Mikhail Baryshnikov

Divinity of art, it's such a mystery. How to convince people that no matter how much money you can spend on education…

— Mikhail Baryshnikov

Your body actually reminds you about your age and your injuries - the body has a stronger memory than your mind.

— Mikhail Baryshnikov

My mother had a son from previous marriage and her husband died in Second World War.

— Mikhail Baryshnikov

“The essence of all art is having pleasure giving pleasure.”

— Mikhail Baryshnikov

“Love is not like a potato--you can't throw it out the window.”

— Mikhail Baryshnikov

Creative Artists Agency put together a project of extraordinary mediocrity and colossal stupidity. Otherwise, it was great.

— Mikhail Baryshnikov

When I'm alone, I work sometimes with music, sometimes without and sometimes just listening to NPR.

— Mikhail Baryshnikov

Every ballet, whether or not successful artistically or with the public, has given me something important.

— Mikhail Baryshnikov

I was very restless. I really wanted to be a part of a kind of a progressive society. I was fed up…

— Mikhail Baryshnikov

Everything I do, it's a bit painterly. I like being surrounded by objects, mostly on paper. I like the images. I like…

— Mikhail Baryshnikov

I spend at least a couple hours a day in the studio, every day, whether I'm dancing or not.

— Mikhail Baryshnikov

I like to go to anybody else's birthday, and if I'm invited I'm a good guest. But I never celebrate my birthdays.…

— Mikhail Baryshnikov

I cannot belong to a nonprofit organization because when you receive grants, you have to make such great compromises with your artistic…

— Mikhail Baryshnikov

I gave away a lot of works for benefits and then people would also give me back.

— Mikhail Baryshnikov

Choreographers use me as the old guy who still dances. Not that I put on white tights.

— Mikhail Baryshnikov

I remember vividly seeing 'Tarzan' and Fred Astaire, the Chaplin films, Fred Astaire musicals, MGM, because of my mother. She was just…

— Mikhail Baryshnikov

You can be totally involved, you could admire just the shape of or you could be totally emotionally mushed up into the…

— Mikhail Baryshnikov

The more injuries you get, the smarter you get.

— Mikhail Baryshnikov

I don't go to a gym, I don't do yoga. I don't do personal training.

— Mikhail Baryshnikov

I have been very lucky to work in so many new ballets, but that is what a dancer's work is.

— Mikhail Baryshnikov

Fundamentals are the building blocks of fun.

— Mikhail Baryshnikov

I go a lot to see young people downtown in little theaters. It's great. If you start somebody's career, it's so exciting.

— Mikhail Baryshnikov

“I hated life in the Soviet Union. You had to pretend something you didn't feel.”

— Mikhail Baryshnikov

Now there is in a way a renaissance of modern dance - suddenly, it is more respected and discovered.

— Mikhail Baryshnikov

A theater is such a revealing form of art, such a transparent and good actors, they're such powerful individuals. I always kind…

— Mikhail Baryshnikov