You don't measure life by receiving awards. Mikhail Baryshnikov More Quotes by Mikhail Baryshnikov More Quotes From Mikhail Baryshnikov Fundamentals are the building blocks of fun. Mikhail Baryshnikov uptown block fun I never liked dance photography; it's very flat, and dance photography in the studio looks very contrived. Mikhail Baryshnikov dance photography inspirational I cannot belong to a nonprofit organization because when you receive grants, you have to make such great compromises with your artistic plans. Mikhail Baryshnikov nonprofits artistic organization What brought me to the theater, no matter you're a Jew or a Russian or Armenian or Latvian, are suddenly illuminated by stage light and one beautiful image of dance. Mikhail Baryshnikov dance light beautiful I cannot stand authority. Mikhail Baryshnikov authority Dancers are stripped enough onstage. You don't have to know more about them than they've given you already. Mikhail Baryshnikov dancer given enough I would like to go and dance in Palestine one day, with great pleasure, great pleasure. Mikhail Baryshnikov one-day dance inspirational He is a male butterfly without the wings - the same kind of grace of a very young horse, so angular. Mikhail Baryshnikov horse butterfly wings I am teaching more. That is what I do best. Mikhail Baryshnikov teaching Dances have a second and third life. You feel they are never ready. They always have a chance for another life. Mikhail Baryshnikov another-life ready chance 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. I really don't care. Mikhail Baryshnikov care guests birthday I remember vividly seeing 'Tarzan' and Fred Astaire, the Chaplin films, Fred Astaire musicals, MGM, because of my mother. She was just interested in everything and she took me to opera and ballet, and then ballet got me hooked. Mikhail Baryshnikov opera ballet mother Nobody is born a dancer. Mikhail Baryshnikov dancer born dance I read Russian literature a lot. Mikhail Baryshnikov russian-literature literature I am not trying to do material which I cannot do full out. Mikhail Baryshnikov materials trying When I'm alone, I work sometimes with music, sometimes without and sometimes just listening to NPR. Mikhail Baryshnikov npr listening sometimes Creative Artists Agency put together a project of extraordinary mediocrity and colossal stupidity. Otherwise, it was great. Mikhail Baryshnikov agency creative artist A theater is such a revealing form of art, such a transparent and good actors, they're such powerful individuals. I always kind of dreamt that one day I will open my mouth on stage. Mikhail Baryshnikov one-day powerful art I think art education, especially in this country, which government pretty much ignores, is so important for young people. Mikhail Baryshnikov beauty country art I was not extremely patriotic about Mother Russia. I played their game, pretending. You have to deal with, you know, party people, KGB. Horrifying. Mikhail Baryshnikov patriotic party mother