Baryshnikov at Work: Mikhail Baryshnikov Discusses His Roles

by Mikhail Baryshnikov, Martha Swope (Photographer), Charles Engell France (Editor)

A great dancer a the height of his powers here sets down his ideas and feelings about the roles he dances. In this book, Mikhail Baryshnikov discusses the first twenty-six ballets he performed when he came to the West, from the great classics... Giselle, Swan Lake, The Sleeping Beauty, Cappelia... to the new ballets specially created for him here.

He writes of the problems, both technical and stylistic, of each role.. what he responds to in each, where its difficulties lie, which few he feels are antipathetic to his temperament. He writes of how it feels to dance Nijinsky's roles. . Petrouchka, Le Spectre de la Rose; of the rigors and rewards of Balanchine's choreography; of working with Twyla Tharp on Push Comes to Shove, with Jerome Robbins on 'Other Dances,' with Anthony Tudor on 'Shadowplay.'

Baryshnikov discusses his need to extend himself by adapting to Western ideas of partnering, and by coming to grips with specifically American music, such as the Ellington score for 'Pas de Duke' and the Frank Sinatra records for 'Once More, Frank.' He explains how his performance as Albrecht in 'Giselle' .. perhaps his greatest role... developed; how he conceived it, what it means to him. He tells us how he work...in his mind, in rehearsal, in performance.

And accompanying the text are Martha Swope's magnificent photographs of Baryshnikov in these 26 roles: stage photographs, rehearsal photographs, and several series of unique studio photographs, including an extraordinary record of his famous solo, 'Vestris.'

Genres: Nonfiction, Photography, Biography

252 pages, Hardcover

First published December 1, 1976

About the author

Soviet-born choreographer Mikhail Nikolayevich Baryshnikov performed with the Kirov in Leningrad, afterward defected to the United States in 1974, later directed the American ballet theater, and helped to found the white oak dance project, a modern company, in 1990.

People often cite Mikhail Nikolaevich Baryshnikov, a Russian actor, alongside Vaslav Nijinsky and Rudolf Nureyev, the greatest of the 20th century. From a promising start, he went to Canada in 1974 for more opportunities in west. Freelancing, he joined the city of New York as a principal to learn style of movement of George Balanchine. He then moved to art also in New York.

Baryshnikov spearheaded his many own arts, associated, and in particular promoted and premiered his own many dozens of new works. He, probably the most widely recognized contemporary, succeeded as a dramatic actor on stage, cinema, and television.

From 1990 to 2002, Baryshnikov with Mark Morris desired “a driving force in the production of art” and indeed expanded the repertoire and visibility.

In 2005, he opened the Baryshnikov arts center, a creative local and international home to develop and present work.

Reviews

[Katerina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Картинки красивые, а текст - ну что текст? Танцовщик должен танцевать. Даже такой прекрасный, как Барышников.

[Karly Drake · Rating 5 out of 5]

Photos. Stories. Mischa. 'Nuff said. Read it, salivate over it, pass it on to a friend~

[Saleena Longmuir · Rating 3 out of 5]

Decided to check out some stuff about Mikhail Baryshnikov, famous dancer; this is one of the books I found. It's really just him talking about some famous ballets he's done, but it was quite interesting.

[Mills College Library]

792.8092 B296s 1976