Baryshnikov about Pushkin

[mayaboldyrlol]

What documentary is this clip from? What is it called? (Thank you so much in advance!!!)

[creebeebug1]

@mayaboldyrlol I can't remember the name...but it was a documentary that showed Bary & Co learning a new choreography by Choo San Goh for ABT that featured Baryshnikov and Marianna Tcherkassky. It was called Configurations and a beautiful ballet. The film featured a lot of interviews - more than the couple of clips you can find posted on YouTube. Very worth tracking down if you can find a copy. I have seen vhs copies on ebay. Wish Kutlure would come out with DVD version!

[creebeebug1]

@mayaboldyrlol

The Dancer and the Dance is the name of the documentary. It is awesome. What was really neat for me was we always see Baryshnikov so sure and polished - he is beautiful to watch - but in this you get to see him being human as he learns new parts of the ballet. I had this vhs for a while and watched it so many times! I no longer have it though. I really hope you are able to get a copy to watch!

[CedricsMom]

Alexander Pushkin like the writer?! Wild!

[sweetaliena]

@CedricsMom Lol the writer was from the 19th century.

[AkiraChan24]

He was so adorable! Goodness he's such an amazing artist

[lavendardust]

this was very interesting. i've not heard any of it before. thx for posting ityaballet.

[1rachelc]

a double turn is "not a problem"- "for any dancer"!!brilliant

[Ffloortje]

thanks for posting!

[preciousbash]

I was 3 years old when I arrived at her class.. I was so excited.. A real ballet studio.

[tfoxinana98]

and what comes next??? my mother tells me his story all the time. I love it. I love him and his dancing. God bless him.

[PrimaViolinist]

@tfoxinana98 Misha's American girlfriend, Kristina (Tina) and his former lover, Natalia Makharova helped him to defect. They gave a message to a journalist covering the performance, whom they knew would have access to Misha. He received a note from Misha and passed it on. When the company loaded up the dancers to take them to the hotel, Misha started walking down the street and he never went back.

[preciousbash]

I dance for myself now but I dance hard. I rent a studio a few days per moths and dance all day. It is where I find my freeist moments. Seeing him dance in person reinforced my idea of what dancing was about. Thank you for posting this! A great teacher is truly pricelss and can make all the difference. Thank you Madam Patrushka for puttingy enthusiastic feet on the right path. I still here your voice when I am working my hardest :-)

[peonytheharpist]

Wow, you dance on your own?

Why don't you dance with others in a class?

[preciousbash]

@peonytheharpist It's almost like praying for me. I really need privacy to fully express myself. I teach a technique siminar once a year in Chelsea and do participate in classes from time to time. I go to another place when I am alone. I have burst into tears out of no where from shear elation .. and worked until my muscles literally gave out. It's private and holy to me.I am planning on volunteering at a youth center in Harlem or running a free weekly class for children. I LOVE TO TEACH!!

[preciousbash]

..one year after going up on point and was never able to dance on poitn again..but it was the discipline and respect for the work that made me a real dancer. I am naturally a dancer but thanks to her I am a great dancer.

[preciousbash]

That is wht I loved about my fist teacher was the preperation ofr the dancing. We sent 6 months just working our hands and transitioning from the basci prositions and stretching and the mental and phyiscal together. I loved the discipline and beauty. I danced about 10 hours per week back then. I broke my foot at the age of 12 ....

[Shikayo]

Thank you for posting this small clip: it is insightful, and allows a glimpse into the mysterious world of Misha's learning with Pushkin. I love the idea of Pushkin watching Misha, not necessarily interested in watching him dance, but just watching him. It's a shame the video cuts out just as Misha is about to take to the air.

[xokatyxo]

Is this from the UK Baryshnikov documentary "The Dancer & The Dance"? (from I think 1982, narrated by Shirley Maclaine). Could you put some more up? It's never been released on DVD, only American VHS (which are unwatchable outside the US.) I've wanted to see this documentary for years... Thanks for putting this bit up!

[anniemihn]

Thanks for this moving video, about a master talking about his master. Misha is so nostalgic here...