Mikhail Baryshnikov

Mikhail Baryshnikov is a Latvian-American dancer, choreographer, and actor, born on January 28, 1948, in Riga, Latvian SSR. He gained prominence as the leading male classical dancer in the 1970s and 1980s. Baryshnikov began his career at the Kirov Ballet in Leningrad before defecting to Canada in 1974 to pursue opportunities in Western dance. He danced with American Ballet Theatre and briefly joined New York City Ballet to learn George Balanchine's neoclassical Russian style. Baryshnikov later returned to American Ballet Theatre and also served as its artistic director. Known for promoting modern dance, he has premiered numerous new works, including his own. Baryshnikov also achieved success as a dramatic actor in stage, cinema, and television.