Mikhail Baryshnikov

Ballet Dancer, Film actor

1948 –

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Who is Mikhail Baryshnikov?

Mikhail Nikolaevich Baryshnikov, nicknamed "Misha", is a 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. He then danced with the American Ballet Theatre, where he later became artistic director.

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. In 1977, he received a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor and a Golden Globe nomination for his work as "Yuri Kopeikine" in the film The Turning Point.

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Born
Jan 27, 1948
Riga
Also known as
  • Mikhail Nikolaevitch Baryshnikov
  • Mikhail Baryshinikov
  • Misha
  • Mikhail Nikolaevich Baryshnikov
  • Михаи́л Никола́евич Бары́шников
Parents
Spouses
Children
Ethnicity
  • Russians in the Baltic states
Nationality
  • United States of America
  • Russia
Profession
Education
  • Vaganova Academy of Russian Ballet
Lived in
  • Latvia
  • Riga

Submitted
on July 23, 2013

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"Mikhail Baryshnikov." Biographies.net. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 28 Mar. 2024. <https://www.biographies.net/people/en/mikhail_baryshnikov>.

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