Have you ever been to a ballet, and wondered who came up with such an art as ballet? Have you ever wondered what thoughts and changes were made to ballet throughout the years? Maybe the stories of dancers who fought to get to the top? Mikhail Baryshnikov’s story, as told in Misha: The Mikhail Baryshnikov Story, is by far one of the most amazing. Baryshnikov was born and raised in the Soviet Union until the age of twelve. At this age Baryshnikov made the life-changing decision to pursue a career in dance and moved to America. This was where his teachers gave him the nickname: Misha. Misha is another name for Michael, but comes with a Russian origin. Mikhail Baryshnikov was a progressive dancer, and despite the odds being against him, made a career in the world of American ballet. The novel begins talking about his childhood, then moves on to his instructors and the influence they had over his style and career, and finally discusses how he became famous “overnight.” Starting from page one, the reader is fully able to imagine his/herself in Baryshnikov’s life, as his amazing story is told.
According to the novel, Baryshnikov's childhood does not fit under the average of a typical dancer. Most dancers begin to dance because of their parents putting them into classes. Generally, for the first few years the student learns basic moves and positions. However, Baryshnikov began with more complicated steps. The reason he began with more complicated maneuvers is because, unlike most ballet dancers, until the age of twelve he had never been to a recital, or have a reason to express interest in ballet. He never got to chance to join a proper “beginner class” and did not begin training until he was twelve. Some critics contribute this to his being born in the Soviet Union. However, majority believe that his parents were the main cause.
His father was a strict military man, who believed that it was the male figure-head’s job to provide a regular income for the family. He was firmly against Baryshnikov wanting to become an American ballet dancer, claiming it was a “girly” activity and that it could never provide a stable income. His mother was a seamstress, always quiet and always agreeing with her husband, and never seemed to stand up for her son. Despite the lack of support shown from his family, Baryshnikov found ballet and decided to make a career from it. Within the third chapter of the novel the author begins moving from his childhood to the determination of his career, “Now Misha knew for sure that he wanted to be a ballet dancer.” (Page 20). He wanted to dance as a way to gain economic security. However, Baryshnikov did not realize that many more hardships would lie ahead. Entering the ballet world at the age of twelve caused many to doubt his ability to grasp the fundamentals of dance. Even Baryshnikov’s teachers doubted his ability to catch up with those students who had already been dancing since they could walk. Nevertheless, Baryshnikov kept training and practicing, and his career began to unfold.
While his childhood contributed to him not finding dance until age twelve, the years following were some of the most influential for his career. Baryshnikov defected from the Soviet Union in 1974 and moved to New York City. New York was a hot spot for hopeful, beginning dancers. These were some of the hardest choices he made, since he had to leave behind his family and the country he once knew. Baryshnikov recalled the first few months after his move and said, “‘I realized I was totally on my own.” (Page 56). Alas, this was not the hardest point in his ballet career.
Not only was the move taxing on him, but his audience was very skeptical of how well a young boy who had never danced before could perform. Some people thought he would never be more than a character dancer, as his physique was too short and stocky. He also had many boyish features, making him appear even younger than he was. A member from the audience remembered seeing him for the first time, “When Baryshnikov first stepped onto the stage, the audience saw only the boyish face, more cute than handsome, and the small, stocky body—nothing exceptional.” (Page 3). Others thought he was too old to begin training. Some Americans hated the Soviet Union so much, “Anti-Soviet chants from the audience had almost disrupted one of his performances in Canada…” (Page 82). While the little support given to him by his audience would have stopped most dancers, their skepticism powered only his dancing.
The lack of support from his audiences made Baryshnikov work harder than ever. One of his teachers recalled watching Baryshnikov practice, “…. Misha trained the muscles of his body to work effortlessly, almost automatically, in any combination of steps.” (Page 33). Baryshnikov wanted to prove to the Americans that he could become an exceptional dancer. One day he decided to join the American ballet. Only after a few months of performing was Mikhail Baryshnikov a family household name. The entire American population loved him. A fellow dancer stated that, “He expressed a whole range of human emotions with intense sensitivity, and the public heart went out to him.” (Page 60). The road ahead finally looked bright for Baryshnikov.
From Baryshnikov’s sudden fame came a new found confidence. No longer was there a short and stocky, childish boy; but a strong and brave young man. Once a dancer has hit a certain point in their career, they are able to choose their own dance partners. “Misha was famous now, and he thought he should be able to choose his own partner.” (Page 68). Baryshnikov believed that it was time for him to be able to choose his own dance partner, not his instructors.  He had his eyes set on a particular dancer: Natalia Bessmertnova. She was the wife of his main instructor, so naturally his instructor shot down the idea. Yet Baryshnikov would not give up, at it seemed the harder he tried to get her as his partner, the more his teachers resisted. Eventually, his instructors banned Baryshnikov from being able to dance with Bessmertnova.
The novel Misha: The Mikhail Baryshnikov Story discusses the amazing life of Baryshnikov. It describes in detail the lengths Baryshnikov went to, in order to become a famous dancer. Throughout the novel the point is clear: Mikhail Baryshnikov was a progressive dancer, and despite the odds being against him, made a career in the world of American ballet. From his childhood, to the teachers he had, he was destined to become a household name in America.