnikov and the way he carries himself. However, this interviewer lacks any presence and his questions are clumsy. Couldn't they find anyone better to interview this graceful man?
You cry Ian because the dance speaks to you. It spoke to me at an early age. I was held captive by the emotion of the dancer realizing the choreography. I left at an early age due to a dance injury, but I never forgot. I felt highs in music, opera and theatre, but nothing like the dance. It was so physical and it attacked every pore in my body. It brought music and the physicality of movement together with the art of the theatre.
Thank you misha I will always be grateful that you hired me all those years ago it’s so nice to hear you speak again. Always so real and to the point and kind Hearted , 🙇🏼♂️🙇🏼♂️
I thought, for many many years that I like Misha for his talent, his ballet talent. I believe I do adore now his absolute humour because a man's mind is always more interesting than his two excellent feet!!
I do get the impression that Mikhail hates interviews, and especially hates talking about how great his dancing is. As Hines said at the Kennedy Center Honors, "We're going to give you a good going over anyway!" This was a great interview.
I saw him here in Melbourne , Australia in I am pretty sure October 1974 , and he defected in just June that year ....l I was only 14 years old , my mum took her passionate gifted little ballerina , me and I whispered in her ear " mum , some day , I will be his partner " ..... I fell in love that day and waiting still fir the call as I have never stopped hoping we would do Don Q together , I have used the words , he set the standard , he defines the word " presence" which yes you can bring out in your students , however inherent , innate in Barishnikovs infamous , own the stage qualities , nuances m that flick of the head or the wrist. Perhaps he uses more light and shade , or is off the beat , but he did set a standard thT many have tried to meet and excellence in men's ballet I see now and there are a few who I watch in awe however Misha is a freak of nature , ......so unique but his devotion , his passion is contagious and that's a huge stand out quality , his perfection in jumps , turns .......he deserves the many accolades , bravo my hero .... I still dance and teach , I believe he influenced me as a performer . Own that stage ., and I often give examples of the upper body , epaulement , he uses that gives him something extra ... .. thank you for the dance .... Forever my Russian ballet hero
I always loved Ballet but I became a big fan after watching "Turning Point"... discover Baryshnikov was one of those moments that I never forget... I had the privilege of attending one of his performance as a contemporary dancer.!
I've followed his career since he settled in the US. When he was working with Balanchine, summer, I was in NYC so I got tickets for Saratoga Springs to see him dance one number of Jewels. Rubies, I believe. I traveled by train (had no idea how to get there). Hours for minutes to see him perform live. It was magic, I took a bus (4 hrs) back to NY. Every second of those minutes was worth the effort. Then he came to Buenos Aires. I was present at the 4 performances at the Colón. The Twyla Tharp/Balanchine evenings. Nine Sinatra Songs, exquisite Other Dances (mainly because I play many of the Mazurkas), Harlequinade at the end (Jerome Robbins revival). My heart exploded as his energy penetrated every pore from the stage. The Colón, we oldies call The Temple, roared. It was an experience beyond life. Today 2021 we must be the same age. I feel much as he does. Life itself is what we all have. As long as you allow your inner soul to rule, the sky is the limit. Margot Fonteyn was a great friend I made here in Buenos Aires. She was different to you, but kindred spirits. I never knew if your paths crossed. Fun and pretty amazing Talk. See you soon! Missed you Oak Project visit to Buenos Aires. Big Hug!! Maria
@@angele810 Can't thank you enough for that link!!!! I never knew they had done it. She was such a great actress, so expressive that she need only walk two steps and she was dancing. Truly a wonderful experience for both. She could not leave this world without having danced with him. Last time I saw her here in Buenos Aires was 1985, she was 67. Not dancing. It was a Ballet Conference and she wanted to pop over to Chile. I was in my 30's. @Angele this means the world to me.
Michael, I followed you since my childhood! And now I can call Ballet dancer Robert de Warren my friend , who lives in my town Sarasota, and we talk much about you! Thank you for having danced for thé entire world! MD,PhD NYC/Sarasota 📚🔯📚
I recognize the man amazing dance skills, so to speak, not one drawn to the arts, / dance, it wasn't until I seen MR. Mikhail with Gregory Hines in White Nights did it grab my attention, I looked him up, awesome................ Loved Gregory Hines, in Tap, Sammy Davis and their pales. awesome. MR. Mikhail you certainly knew how to fly. GOD Bless............
That was very illuminating. Thanks so much for posting this great interview. I just saw Baryshnikov on stage in early 2014 performing Man in a Case, based on stories by Chekhov. It was great and such a different side of him.
esfir ross yes, she committed suicide, But was not Jewish. But what does any of that have to do with his acting? You show your ignorance and anti-Semitism.
Baryshnikov is a great actor. His gift is not realy defying gravity, many dancers have superb technique, it is that he is able to combine dancing and acting, to make the caracters he is portaying his own. I'm listening to the music, watching the ballet with him going through the motions, thinking, yes, that is how this person on screen is feeling.
I saw him decades ago when he toured with a Martha Graham troupe. He came out and jogged around the stage a couple of times, and even that was amazing! His movement and essence was exquisite.
it is interesting in the comments. it seems that true, deeply felt ability seeks to continue to find new outlets. not praise or plaudits, but the joy of using that ability, talent, creativity in other ways. a dancer like this… is joyous in the need to dance and express with dance all that can be expressed
From a spiritual perspective my soul sores with his talent. I am NOT someone that normally would emerge myself in ballet. I love classical music, I enjoy people’s talent. This man is extraordinary.
I love watching him dance. He was very good in White Nights with Gregory Hines. Loved the two of them together. I came across the movie about Carlos Acosta the other night, who sadly I had never heard of. Another wonderful dancer.
White Nights is one of the best films I have seen - it is of great importance ideologically, it gives understanding of what a repressive government is and what it does. And the dancing! Magical.
The Turning Point with Anne Bancroft & Shirley McLain. I haven’t thought about that in years, and he was amazing in it. I’ve gotta find it & watch it!!
"You don't strive to be the best; you strive to be better." This is the mark of a great artist.
I've been following Baryshnikov since I was 6 years old! I am 42 years old today and I am envious of his height and absolute perfection that he gives with each movement. There is no other male dancer that will supersede his greatness.
Nureyev?? And nowadays in Stuttgart/Germany Friedemann Vogel??
@Bettina-mb2xr Nureyev was the standard for his time but, in my mind, superceded by Barysnikov for both athleticism and precision. Vogel has a spectacular aspect of physical fluidity, but is an entirely different animal in relation to control and energy. Sorry, but Barysnikov reigns supreme for a unique combination of containment, drama, creativity and execution. There is just no one to compare with him.
I love this man's personality, he is so real, so humble and tops it all off with incredible natural humor.
One of the most glorious experiences in my life was seeing him dance in person! I floated out of the theater knowing that at that moment I could die blissfully happy!
So true - the most perfect ballet dancer! Thank you Mikhail for the joy you bring to us.
Mikhail Baryshnikov when he does jumps I notice that he stays in the air until he completes whatever he is doing. He is incredible.
Air Baryshnikov.
en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ballon_(ballet) Ballon it's called
Yes it's true. Nureyev also had that Ballon. I saw him live in Buenos Aires in 1965 with Fonteyn. Unforgettable. 20 years later I saw Baryshnikov do his own Ballon.
@@mariaelenahartung Both Nureyev and Baryshnikov the best, most incredible dancers of all time in their field.
Anti gravity . Him ,Micheal Jordan,Nureyev , that's about it. ... !
When I watch Baryshnikov dance I sense that I’m watching one of a handful of people who managed to reach his full human potential both physically & artistically. It’s hard to imagine the level of effort that made him what he became. But, I can and do imagine God looking down at Baryshnikov, smiling at what he’s done with the gifts God gave him, and wishing the rest of us could push aside petty pursuits of money & other corrupting influences to do the same.
Well said 👏👏 Artists of B’s nature simply need…to be he very best he /she can be at their skillset - people could definitely achieve more if they had the discipline and focus legends like B pursue. I fell in love with him when he made White Nights and has always been my ‘ideal male’ figure - when I watch his work or in flight, I feel his body is trying to keep up with his mind - that his body follows his will.
I had the same thoughts the first time that I saw him 🥰 and every time that I look for one of his performances ❤️
Hmmm.. how many "artists" today have pursued Art and how many the Almighty dollar? What have they left us as a permanent record? Baryshnikov is an ARTIST his achievements stand as a Testament to what was really important to him.
Beautifully said 🩰🩰👵👵🇦🇺🇦🇺
i agree lucy, he can perform with flawless technique without thought, he isn't ever in his mind when he dances, i think that is the difference between a good dancer and an amazing dancer. some dancers have flawless technique but can't let go. the pressure of being perfect prevents a lot of ballet dancers from reaching their full potential. he was born to be a ballet dancer. *
Baryshnikov is phenomenal. What a great artist! Deeply emotionally involved* What a man!
I saw him live on stage at Expo 86 in Vancouver BC. Tickets for performances on the main stage were exorbitant! I was still in Nursing school and could not afford any! However news got out that if you showed up last minute, there would be people trying to unload unsold tickets at much reduced price. We got incredibly lucky! We bought tickets blindly. We ended up in THE FRONT ROW of this tiny venue ( comparatively) the seats were so close to the stage I could hardly cross my legs, and had to slump in my seat for an uphill view. When he came on stage, his feet were at eye level. I knew him for his phenomenal leaps, higher than any other dancer, and multiple sequence of pirouettes. No wonder! Those legs! OMG! As his performance heated up, so did his body. When he got to the sequence of pirouettes and leaps, he was sweating heavily. When he passed the front of the stage, we were sprayed liberally with flying sweat! My friend eeked and eewed.. I , on the other hand , nearly fainted and remained unwashed for some time! Thanks for the memories….!!!
Wow, that was some experience 😮
I had the incredible moment to meet him over 40 years ago. I have kept the memory as bright and beautiful to this day. My only regret, I was so dumbfounded I couldn't speak. But he smiled and that was everything.
I sympathize with your meeting of a great person. I froze too when I met Dr. Carl Sagan. I was a student working on a conference and had to introduce him. Try freezing in a roomful of media! But he smiled graciously and thanked me for my lame words.
A smile from Misha is worth a heck of a lot!
He has a very nice smile and should use it more.
I met him also at the Kennedy Center. He walked out of the Presidential Box and our box was several down. I was so excited and had to go over to him. To tell him I loved his choreography of the Nutcracker. I had my program in my hand and I said I would love your autograph but I didn’t have a pen. The friend he was with had one and I did get his autograph. I also was lucky to see his debut at the Kennedy Center in Coppelia. I saw him at the gala of he and Kirkland in Don Quixote. I was a very lucky lady !!!!!!
@@janicelawrence5270 INDEED!!!
Mr. Baryshnikov is the best❤! He is the king of ballet ❤
I have no words for this man’s dancing...........wow!
I love that he hasn't lost his accent. This many years later, he still has his dialect.
I understand that for White Nights Baryshnikov insisted all Russian characters speak with authentic Russian accents.
@@flicker162 wow. That's real
@@brendabernstein286 Yup! I wish Baryshnikov would write memoirs, but he's more interested in keeping his body connected to dance than making money on a bestselling book! He is too amazing. I saw him many times in NYC and D.C. I also saw Nureyev many times, and they are simply different. Both brilliant. This was also the era of Erik Bruhn, the Danish who was right up there in the group of extraordinary premier danseurs. Of the three, I loved Baryshnikov the best for his dancing and sublime acting in his dancing roles. Character truly mattered to him.
Before Baryshnikov defected we couldn't see a full performance of his. We got glimpses of the genius.
I remember when he defected. It felt like a gift to the world.
One and only ❤
Nobody should call him on any names or criticize him unless he/she has achieved as much as he did . I don't think there are many. By the way, he is not only the all- time best classical ballet dancer but he is intalligent and VERY funny, I love watching him dance. He is fantastic !!!
His histrionic fun faces on stage, a naughtiness in his eyes, are what first attracted my attention to his work.
He is NOT arrogant. Walk a mile in his shoes (um, yeah RIGHT, like that’s even remotely possible) before ignorantly making assertions and judgements as to his character. Misha has truly earned everything he has having been through far worse than many or even most successful celebrities. He’s an indisputable legend and absolute master of his craft, which is quite diverse beginning yet far from ending with arguably the greatest male ballet dancer ever as well as academy award winner, actor, choreographer and amazing artist. He’s Latvian, his country stolen by Stalin and Soviet Republic from post WW1 until 1991. He’s a fascinating and inspiring study and claims to be nothing he is not, albeit including admitting he never strived for nor embraced his status as a legend or being the best ever, etc.. in fact he shows a great sense of humor in it all and is notorious for not liking to do interviews nor drawing attention to himself but his work and his art instead. Quite literally.
I’m no Baryshnikov expert either but have been a huge fan since my wife (now ex) was a professional ballet dancer in the 80s and 90s and as with most if not all dancers she was and is still contagiously passionate to say the least about the beautiful true art of ballet causing me to be a connoisseur of the arts especially ballet ever since. Notice how he said “oh I don’t know what I’m FAMOUS for but.....” the guy is Eastern European, driven, talented and has blessed countless millions with his amazing gifts and the incredibly difficult obstacles he overcame and continues to even today in 2018 at aged 70. Arrogant, no. Successful, focused, determined, driven, perseverant, inspiring and incredibly talented on every front he’s approached, tackled and conquered absolutely. IMHO and I love to debate respectfully, Mikhail Baryshnikov is an amazing inspiring man and artist and humanitarian indeed. I’m far from a member of a minority who agree as fact is he’s changed the world and the art of modern ballet for the better indisputably. :-)
He is NOT Latvian, he's Russian--born in Latvia. Google it.
N
Actually his parents were Russians came there after Latvia became soviet territory.
Totaly agree with you.
Agreed..Misha is quite modest and brushes aside the fame and the accolades..i have admired his dancing forever..
never knew he has such a wonderful sense of humor, wonderful,
Yes....
His daughter is hilarious too.
Mikhail Baryshnikov is the best dancer in our history. Very special!
Love you Baryshnikov!
Besides Anna Pavlova
In your history,true.
But he was not the only talented dancer of his time and later for sure in Bolshoi!
@@sage7193 Pavlova, Nijinsky
@@mananalataria5359 Not Moscow! St. Petercburg
He grows old in a very inspiring and wise way ,i love him.
Pray that at our age you have a twinkle in your eye and you'll see how wonderful it is to grow old passionately. I have passions that make me want to live forever.
In 1994, I purchased box seats for myself and my best friend, as a surprise for her 18th birthday, to see Misha dance with Twlya Tharpe and the White Oaks Project. I had been obsessed with him for well over a decade as dancer myself. I knew how unique and spectacular he was, over twenty years ago. We sat on the edge of our seats the entire time! Seeing his jumps on television pale in comparison to seeing him perform live. It was worth every penny I earned from my summer job to purchase those tickets ($125.00 per ticket in 1994 was a lot!)
Even to this day I can recognize his choreography and dance style in other dancers. I remember when Center Stage came out (I think it was 1999 or 2000?). I was excited to see it because Julie Kent was in the movie and I loved her in Dancers (with Misha in the 80's). When I would watch Ethan Stoffel (the guy who played Cooper Nealson) dance, especially in modern/free style, all I could think of was, "he reminds me of Misha!" I found out several years later he trained extensively with Misha!!
I knew in 1994 having the privilege of watching Misha dance was a once and a lifetime event. I am so thrilled I recognized it for what it was worth. I appreciate it even more two decades later and realize how lucky we were to have had this experience!!
Heather--Do you think that a lot of his spectacular performance was from Balanchine? I heard that Mr. B encouraged him to really go for it in his extensions, leaps--and of course the regal presence of the Imperial ballet, and encouraging emotional expressions. I love the way he moves his head along with the ballerina's movements, it really creates a sense of intimacy. Wish I could talk with you! We studied his movements in physics! The way he uses his arms in or out as "conservation of momentum," even the planets and moons dance to this simple principle. In another tutorial a person pointed out how he looks up when leaping, making it seem even higher. And that his upper body was so still while his arms and the position of his legs allowed unique combinations but always with balance and precision. I've been watching videos of his performances since the late 1970s and notice something new every time. Saw him dance in person outdoors under the stars in Denver. Breath taking. Why has his name virtually disappeared?
Film can do justice to a live performance.
I don’t find him arrogant at all, I find him quite humble. I get the sense that he is not comfortable with idolatry or praise. He always strives for new challenges. As he says, there are relatively few classical ballets, and he strives for ‘new steps’, as traditional choreography is static,
You cannot be GREAT if you're arrogant. I touch of humility at the bottom of your soul is a must. Innovation on the classical is the way to keep it alive for younger generations.
I agree 100%. Those who find him arrogant in this interview arrived at that assessment before hitting the play button. 🙄
Wonderful interview.very humble man.i adore him.💋💋💋💋💋💋❤❤❤❤❤😍
Great example of maturing with dignity and respect.
I'm 1979 at Juilliard... ego. On elevator...hi Misha. Turned head. No response. However, no one and I mean no one dances like him. He has angel wings
He is perfect
The difference between show business and Baryshnikov, a man of Arts. So fantastic.
Beautiful man! Aged gracefully 💞💖😘💟😍😍 So handsom!!
A highly intelligent man and it showed and shows in his work. Thant us why his work is so memorable.Thank you posting for this interview.💐
There are no words for his incredible talent!!! Oh and his charisma XO
What a great interview. Never heard him open up so much. And straight-faced humor! Loved it.
Also known as “deadpan”
I'm not a huge fan of Ian Brown because I think he has a very limited range in terms of doing interviews, but this one is very good. He creates an interview environment that is fun, amusing, thoughtful, wide-ranging, & he knows when to shut up & just let Baryshnikov speak. You can tell Baryshnikov is comfortable & enjoying himself because he ventures to make jokes, to make Ian Brown the subject of his jokes, etc.
I really love the way Baryshnikov presents himself with such a restrained, disclplined & reserved physical presence--barely moving a muscle sometimes--yet verbally he is soaring with various ideas & conjectures, & sparring across the stage in an amusing friendly way with the exchange of joking insults with Ian Brown. It's a very good interview with a legend, & to accomplish that daunting task as an interviewer requires real skill & hard work.
He's amazing...67 and still dancing...
till he cant but he will find a way disabled ppl dance in chairs probably till he dies ..peace x
@@raedawn7991 lol 😆 funny
Extraordinary in Every way!!!👍👍👍👍 Barishnikov is Brilliant!!💖
I listened /watched this video while on my daily 5 mile walk. The respect of Mr. Ian Brown, the interviewer, for his subject, Mr. Mikhail Baryshinkov, was refreshing. This journalist does have a soul, as does our dancer. I laughed and held back tears during this journey. I hope my neighbors observing my humors find that being slightly misunderstood can be the beginning of a beautiful friendship. BTW, Gregory Hines came to our small city years ago and invited anyone with tap shoes to join him on stage.
Still love ballet and he is the epitome of graceful ballet what a jewel of humanity and one sexy man
Watching him dance is sublime ... other worldly. Then you listen to him being interviewed and he is intelligent, amusing, generous, humble, and charming. Such an amazing man! GOAT!
Thank you for sharing this phenomenal video, allowing us the privilege of a glimpse of insight to the mind of that incomparable brilliant artist!
Oh to see Baryshnikov dance when he first came to the West! He was/is amazing! Beautiful technique amazing skills!
Powerful sense of self and good humour - what a guy!
There are no words for his incredible talent!!! Oh and his gentle charisma XO
What a very gentle man... very understated considering his talent in all walks of life....
You will never get old, you are everything forever!! Please believe that, for all of us normal people. You will always be magnificent!
"You cannot be somebody else onstage. No matter how good a dancer or singer you are, when you open your mouth or move your finger, the audience knows who you are." 💥👋👋👋👋👋💯❤🌎
I was in the audience of the O'keefe Center the very night he defected to the West. His partner that evening was the great Bolshoi star, Struchkova who was as amazing as he was. An eye-popping, unforgettable evening. Soon afterward, he danced with the National Ballet of Canada, opposite the great Veronica Tennant. The ballet was La Sylphide. They were both great.
@@CheroCare Dear M........Interesting that you ask. Struchkova as I say was in top form although she was old enough to be his mother. But on stage, unlike in the movies, the illusion still works. He was pale as a ghost. The performance was of such high quality my adrenaline was going full blast. And sitting in the tenth row I felt like I was practically on stage myself. At the very end, I was the first one, the only one on their feet joyfully applauding. All at once Barishnikov's eyes and my eyes locked. For me, it was about adulation. For him, it was about abject terror. I immediately felt uneasy, as though I had upset him. seeing his death-like pallor. I felt as though I must have done something wrong. But the next day, reading the headlines in the papers, I understood what had happened with the locked eyes and in a way felt let off the hook. Are you a dancer yourself? I am a TV and live event producer and have met a number of world-famous personalities. But for some reason, it is classical dance that touches me the deepest.
@@CheroCare if you check out his personal life it is tragic....beginning with a cold, unloving father and a mother who commit suicide. The more disturbed the early life, often the greater the artist. Trust me on that one.
@@classicalaid1 thank you for sharing such a personal experience... one can only guess how nervous that last performance was for Mikhail, how scary it was to step into the unknown...
Mikhail Baryshnikov's "Nutcracker" was the best choreography I've ever seen. I have seen many but, nothing like his.
Elizabeth W Goes He always seemed to me as having this aristocrat and dapper persona. He's interview was interesting...
Baryshnikov's "Nutcracker" was the best choreography you've ever seen? wow.....
***** Just exactly what are you trying to say about my post? I couldn't help but notice the, "wow....." Too many pauses by a tiny man, that is perhaps trying to challenge me? Pre-tell...
sadie garcia
I meant that the choreography is horrid, the production even more so, & that I am shocked that such a thing would be considered "the best" by anyone.
***** I'm entitled to my opinion, and you, nor anybody,will never change my mind! I don't have much time to entertain such rubbish! Therefore, be gone!
This was great! Thanks remember seeing Baryshnikov in 1976 for the first time-WOW! After that(I was 8 years old), I fell in love with ballet and followed Baryshnikov ever since!
What an extraordinary man Michail is!!! ❤
Misha Korogodsky trained me in the Vaganova Russian ballet method. I was fortunate enough to hear my "Misha" talking with Misha Baryshnikov over the phone at times, laughing together! They are the best memories I have as a young pre-teen girl. I never got to see him in at ABT as director, that is my only regret. He was in Italy performing Swan Lake during my visit to see a class at ABT. This interview made me smile so much!! Thank you!
Thank you!
I so wish we had more gifts of men like him. Thank you for you Mikhail for all you are and all you give.
We could if we built up the confidence of our boys instead of shaming them for their masculinity. Let men be proud and full of confidence and see them shine.
Он потрясающе интересный во всем! Его выступления- это совершенство мастерства, пластики, грации, силы, вдохновени!
Great interview. Misha was interesting, serious, funny, and honest, and beautiful.
My late mother introduced me to ballet as a little girl and I loved watching Baryshnikov on tv and in movies. White Nights was terrific. Such a great interview and I love listening to his voice but his dancing is perfection!
Growing up as a ballet student, he was my biggest crash! He’s unbelievable talented, handsome, and straight...! You can’t blame me for having hopes 😂😂
I really like Baryshnikov and the way he carries himself. However, this interviewer lacks any presence and his questions are clumsy. Couldn't they find anyone better to interview this graceful man?
You cry Ian because the dance speaks to you. It spoke to me at an early age. I was held captive by the emotion of the dancer realizing the choreography. I left at an early age due to a dance injury, but I never forgot. I felt highs in music, opera and theatre, but nothing like the dance. It was so physical and it attacked every pore in my body. It brought music and the physicality of movement together with the art of the theatre.
Thank you misha I will always be grateful that you hired me all those years ago it’s so nice to hear you speak again. Always so real and to the point and kind Hearted , 🙇🏼♂️🙇🏼♂️
He was my inspiration. I used to dance ballet from age 7-15. I watched him on tv in the nutcracker. He's so amazing!
What an extraordinary man...What a life he has lived.
I thought, for many many years that I like Misha for his talent, his ballet talent. I believe I do adore now his absolute humour because a man's mind is always more interesting than his two excellent feet!!
Music, dance, performances and art touch our souls in a way that I can't explain, it reaches the depths of my soul and makes me cry.
I do get the impression that Mikhail hates interviews, and especially hates talking about how great his dancing is. As Hines said at the Kennedy Center Honors, "We're going to give you a good going over anyway!" This was a great interview.
Миша, до чего же Вы мудры и обаятельны! Спасибо. Thanks for video.
El maravilloso Baryshnikov. Impresionante hoy y siempre. Un lujo verlo
I'm so excited that this came up in my algorithm! ❤
Wow look....A legend that is actually still alive........
Natural talent that rises even above the best, leaves humanity realizing and believing in the supernatural.
I saw him here in Melbourne , Australia in I am pretty sure October 1974 , and he defected in just June that year ....l I was only 14 years old , my mum took her passionate gifted little ballerina , me and I whispered in her ear " mum , some day , I will be his partner " ..... I fell in love that day and waiting still fir the call as I have never stopped hoping we would do Don Q together ,
I have used the words , he set the standard , he defines the word " presence" which yes you can bring out in your students , however inherent , innate in Barishnikovs infamous , own the stage qualities , nuances m that flick of the head or the wrist. Perhaps he uses more light and shade , or is off the beat , but he did set a standard thT many have tried to meet and excellence in men's ballet I see now and there are a few who I watch in awe however Misha is a freak of nature , ......so unique but his devotion , his passion is contagious and that's a huge stand out quality , his perfection in jumps , turns .......he deserves the many accolades , bravo my hero .... I still dance and teach , I believe he influenced me as a performer . Own that stage ., and I often give examples of the upper body , epaulement , he uses that gives him something extra ... .. thank you for the dance .... Forever my Russian ballet hero
LOVE the socks! LOVE misha!!!
I always loved Ballet but I became a big fan after watching "Turning Point"... discover Baryshnikov was one of those moments that I never forget... I had the privilege of attending one of his performance as a contemporary dancer.!
The best of the best. So much
dignity and respect I have for him. Brilliant beyond words, I had the pleasure of seeing him perform in calif. I will
still so incredibly handsome
No, he looks better now.
But somehow got old fast
Such an exciting dancer .unforgettable.
Awesome! Thank you!
This girl knows him as Aleksandr Petrovsky :) I’m happy to hear the accent is real
His dancing is perfection.... I have never believed anyone was able to achieve....
I've followed his career since he settled in the US. When he was working with Balanchine, summer, I was in NYC so I got tickets for Saratoga Springs to see him dance one number of Jewels. Rubies, I believe. I traveled by train (had no idea how to get there). Hours for minutes to see him perform live. It was magic, I took a bus (4 hrs) back to NY. Every second of those minutes was worth the effort. Then he came to Buenos Aires. I was present at the 4 performances at the Colón. The Twyla Tharp/Balanchine evenings. Nine Sinatra Songs, exquisite Other Dances (mainly because I play many of the Mazurkas), Harlequinade at the end (Jerome Robbins revival). My heart exploded as his energy penetrated every pore from the stage. The Colón, we oldies call The Temple, roared. It was an experience beyond life. Today 2021 we must be the same age. I feel much as he does. Life itself is what we all have. As long as you allow your inner soul to rule, the sky is the limit. Margot Fonteyn was a great friend I made here in Buenos Aires. She was different to you, but kindred spirits. I never knew if your paths crossed. Fun and pretty amazing Talk. See you soon! Missed you Oak Project visit to Buenos Aires. Big Hug!! Maria
Fonteyn and Baryshnikov in Le spectre de la rose th-cam.com/video/VyYrqMFZ-C8/w-d-xo.html
@@angele810 Can't thank you enough for that link!!!! I never knew they had done it. She was such a great actress, so expressive that she need only walk two steps and she was dancing. Truly a wonderful experience for both. She could not leave this world without having danced with him. Last time I saw her here in Buenos Aires was 1985, she was 67. Not dancing. It was a Ballet Conference and she wanted to pop over to Chile. I was in my 30's. @Angele this means the world to me.
@@mariaelenahartung Glad you enjoyed it :)
He is quite a personality. I am glad he has matured...Gives me hope as an aging dancer...
Such an extraordinary man.❤️
There’s only one like Mikhail Baryshnikov💝💖💝💖
Michael, I followed you since my childhood! And now I can call Ballet dancer Robert de Warren my friend , who lives in my town Sarasota, and we talk much about you!
Thank you for having danced for thé entire world!
MD,PhD
NYC/Sarasota
📚🔯📚
what a man!❤ I bow!
I adore his dancing!!!!
Mikhail Baryshnikov the best....
I recognize the man amazing dance skills, so to speak, not one drawn to the arts, / dance,
it wasn't until I seen MR. Mikhail with Gregory Hines in White Nights did it grab my attention, I looked him up, awesome................ Loved Gregory Hines, in Tap, Sammy Davis and their pales. awesome.
MR. Mikhail you certainly knew how to fly. GOD Bless............
DON'T forget movie "White Nights". He and Gregory Hines together, perfect.
That was very illuminating. Thanks so much for posting this great interview. I just saw Baryshnikov on stage in early 2014 performing Man in a Case, based on stories by Chekhov. It was great and such a different side of him.
It was horrid, shows that he's poor actor and only his ballet fame put him on stage and movies. His mother was Jewish and commited suicide.
esfir ross yes, she committed suicide, But was not Jewish. But what does any of that have to do with his acting? You show your ignorance and anti-Semitism.
5:32 Right here! It's his thought process that has made him great! He cares not one iota about all the accolades. He considers it all so irrelevant.
Best male dancer ever!!!
White Nights gave me understanding of what the great Soviet dissidents were writing about and fighting for the future.
He is indeed an artist, his focus is on perfection of his art.
“Dance for me for a minute,and I will tell you who you are”......wish I could dance for a minute ...........for him 💖
So handsome and articulate 😊
what a great interview! I made a few notes for inspiration
Such a great dancer and performer
Baryshnikov is a great actor. His gift is not realy defying gravity, many dancers have superb technique, it is that he is able to combine dancing and acting, to make the caracters he is portaying his own. I'm listening to the music, watching the ballet with him going through the motions, thinking, yes, that is how this person on screen is feeling.
He is incredible!
I saw him decades ago when he toured with a Martha Graham troupe. He came out and jogged around the stage a couple of times, and even that was amazing! His movement and essence was exquisite.
Baryshnikov's dancing strokes One's Soul!! ❤
it is interesting in the comments. it seems that true, deeply felt ability seeks to continue to find new outlets. not praise or plaudits, but the joy of using that ability, talent, creativity in other ways. a dancer like this… is joyous in the need to dance and express with dance all that can be expressed
Thank God this great and unique dancer!!!!
From a spiritual perspective my soul sores with his talent. I am NOT someone that normally would emerge myself in ballet. I love classical music, I enjoy people’s talent. This man is extraordinary.
I love watching him dance. He was very good in White Nights with Gregory Hines. Loved the two of them together. I came across the movie about Carlos Acosta the other night, who sadly I had never heard of. Another wonderful dancer.
He’s such a great person
White Nights is one of the best films I have seen - it is of great importance ideologically, it gives understanding of what a repressive government is and what it does. And the dancing! Magical.
The Turning Point with Anne Bancroft & Shirley McLain. I haven’t thought about that in years, and he was amazing in it. I’ve gotta find it & watch it!!