Baryshnikov at Work: Mikhail Baryshnikov Discusses His Roles

by Mikhail Baryshnikov

Book Overview

Paperback. By: Mikhail Baryshnikov. 1978 edition. Alfred A. Knopf, Publisher. Illustrated in black and white. Music. Ballet. Introduction by Charles Engell. A hard to find book! Text - clean and tight... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0394403452
• Release Date: December 1976
• Publisher: Alfred A. Knopf
• Length: 252 Pages
• Weight: 2.25 lbs.

Customer Reviews

Thoughts by the Dancer with Gorgeous Black & White Photos

From Front Jacket: "A great dancer at 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 26 ballets he performed when he came to the West, from the great classics--'Giselle,' 'Swan lake,' 'The Sleeping Beauty,' 'Coppelia' -- 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,' 'La 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 Antony Tudor on 'Shadowplay.' He 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 works--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.' *** CONTENTS: * Introduction by Charles Engell France * Working: A Preface by Mikhail Baryshnikov * Rehearsing DANCING * Giselle * La Bayadere * Don Quixote * Coppelia * Theme and Variations * Les Patineurs * La Fille Mal Gardee * La Sylphide * Le Jeune Homme et la Mort * Le Corsaire * Vestris * Medea * Shadowplay * Le Spectre de la Rose * Le Pavillon d'Armide * Swan Lake * Romeo and Juliet * Awakening * Hamlet Connotations * Push Comes to Shove * Other Dances * Pas de 'Duke' * The Sleeping Beauty * Petrouchka * Le Sacre du Printemps * Once More, Frank * The Dancers

Master photography and opinions from a master of dance

One of the great dancers of the twentieth century, and perhaps of all time, Mikhail Baryshnikov's work is captured briefly but magnificently in this volume. Unfortunately, I never got the opportunity to see Baryshnikov in a live performance, but only on videos and DVDs. Even in this limited format however, Baryshnikov is brilliant, and a major reason for his superb technique is his attitude. Another dancer could perhaps execute his movements, but Baryshnikov comes across like someone who knows why he is dancing, and not just following the choreography. He creates the impression that he is feeling every movement, and he is celebrating himself to the fullest extent through every execution of such movement. How fortunate we are that Baryshnikov agreed to tell us his opinions on the works covered in the book. That gives a special insight into his attitudes and general philosophy of dance. Baryshnikov gave credit to his teacher, the great Alexander Pushkin, for teaching him that on stage one must be free, and not just carrying through the techniques learned in class. "Classical technique", he says, "is like any language: it can be correctly spoken in many voices." And it is refreshing to read that Baryshnikov believed that dancing ability is the result of discipline and hard work, that a dancer is (self) made, not born. Baryshnikov gives detailed remarks on the works Giselle, La Bayadere, Don Quixote, Coppelia, Theme and Variations, Les Patineurs, La Fille Mal Gardee, La Sylphide, Le Corsaire, Vestris, Medea, Shadowplay, Spectre de la Rose, Le Pavillon d'Armide, Swan Lake, Romeo and Juliet, Awakening, Hamlet Connotations, Push Comes To Shove, Other Dances, Pas de Duke, Sleeping Beauty, Petrouchka, Le Sacre du Printemps, Once More Frank, and my all time favorite Le Jeune Homme Et La Mort. The photography is all black and white, and superbly done. One can breathe a sigh of relief that the Soviet government did not choose to eliminate ballet as being too "bourgeois" when it took over in 1917. Baryshnikov and other Russian ballet greats would not have came about if this had been the case. And in addition, the Soviets would have taken away the absolute prerequisite for all healthy civilizations: the dance.

Poetry in motion

A wonderful book that sadly is out of print. Ballet, like professional sports demands youth, strength, agility, and Baryshnikov was the superstar in his time. This book is loaded with photos that capture the beauty, grace, and skill of a man who admired Fred Astaire. And like Astaire, spent countless hours practicing and perfecting their art. Who can forget probably the best ever rendition of the "Nutcracker" with Gelsey Kirkland, and the scenes are wonderfully captured here. I've never lent this book out to anyone cause I knew I'd never get it back. This is a treasure if you can find it.