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Mikhail Was Born
Mikhail Baryshnikov was born in Riga, Latvia. -
Entered Riga’s opera ballet school
Entered Riga's Opera Ballet school at the age of twelve. -
Baryshnikov's Mother Died
Shortly after Baryshnikov began to study ballet, his mother took her life. Her love for ballet was his motivation to master ballet as quickly as he did. -
Mikhail began to study Ballet
Mihail began training at the Vaganova ballet school, the training school for the Kirov Ballet in Leningrad, where he studied with one of the great ballet teachers of the century, Alexander Pushkin. -
Joined the Kirov Ballet
In 1966 he joined the Kirov Ballet as a soloist without having to serve the customary apprenticeship as a member of the corps de ballet. -
Won his first major honor
Baryshnikov won his first gold medal at the Varna, Bulgaria dance competition in 1966. -
Baryshnikov made his stage debut
Baryshnikov made his stage debut in 1967 with the Kirov Ballet in Giselle. -
Baryshnikov won his second gold medal
Mikhail Baryshnikov won his second gold at the First International Ballet Competition in Moscow. -
Baryshnikov defected from Russia
Mikhail Baryshnikov defected from Russia in hopes of gaining more creative freedom while touring in Canada. The Canadian government granted him assylum. -
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Baryshnikov danced with the American Ballet Theatre
Baryshnikov joined the American Ballet Theatre in 1974, and remained there until 1978. During this time, he rechoreographed The Nutcracker in 1976, and Don Quixote in 1978. -
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Baryshnikov played a leading roll as a dancer and actor in several films and a play
The Turning Point (1977), White Nights (1985), That’s Dancing! (1985), and Dancers (1987), Metamorphosis (1989) -
Nominated for an Academy Award for acting
Baryshnikov was nominated for an Academy Award for his acting in the dance world drama The Turning Point (1977). -
Won his first Emmy Award
Baryshnikov won his first Emmy Award for a television dance special. -
Won his second Emmy Award
Baryshnikov won his second award for a television dance special. -
Returned to the American Ballet Theater
Baryshnikov returned to the ABT as artistic director and a principal dancer in 1980. -
Stared in White Nights (film)
Baryshnikov starred opposite Gregory Hines in the 1985 dancing drama White Nights. -
Starred in The Metamorphosis (film)
Mikhail starred in the 1989 production of Franz Kafka's The Metamorphosis. -
Left the American Ballet Theatre to create the White Oak Project
Baryshnikov left the American Ballet Theatre to found the White Oak Dance Project with Mark Morris. This move reflected a shift toward contemporary dance. -
Recieved the National Award of Merit
In the year 2000, Baryshnikov recieved the National Award of Merit from President Bill Clinton. -
Recognized at the Kennedy Center Honor Awards
In December of 2000, Baryshnikov was recognized for a lifetime of extraordinary achievement at the Kennedy Center Honor Awards. -
Disbanded the White Oak Project
Baryshnikov disbanded the White Oak Project in order to focus on his next big project: the Baryshnikov Arts Center. -
Baryshnikov appeared in Sex and the City
In 2003-04, Baryshnikov appeared as recurring love intrest to leading character, Carrie Bradshaw in Sex and the City. -
Opened the Baryshnikov Arts Center
2004 Marked the opening of the Baryshnikov Arts Center in New York City, New York. -
Married Lisa Rinehart
Although they have been together for many years, Baryshnikov finally married Lisa Rinehart, formerly of the American Ballet Theatre.
