M.Baryshnikov - G.Kirkland - Don Quixote - Coda 2/2

Even as sick as she was in this video, she still danced this pas de deux better than many before and after her. She really is superwoman.

Geniuses thru history have been troubled by forces beyond their control.But, they will always be geniuses.GK was not only best of her generation, but, of the 20th century beginning with the first, Pavlova.

i saw once her in venice doing don q with micha was1975 wooow

it's hard to believe it's the same Gelsey Kirkland who danced Clara with MB in the 1977 Nutcracker video; there she was positively divine; where had the spirit gone?

Well i know nothing of ballet really and i see that some point out that Gelsey was a bit off form here? I must say that watching her is stunningly beautiful to me whether she's less than her best or not.
Baryshikov too is so great

IT has been years since I danced but I was watching her too going "huh?" was this from the years where she was under the influence of some not so great stuff? If you read her book you know what what I mean.. she also has a letter basically saying how she was anorexic when she did this and how uncool it was... But still AWW Gelsey, Always will be one of my favorites.

@robi2000 She was extremely ill. I think she looks horrible in this! Not just anorexia, but drug addiction too. In fact if you watch to the end there's a message for young dancers regarding the way she looked. A true artist gone down the tube because of body image problems for sure... we should be teaching our young dancers better! (Gelsey has recovered however, and remains a dance teacher and advocate for positive body image.)

If ll you've seen is this video then you really have no business saying anything. At her best she was light years better than Zakharova who always dances likes she's in the Olympics.  Baryshnikov called her the best of her generation , which included Fracci and Makarova. I think he knows better than you do.

@jondavwal i agree, she was beautiful in her heyday! not just the "trick" type stuff like turns and whatnot, but every tendu was a thought-out process for her. a true artist.  shame we don't get that much anymore... now it's all about competing and getting the arabesque to hit the back of the head. sigh.

But she had every trick in the book and nobody's ever had more speed yet it was all fluid and seamless. If you ever get a chance go and watch everything they have at Lincoln Center on video. It was a level of artistry that just isn't achieved anymore.