Opening ballet from White Nights- Mikhail Baryshnikov

[AJChw]

This is very dramatic and nicely shows off Baryshnikov's abilities.

However, it's not very russian, the girl had almost no technique, and the drama came entirely from the cinematography, it actually would have made a very dull ballet.

[hatemorethanyou999]

I have to do more dancing in my life, that's all there is to it!

[speedinginmyporsche]

Make's Black Swan Portman look like a elephant

[susannarli]

Wow. I love it.

[monalaura188]

0:40-0:41 most amazing thing i have ever seen

[ErasmusBDraghin]

I've watched Baryshnikov and still cannot understand how his movements can be so brutally powerful and yet so precisely delicate at the same time. I wish I could have seen him live, on stage back in his youth.

[swarze]

Someone asked for the name of this song. Well, actually, it is an orchestrated version of the Bach Fugue in C minor, which was written for the organ. Sorry rasco8172...but I know this piece very well.

[onlyolly64]

 Simply magnificent!!!!

[crystalclear999]

One of my fav opening scenes. Misha is King now and always.

[iprefermuu]

I cried. I seriously just cried.

[69KST]

An amazing opening to an amazing film...freedom

[racso8172]

please if you know the tittle of this song....

[rvsprf1]

@racso8172 By Vladimir Vysotsky, The Capricious Horses

[racso8172]

@rvsprf1 thank you.....!

[rvsprf1]

@racso8172 Vladimir Visotsky, Capricious Horses

[MsPysanky]

It's amazing what the human body can do. This performance is outstanding. @40 seconds, he is airbound (catching air), just leaping from the stage into the air! I wish I could move like that. What a way to open a movie. Thanks Mr. B.!

[7biowoman]

i ve watched this movie many many times... damn it,i am old!

[booniedigful]

wow

[sbbgtc]

i never seen this movie only hard about and now seeing some parts i love the opening scence that was so cool and different and the dancers were very good thanks for putting it on youtube can you get this movie on dvd?

[killickswife]

@sbbgtc

Hi, yes I got mine at play.com- it was pretty cheap. I'm sure amazon will sell it as well! Pleased you enjoyed it!

[chris84bloom]

I just finished watching this movie and at this opening scene my jaw just dropped... and it stayed that way until it was over. His moves are sublime. Thanks for the upload!

[killickswife]

@chris84bloom

No problem, pleased you enjoyed it!

[irilight]

Thank you.. Beautiful..

[DOOM8457]

nunca habra otro bailarin de la talla de Baryshnikov, nunca

[Jenni4Design]

LOVE White Nights!

[supernandita]

simplemente hermozo

[cocopony]

@marioou812 thank you, this is a good consideration.

i have to write a seminar paper about this topic and apparently there is a correlation between the ballett-opening and the following film in the content of them. (gibbet-sybolism, fight against a stronger authority, suicide etc.) so i search rather for the similarities of both tenors.

[cocopony]

does anybody know, what's the link between this "jeune-homme-et-la-mort-openin­g" and the following filmstory?

resp. the role of the ballett in the movie????

[marioou812]

@cocopony I think the point of this piece was to establish that Baryshnikovs' character was an acclaimed international ballet star outside of the confines of his former homeland, free to express himself with whatever music and dance he wished to utilize. Not that which was "State Approved". I don't know your age, but when this movie was made Soviet Russia was a more tightly controlled communist state.

[simpsonsfreak23]

That was simply breathtaking. He carried himself so lightly. What an amazing ballet dancer.

[119espana]

This beautiful man is a GOD!!!!! The moves w/the chair ! Every aspect leaves you breathless! What command of body & soul.

[mandydandi]

I can only imagine how much strength it would take to do what he did at 3:21-3:30

[TheTransam1977]

@mandydandi i almost broke my neck trying to pull that off, i have a horrible headache now

[MrTennesseeVols]

Outstanding performance by Baryshnikov!

[hung139]

if you think about it....this is like the video Misery by maroon 5 :p plz dont hate im just seeing the same elements of it :(

[elainecleo]

When I first saw this movie I was amazed at how strong he is. This is one of my favorite dance movies..awesome.

[marioou812]

The name of this piece is "Le Jeune Homme et la Mort performed to Bachs "Passacaglia in C Minor, BMV 582. I remember going to see this movie with an old girlfriend of mine when it came out. I was never a fan of ballet, but was astounded by the beauty of this piece. I named my son after him.

[MagicMagda72]

@marioou812 I have never been a fan of ballet either.... but this piece makes me understand what real love can be

[TheGabiDumi]

Genial!

[Orneeeable]

love it! one of my favorites... this scene is simply incredible, it makes me shiver...

he's so passionate, the passion with which he dances, the expression on his face, it's amazing

[mindingosafado]

hahaha holy shit he picked up that chair so easily

[flamencofactory]

IMPRESIONANTE!!!!!!!

DEFINITIVAMENTE PERFECTO, EL SER HUMANO NO TIENE LIMITES, NO HAY FALLO NI DEFECTO A COMENTAR, ES TODO BELLEZAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

[virtualvisitor99]

Wow!

[wworkma1]

Magnificant. Either my memory is gone or I missed the opening ballet but I don't remember this. It is pure art, magnificantly danced. There will never be another Mikhail. Thank you so much for sharing something that will be forever etched into my memory of his masterpieces.

[jane4justice]

Um....wow!!! His dancing, the choreography and the music---amazing!

[Soullover212]

God gave us Mikhail as a testimony to His awesome power. Everything that God created was not done in six days, He saved Mikhail just for us, so that we may give Him praise.

[swastikausa]

hes like ballets answer to chuck norris or action jackson.

[neosoulfuljojo]

Astonishing!!!!

[vgoth100]

In my house, growing up in ballet, MB was a God! I love this movie, but this particular scene is so incredible, so moving, so modern...this is not MB doing the classics, but doing his own thing....love RP for that great choreography....and because MB lost his mother so young (I think she was committed) brings all the more meaning to it....one wonders what we could have seen if the great Nijinsky had been filmed. What a thought....

[vgoth100]

@vgoth100 I forgot to add that MB did a Nijinsky choreographed dance, you can find it by looking up Baryshnikov and Spectre de la Rose

[radioheadkids2]

Micheal who!

[MishaGelsey]

Roland Petit is a genius and Baryshnikov is an enigma...

Absolutely hypnotic!

[triplesq]

i love this love this love this. I was introduced to Mikhail Baryshnikov by a Russian co-worker bc i never used to like ballet... but now I am in love!

[bookkeeper57]

Never knew if this was supposed to be a memory or a bad dream; great piece of interpretative dancing, if I knew what it means.

[klfrese]

@bookkeeper57 i believe its just his fight against suicide, plain and simple. like the push and pull he feels from the rope. 

[brushstrokesrock]

So graceful! :)

[canimob]

Unbelievable...

[ihsanma]

Best dancer ever!

[radioheadkids2]

@ihsanma My first love...

[HanEunJa]

Whoaahhh indeed I missed this great one! ThnXXX so much 4sharing!

[FabianKubicki]

The Best !

[liina1967]

He is a great dancer!Mezmerising!!

[Drewtazy]

Classic!