Mikhail Baryshnikov Part I: Turns

From the start of his career in the late 1960s at the Kirov Ballet until the 1980s at American Ballet Theatre, Baryshnikov has thrilled crowds in classical ballet roles with his great athleticism exemplified by gravity defying jumps and endless turns.
These videos attempt to show how he accomplished these amazing feats. I hope the videos are of use to dancers seeking insight on the mechanics of the steps through slow motion and stop action replays; non-dancers with appreciation for his great work; and those with an interest in learning ballet terms.
This series consists of three videos: (1) turns, (2) jumps, and (3) turns and jumps combined with difficult to categorize steps. Each runs about 15 minutes and analyzes his steps, pointing out important aspects of each movement.
Part I shows Baryshnikov's remarkable turns. My favorite clips are his nine pirouettes from Don Quixote; his turns in plié from Le Corsaire; and several examples of his turns in attitude (leg bent behind him) converting to regular turns in retiré (foot touching his knee). Also, a great scene from White Nights in which has a bet with Gregory Hines on whether Baryshnikov can do 11 pirouettes. Guess who wins the bet!
Part II gives examples of his powerful jumps such as high double cabrioles (legs beating in front); tour de reins (a favorite of Baryshnikov's); and his double jete entrelacé, a wonderful step he used often.
Part III shows off his pirouettes and tour combinations. Pirouettes followed by a double tour is an exciting sequence. The dancer generates substantial momentum from the turns, with abundant energy going into the tour from fifth position. The pirouette/tour sequence is common in male solos, particularly at the end of a solo when the dancer goes to one knee. Baryshnikov’s turn and tour combinations were spectacular. The last segment of Part III is his hard to characterize steps. With his exceptional leaping and turning abilities, Baryshnikov could do amazing things. Some of the steps were spectacular and unique, leading a viewer to ask, “That’s great! What is it?” Some of the clips are wild.

[@annejederyd4369]

The most talented ballet dancer in the world, in my opinion ❤️

[@pedinurse1]

there is no one like Misha, such presence even before he starts anything

[@evealicelucienne]

Simply thank you.

[@user-ge1xd8sc5i]

👍👍👍❤️❤️❤️💋💋💋

[@leebee6546]

One of a kind a true Gem I can watch him.all day everyday. Brilliant

[@lorakarlash248]

Mikhail does not belong to the great classical dancers ... a successful businessman and modern dancer. The success of the defector is clearly exaggerated ... many dancers in Europe, the USSR, in America danced in the 60s and 70s better, brighter, more interesting than Baryshnikov ... and after the 80s they danced completely.

[@angele810]

@@lorakarlash248 copying and pasting your nasty comments now? Getting lazy? Running out of ways to trash Baryshnikov?

[@carolvail6770]

❤

[@beckmandavida]

Thank you so much for creating this series. I've learned so much from this first video and look forward to watching the others. I always enjoy your photos from ABT, which have often served as mementos for performances I've loved.

[@pediatrapaola]

after the 11 pirouette the face of hynes is priceless

[@paopao4842]

Espectacular 👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏

[@icossette2230]

quelle merveille ce danseur! j aimerais presque mourir avant lui....plus jeune que lui et alors ..;.quel honneur d être née le même siècle !!!!il a illuminé ma vie!

[@silcorradi9219]

perfecto !!!!!

[@silcorradi9219]

maravilloso !!!!

[@marcoslopez6834]

excelent thank s

[@JeremyNasmith]

What you write about Baryshnikov's uncanny ability to grab your attention is absolutely true. He came to Toronto with Twyla Tharp back in the late eighties or early nineties. At one point one of the other dancers was doing a really cool, complicated solo, and partway through, Misha comes on, upstage right corner and stands there just watching the other guy dance. Even though he was literally doing nothing but standing there, but eye kept going to him, and I had to keep reminding myself to watch the solo. I can definitely attest to what Kevin Mackenzie says!

[@lorakarlash248]

Mikhail's success is exaggerated. There is not a single record, there is not a single role in which Mikhail performed better in the 60s, 70s, other dancers. Specific appearance and small stature did not give, and do not give an opportunity to dance with the leading ballerinas the classical theatrical repertoire. From the aesthetic point of view, Mikhail loses to all the star dancers of his generation in the WEST and in the USSR.

[@willykadarusman7185]

A goddess of love is moving

[@brandongriffith7862]

@@lorakarlash248 I don't know man I think getting to be in a few movies centered around dance is pretty indicative of success

[@pediatrapaola]

if you note on the clips at disposal on yt chabukiani performed turns in plie in 50's in one his frondoso variations in laurencia and yuri soloviev did in le corsaire in 60's

[@user-tz6tw3ss3y]

thank you for the interesting information, I will definitely look for it

[@pediatrapaola]

@@user-tz6tw3ss3y chabukiani did in laurencia here on yt final scene

[@pmfg875]

In the 11 pirouettes, is the aggressive head spotting the only method for maintaining turning momentum? After studying his turns do you think he is also using his upper body core muscles as well? I admire so much his training of his postural muscles and wonder if he was influencing the turns with them. In the slow motion one can see that it appears he is using his upper body core muscles at the beginning of the turns and with each turn while staying aligned and balanced for the sake of maximal power, and for the continuing rotation. Am I wrong? Especially at 10:52 he seems to provide power for the turn starting with his leg, through the body to the head. I find your analysis of en dedans vs en dehors very helpful. I love the analysis of each movement provided by this video. I’m not a dancer, I’m an equestrian. I used the kultur ballet workout for the dressage nationals in Lexington Kentucky. It may be the proportion between his back and leg lengths. Most likely also genomics would classify his muscle fibers as unusual and rare. A beautiful human being. I love your videos and the jumps video is even better! Thank you!

[@Feliandyx16]

Te falto en donde hace 8 piruetas en dehors, es al principio de su primera obra grabada en el Kírov. "Сказ о холопе Никишке 1969 Михаил Барышников" Así se llama .

[@sparkybarnes1150]

Great watch Kent. Folks used to say you cheated by winding up in order to build momentum on your turns. Clearly you were not… as demonstrated by Mikhhail. Cheers

[@KentGBecker]

Thanks! You may want to check out my Daniil Simkin video for great examples of winding up on pirouettes.

[@Genarij]

...hold my beer!

[@MrMitchgries]

Thank you, I liked the slow motion clips following each set of pirouettes and enjoyed seeing Misha dance many, many times live in New York and Los Angeles.

[@marcoslopez6834]

i am peruvian

[@missmlb3842]

If only he had a mic...that was a mic drop moment

[@lochlanbrookslife1511]

i want to see more dancers like Misha these days, dancing like men. not girls.

[@user-lk7qv5et6p]

Lochlan Brooks Life Ivan Vasiliev

[@lorakarlash248]

Classical ballet is a duet of a man and a woman. And the partner dancer must have not only a professional level, technique, school, but also an acting personality, a high style of classical ballet, appropriate - appearance, height, body proportions, masculinity. Mikhail is a modern dancer with a good classical school, but this is not enough (He does not have the high style of the Bolshoi Ballet (

[@invictuslibertas6322]

Real men wear tights and are more masculine when women swoon over their package and derriere outlines.

[@lorakarlash248]

... BABY - a dancer cannot be a prince, cannot be a hero., cannot be a good partner in a classic duet. From the aesthetic point of view, it is a failure.

[@pediatrapaola]

but being a garden dwarf?

[@lorakarlash248]

Mikhail does not belong to the great classical dancers ... a successful businessman and modern dancer. The success of the defector is clearly exaggerated ... many dancers in Europe, the USSR, in America danced in the 60s and 70s better, brighter, more interesting than Baryshnikov ... especially in the 80s

[@angele810]

Here is the Baryshnikov troll - hello you!

[@MareShoop]

Ok Vladimir 🤣