Celebrate the Anniversary of Mikhail Baryshnikov’s ABT Debut With Rarely-Seen Archival Photos

March 16, 2020

On July 27, 1974, Mikhail Baryshnikov made his American Ballet Theatre debut, dancing opposite fellow expatriate Natalia Makarova in Giselle mere weeks after his defection from the Soviet Union. The then-26-year-old caused a sensation, with Dance Magazine contributor Olga Maynard observing in her review, “If Baryshnikov exerts his good influences on ballet in the West we shall owe him a debt of gratitude.”

Louis Peres, Courtesy DM Archives

Makarova and Baryshnikov in Act II of Giselle, during his 1974 ABT debut

Judy Cameron, Courtesy DM Archives

Baryshnikov and Russian ballet legend Maya Plisetskaya taking class in Moscow

A. Makarov, Courtesy DM Archives

A very young Baryshnikov performs La source, 1969.

Marcel Fugere, Courtesy DM Archives

Rehearsing in Hamburg, 1975

Beverley Gallegos, Courtesy DM Archives

In Balanchine’s Apollo

Courtesy DM Archives

With Leslie Browne in The Turning Point (1977)

Terry O’Neill, Courtesy DM Archives

Baryshnikov and Gregory Hines between takes during the filming of White Nights (1985)

Courtesy DM Archives

With Gelsey Kirkland in Giselle, 1975

Courtesy DM Archives

With Bernadette Peters in Baryshnikov in Hollywood (1982)

Pierre Petitjean, Courtesy DM Archives

In Balanchine’s Prodigal Son

Anthony Crickmay, Courtesy DM Archives

Baryshnikov and Hines in White Nights (1985)

Courtesy DM Archives

“Company class” in the film The Turning Point (1977)


Penny Brogden, Courtesy DM Archives

In the studio with Alexandra Danilova

Courtesy DM Archives

With Antoinette Sibley in The Turning Point (1977)

Courtesy DM Archives

This image appeared on shopping bags at Saks Fifth Avenue in the ’90s, to promote the fragrance Baryshnikov Pour Homme.