The Mikhail Baryshnikov Video Archive includes 479 videos which provide an overview of his career as a ballet student, dancer, and choreographer from approximately 1960-2005.
Biographical/historical: Mikhail Baryshnikov (1948- ) is a Russian-American dancer, choreographer and actor. Born in Riga, he received his early training at the Vaganova Academy in Leningrad. He joined the Kirov ballet in 1967. In 1974 while on tour with the Bolshoi ballet, Baryshnikov moved to Canada and then to the United States. He appeared as a guest artist with several companies before joining the New York City Ballet under George Balanchine. He also danced with the American Ballet Theatre (ABT), and in 1980 became their Artistic director for ten years. Baryshnikov's acting credits include the films Turning Point (1977) and White Nights (1985), many television specials, and theatrical turns in Metamorphosis (1989), Forbidden Christmas (2004) and Paris (2007) among others. Among Baryshnikov's many awards are the Kennedy Center Honors, the National Medal of Honor, the Jerome Robbins Award, and Honorary Degrees from several major universities.