Baryshnikov: The Dancer And The Dance

This is an excellent and affordable biography of world class ballet dancer, Mikhail Baryshnikov, which includes the full-length ballet "Configurations". Baryshnikov, who defected to the West in 1974, got his start in Russia under the legendary instructor Alexander Pushkin. By the time he was 21, he had already won numerous awards. Finding the Kirov too restrictive, he stayed in Canada while the troupe was on tour. Filmed in 1983, this documentary is narrated by Shirley MacLaine, and spends a considerable amount of time interviewing Baryshnikov in his role as director of the American Ballet Theatre. He and his young wards are shown during rehearsal of "Configurations", a contemporary ballet choreographed by Choo San Goh, and set to a wonderfully complex piece by the late Samuel Barber. As the night of the opening draws near, Baryshnikov suffers a sprained ankle, and the dancers are still trying to come to grips with Choo San Goh's intricate movements, lending a sense of drama to the rehearsals. The videotape concludes with the stirring ballet "Configurations", shown in its entirety. Highly recommended.