#TBT: Baryshnikov and Hines Star in 1985's White Nights

When White Nights opened in American theaters on December 6, 1985, it was a decidedly risky proposition. Mikhail Baryshnikov was a massive ballet star, but hadn’t spent much time acting on camera. Gregory Hines was a lauded tap dancer on Broadway and in films, but had never been given a dramatic leading role. Yet director […]

Celebrate Natalia Makarova’s 80th Birthday With These Rarely Seen Archival Photos

November 21 marks Natalia Makarova’s 80th birthday. The ballerina made international headlines in September 1970 when she defected from the Soviet Union while on tour with the Kirov Ballet in London. That December, she made her American Ballet Theatre debut, an association that altered the company’s trajectory. “In ballet, stardom doesn’t come overnight as it […]

Baryshnikov's Advice to Grads: Be Generous Enough to Let Yourself Fail

What does Mikhail Baryshnikov have to say to dancers starting their careers today? On Friday, he gave the keynote speech during the graduation ceremony for the inaugural class of the USC Glorya Kaufman School of Dance. The heart of his message: Be generous. After promising not to talk politics, he said he would go “180 […]