Mikhail Baryshnikov Part II: Jumps

From the start of his career in the late 1960s at the Kirov Ballet until the 1980s at American Ballet Theatre, Baryshnikov has thrilled crowds in classical ballet roles with his great athleticism exemplified by gravity defying jumps and endless turns. These videos attempt to show how he accomplished these amazing feats. I hope the videos are of use to dancers seeking insight on the mechanics of the steps through slow motion and stop action replays; non-dancers with appreciation for his great work; and those with an interest in learning ballet terms. This series consists of three videos: (1) turns, (2) jumps, and (3) turns and jumps combined with difficult to categorize steps. Each runs about 15 minutes and analyzes his steps, pointing out important aspects of each movement. Part I shows Baryshnikov’s remarkable turns. My favorite clips are his nine pirouettes from Don Quixote; his turns in plié from Le Corsaire; and several examples of his turns in attitude (leg bent behind him)